A New Policy on Donations to District 205 is up for Approval Tuesday

Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board will hold its monthly workshop meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the district administration building, 162 S. York. The meeting will follow a closed session regarding collective negotiations and student residency.

The open meeting will begin with a proclamation recognizing the following Illinois Music Educators Association Junior Festival participants:

• From Bryan Middle School: Kaitlin Cadagin, Jordan Ciccarone, Michael Griffin, Alexis Hohman, Christopher Irby, Hanna Kikos, Robert Kildow, Marisa Krilich, Tatum Langley, Ella Lee, Brooke Morenz, Michael Seaborg and Kevin Shehan
• From Churchville Middle School: Kirsten Drost, Andrew French, Caroline Stasica and Brian Strauch
• From Sandburg Middle School: Eileen Baird, Katharine Bartosz, Henry Braun, Rachel Catalano, Amy Choi, Stephanie Cui, Jessica DePaul, Katelyn Kolosieke, Stephen Kreyenbuhl, Kaitlyn Kunde, Olivia Martens, Kathryn Mitchell, Emily Patterson, Daniel Stumpf, Michael Stumpf, Benton Uddenberg and Leah Widmaier

The meeting will then open up for public comment. Members of the community are invited to speak on any topic for up to three minutes.

The workshop will begin with a discussion on the district's mission and vision statements. This will be followed by a review of the effectiveness of the board's committee structure.

The board will then hear reports from the Curriculum and Instruction, Board Improvement/Policy and Finance and Operations committees.

In addition to a personnel report, the superintendent's consent agenda includes approval of a first reading of a revised policy on restrictions on publications, including electronic materials. Because of advances in technology, nonschool-sponsored publications can instantly be accessed or distributed on campus, and student created or distributed publications can instantly be accessed or distributed off campus. Minor changes have been made in the policy to reflect this. The policy changes can be viewed here.

Also up for approval is a first reading of a revised policy on graduation requirements. The changes are as follows:

• Verbiage has been added in accordance with state guidelines to define what constitutes "junior" status based on number of credits.
• Verbiage has been added in accordance with state guidelines that no student will be designated  a "senior" unless he/she has taken the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE).
• Service learning has been deleted from this policy as it is not a requirement of graduation.
• The Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act requires school districts to ensure graduation for students who transfer during their senior year as a result of their parent being on active military duty.
• An additional legal reference has been added.

The board will then vote to approve a first reading on a policy on electronic media usage and conduct for district employees. The new policy defines electronic media, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email, video conferencing, texting and more, and stresses the importance of appropriate use.

A topic that has come up multiple times at School Board meetings also has found its way into policy. Board members will be asked to approve a policy designed to maintain equity districtwide when it comes to donations. The board will accept donations as unrestricted gifts unless a specific condition is imposed. That condition must be accepted by the board upon approval of the donation. The intention is to honor the spirit in which the donation is made but allow for the possibility of reallocating the donation if necessary in the future.

The board will then announce its upcoming committee and School Board meetings and will take action on the student residency issue discussed in closed session.

Finally, the board will hear reports and any other announcements from School Board members.