Busy Agenda for Tonight’s School Board Meeting

Elmhurst Unit District 205 Board will convene at 7:30 p.m., tonight, March 22, at the administration building, 162 S. York St., following a closed session to discuss employment of an employee and review closed session minutes.

The board will receive public comment (for up to three minutes per person) before moving into the action/information items on the agenda.

First up, the board will hear a technology update that begins with findings from the educational program review committee charged with studying technology. The update also will include data on national educational technology standards and a look at the technology budget.

Next on the agenda is a discussion on student fees proposed for 2011-12. Included are instructional materials fees (which have decreased due to increase class sizes) as well as extracurricular fees. The fees are expected to be approved tonight.

The board then will hear a report on staffing and enrollment. Discussion points will include the staffing plan recommended for elementary, middle and high school based on enrollment, class size, scheduling, certification and program review committee recommendations.

The board also will hear a report on health insurance benefit renewal. Part of the discussion will include changes required due to federal healthcare reform.

Next, the following items are expected to be approved as part of the consent agenda:

• personnel reports
• financial reports
• Freedom of Information Act requests
• launch of the fiscal year 2012 budget process
• school fees
• Thiems instructional grants
• dictionary donation to District 205 third-grade students from the Elmhurst Elks Lodge
• purchase of equipment to upgrade Power School
• laser printer maintenance agreement
• display of K-5 handwriting instructional materials
• display of proposed high school textbooks, and middle school and high school summer reading materials
• award of a bid to repair the York Aquatic Center chiller (recommendation is to go with low bidder Korellis Systems Control for $67,000)
• award of a bid for the York Stadium lighting upgrade (recommendation to go with low bidder Adlite Electrical Co. for $117,400).

The board will then take action on closed session items: termination of an employee, reductions in force and approval of the new superintendent contract.