Meeting highlights from June 11 include:
- New District radio system will improve safety - Fulfilling another recommendation from a comprehensive security assessment conducted in 2013, the District will purchase for the 2018-19 school year a new radio system that will allow communication between all D64 buildings and the ability to talk to all radios at the same time. The system replaces walkie-talkies, and will provide the redundancy needed within schools for practical, day-to-day usage as well as offer a dependable system during times of emergency. Local fire and police departments had highly recommended that D64 implement a redundant radio system for use during emergencies.
- Administrative employee increases would track comparable negotiated union raises - The District proposed a streamlined way to provide salary increases for 2018-19 to "exempt" employees (such as Occupational Therapists/Physical Therapists, technologists, and other administrative personnel) by creating three categories according to their job classifications and key tasks. Personnel in each category would receive average raises linked to those for teachers, teaching assistants or an average of the two. Employee evaluations also were discussed.
- First draft of 2018-19 tentative budget examined - At the COW: Budget, the Board conducted an in-depth review of the first draft of the tentative budget for the upcoming 2018-19 fiscal year. The draft budget includes detailed expenditure and revenue estimates for the six Operating funds, as well as the capital projects and debt service funds. A short slide presentation may be viewed here. The draft will be updated and presented for review and adoption as a tentative budget at the June 25 regular meeting. The Board at that time will also set the date for a public hearing and other opportunities for public review and comment. The budget will continue to be revised through the summer as new information becomes available, such as actual classroom staffing needed to meet enrollment when the new school year opens. The budget in its final form will be officially adopted on September 24, 2018. Visit the Financial Data - Current webpage for the tentative budget -- and any updates made later in the summer.
Board congratulates 2018 Ethical Leadership Award Winners
Also at the meeting, Board members and Superintendent Laurie Heinz congratulated the 2018 winners: Lincoln Middle School - Brianna Irizarry and Leila Tannous, and Emerson Middle School - Mia Lee and Diana Tuebo. Ethical leaders know their core values and have the courage to live by them each day in all parts of their lives. Presented by the District 64 Elementary Learning Foundation (ELF), the prestigious accolade shines the spotlight on one or more eighth grade students who are respected for leading by example.
Read more about these four outstanding students and see photos here.