The Board of Education held its November 11 regular meeting on-site at Lincoln Middle School. Principal David Szwed gave an overview of the school and music teacher Ilona Hutter led Lincoln’s Symphonic Band in a short performance. Five members of the District 64 Middle School Music Program were honored for being selected to the Illinois Music Educators Association District Festival on Nov. 2. Members of the School Board - President Rick Biagi, Vice-President Tom Sotos, Secretary Carol Sales, Denise Pearl, Rebecca Little, Fred Sanchez and Larry Ryles - were also honored in observance of School Board Member Appreciation Day (Nov. 15). Other highlights from the meeting include:
- Board conducts tax levy hearing - The Board conducted a public hearing on the 2019 tax levy, which is expected to be adopted at the Monday, Dec. 16 meeting at Field School.
- Staff updates Board on PT3 progress - Dr. Lea Anne Frost, Director of Student Services, and two committee members updated the Board on the progress of PT3 (Parents and Teachers Talking Together), a group formed in 2018 to study in-district special education programs and services. The Board discussed the current state and direction of PT3 with Dr. Frost and one parent and one teacher. PT3 members told the board that progress has been made and there is a sense of urgency to continue improving services. They told the board that the relationship with staff, administration and parents is very positive. PT3 is currently concentrating on three points: developing parent education trainings and resources; stakeholder communications, and aspects related to increasing the district’s continuum of services for students with special needs. While the group meets privately, the School Board agreed to have at least one Board representative attend the PT3 meetings on a rotating basis.
- Board reviews student achievement update - Dr. Lori Lopez, Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning, presented information about academic performance based on the MAP assessment, the Illinois Assessment of Readiness and the Illinois Science Assessment. She also summarized the Spring 2019 Climate & Safety Survey results and the Illinois 5Essentials Survey and gave the Board an overview of the 2019 Illinois School Report Card results. For detailed information on her entire report, please click here.