Teachers Contract, Reductions in Force on Monday's District 205 School Board Agenda

Among other business, the Elmhurst Unit District 205 Board is expected to ratify a when it meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at the district administration building, 162 S. York St.

The meeting will be preceded by a closed session to discuss collective negotiations and employment of an employee.

The public meeting will begin with a proclamation honoring this year's Illinois High School Association state speech champion, Sarah King. Ten members of the York Speech Team qualified for the state finals, which were held Feb. 18 in Peoria. King is the first state speech champion in the history of York High School.

Next, the public will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on any topic.

Superintendent David Pruneau will then explain the delay in student fee information for next year. For several years, following spring break, District 205 has sent registration information to families of enrolled students via email. This year, there will be about a one month delay as the district takes a further look at student fees.

The board then will hear a presentation on bond refinancing. A portion of the district's debt may be refinanced before its 2016 call date. Issuing less than $10 million per calendar year affords the district "bank qualified status" and interest rates .1 to .3 percent lower than general market rates. An $8 million bank-qualified refunding of Series 2006A bonds (based on market conditions earlier this month) would produce a present-value savings of nearly $330,000.

The board will then hear reports from two of its committees.

• Curriculum and Instruction Committee discussed the 2012-15 technology plan, professional learning communities and team development, and summer curriculum work.
• The Board Improvement and Policy Committee discussed elements of online communication, community surveys, board self-assessment, future community forums and legislation.

In addition to the personnel report, the 2011-12 calendar and the admission of foreign exchange students from Indonesia and Easter Island, the board is expected to approve as part of the consent agenda $1.2 million in budget reductions .

The board will then take action to approve bond refinancing.

Finally, the board will vote on several items that were discussed in closed session: reductions in force, approval of an employment contract for the Jefferson School principal, and collective negotiations. The board is expected to ratify the teachers contract, which was accepted by the teachers on April 3.