The District 99 Board of Education held its business meeting on May 16, 2016. Highlights from the meeting include:
Keeping Kids in Class: Senate Bill 100
Assistant Superintendent for Special Services Scott Wuggazer reviewed Senate Bill 100, which goes into effect next school year. The bill addresses the disproportionate suspension rates among various demographics, and aims to increase instructional time for all students by reducing out-of-school suspensions.
The district assembled a parent committee, comprised of equal numbers of parents from both North High and South High, to review the new discipline law and collect feedback. The parent group supported continuing the district’s proactive approach to interventions as well as the Positively North and Mustang Way programs, which encourage positive behavior. Click here to read details.
The impact of this legislation on the district’s discipline code is a reduction in “zero tolerance” policies, more due process for out of school suspensions, and a significantly greater role for student support services in any disciplinary measure that requires an exclusion from school. Click here to read specific changes to the handbook. Click here to read the discipline code with changes highlighted.
“Parents were really happy about fewer out-of-school punishments,” said Board Member Julia K. Beckman, who was part of the parent committee meeting. “Parents really want kids to be in school, and have much more appropriate interventions and actually be doing their [school] work.”
Board Approvals
The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the 2016-17 employee medical and dental plan premiums. The Board also approved the 2016-2017 Board of Education Meeting Calendar as well as the 2017-2018 School Calendar, which is the first-ever “early start” format for District 99.
Two new service contracts were approved: a $1,279,940 contract with Chartwells, a large-scale food services provider with experience in the National School Lunch Program, and Midco’s Mitel Voice over Internet Protocol system for $257,405, plus $47,000 for a five-year servicing contract. VoIP will replace and improve capabilities of 700 phones at both schools and the administrative offices.
The Board also approved bids totaling $441,482 for facility projects, including improved baseball and softball netting at South High, ramp and concrete stairs work at South High, hand rails for South High’s cafetorium, and a new exterior sign at South High. Click here to see the design of the sign, which will be placed at the corner of 63rd and Dunham by August 2016.
The district will once again contain costs in 2016-17 by purchasing custodial, maintenance and grounds supplies in bulk for $115,514.87. The district will also continue its use of “green” products.