Summary of Homer District 33C School Board Meeting February 23, 2016
Union representative Terri Pellizzari introduced the district’s 5th grade teachers. Math/Science teacher Kaleen DeFilippis and Reading/Language Arts teacher AnnMarie Corcoran spoke on behalf of the group and presented an overview of Hadley’s math workshop and reading program. They shared how teachers are incorporating differentiated instruction into their lesson plans, allowing for more student choice and student-led activities. They also thanked the board for equipping each student with a Chromebook. They use the instructional tools daily.
Non-certified union representatives Susan Koziarski and Stella Kapusta thanked the boar d for working diligently on contract negotiations. They ex- pressed a desire to continue the collaborative process. The 186-member union was recognized by the Labor Board last February.
The Board of Education approved the following personnel recommendations:
Resignations
- Amanda Planinsek – 2nd grade classroom teacher at Young School, effective for
the 2016-2017 school year
- Virginia Killian Lund – 7th grade Reading and Language Arts teacher at Homer Junior High, effective February 8, 2016
- Jake Ruckman – custodian at Schilling School, effective February 26, 2016
Request for Leave of Absence
- Gloria Feeley – special education teacher at Schilling School, effective January
25, 2016 through February 23, 2016 and then on an as-needed basis
- Kay Popadowski – paraprofessional at Schilling School, effective January 27, 2016 through March 8, 2016
Employment Recommendations
- Patricia Kulak – assignment change from registrar to payroll clerk at Administration, effective February 24, 2016
- Angie McCarthy – assignment change from paraprofessional to clerical aide at Schilling School, effective February 24, 2016
- Jeff Jonaitis – K-8 P.E. Differentiation Facilitator, effective for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year and the 2016-2017 school year
Michael Portwood, Director of Human Resources, presented an update on preliminary student enrollment projections for the 2016-2017 school year. Based on a variety of internal and external factors, such as Will County birth rates, building permits and kindergarten registration numbers, administrators expect the district’s enrollment to remain fairly steady. Some decline is expected at the 4th and 5th grade levels while increases are expected at the 3rd and 6th grade levels. Overall, the dis- trict’s enrollment is expected to be 3,629 for the 2016-2017 school year — just shy of this year’s enrollment of 3,638 students.
Barb Wilson, President Angela Adolf, Vice President Amy Blank, Secretary
Ed Campins, Member Elizabeth Hitzeman, Member Debra Martin, Member
Russ Petrizzo, Member
Kathleen Robinson, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, presented an update on the English Language Learners Support Programs. Homer 33C has seen a significant increase in the number of students who speak two languages at home. In 2010-11, the district enrolled 47 English Language Learners. This year, it enrolled 215. The largest native languages serviced in the district are Polish (72 students) and Arabic (51). School districts are required to offer Tran- sitional Bilingual Education (TBE) when there are 20 or more students from the same language background at a single school. Goodings Grove added a class
with a bilingual Polish teacher at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. This year, Schilling School added a class with a bilingual Polish teacher and a class with a bilingual Arabic teacher. Because the district’s English Language Learn- ers population now surpasses 200 students, it is required by the Illinois State Board of Education to hire an EL Coordinator with ESL endorsement to oversee the programs. It is also required to hire teachers with ESL endorsements to ser- vice the Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) students. In order to remain compliant and to best serve students working toward English language profi- ciency, the district will be working to fill these positions for the 2016-17 school year.
The Board of Education reviewed and approved the facility use lease agree- ment with Homer Stallions for the use of the Parker Road site for Youth Foot- ball and Lacrosse.
The Board of Education adopted the 2016-2017 school calendar. The first day of school will be Monday, August 22nd. Institute Days will be Thursday, August 18th and Friday, August 19th. The last day of school will be Thursday, June 1st (if no emergency days are used).
The Board of Education reviewed and approved the job description for Secretary/Scheduler.
The Board of Education approved John Fencl’s notice of retirement.
The Next Regular School Board Meeting is March 22, 2016 at 7: 30 p.m .
