Three teachers appeared before the School District 166 board on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 to give updates on curriculum needs, starting with Industrial Arts Instructor Sam West. Before talking specifically about his curriculum, West said the teachers in the programs formerly known as Applied Arts—industrial tech, family and consumer sciences, and business education— would like their department to be renamed Career & Technical Education (CTE). He said CTE is a better description for the programs, which emphasize career-readiness.
West’s curriculum information referenced a Harvard graduate school of education study that encourages renewed investment in CTE programs. He gave an overview of the proposed curriculum for the future—and provided a list of items needed for the Industrial Tech program. West said his goals for the shop program were to promote design and engineering studies and handson skills, to promote tech schools and apprenticeship programs, to update equipment, and to improve facilities. He said the shop area was recently used for a community education welding class. If it were in better shape, he said, more activities like that could take place. The wish list included items ranging from a DVD player and reference manuals to printer cartridges and hand tools to lathes and a Tig Welder. His curriculum request totaled $21,654. Not included in the curriculum request were two additional “wish list” items, a TF-1000 snowboard press/accessory kit and Ironworker for $8,091.
Cindy Muus, who teaches family and consumer sciences (FACS), was next and she presented information describing the assorted classes in the program, sharing some student success stories. She summed it up by saying, “Basically FACS is about how you are going to live your life and make everything work in the complicated world we live in.”
Muus explained some of changes to curriculum for the coming year and also gave a list of things needed for FACS, such as a new refrigerator, three to six new sewing machines, and new infant simulators for the 9th grade Values and Choices class. Muus also requested a DVD player and videos to augment curriculum, noting that she is currently using a VCR that she purchased herself many years ago. The proposed purchases for FACS totaled $9,000.
Business Education Teacher Jane Gellner, who operated the power point display for the other teachers, then presented her curriculum, which has been expanded to now offer a 3rd, 4th and 5th grader keyboarding and a College in the Schools (CITS) accounting class through Lake Superior Technical College. Gellner’s $23,331 request included textbooks, computer simulations, cameras, camcorders, software licensing, a professional printer and ink, and installation fees.
Also provided was an estimate on replacing the computers in the school Mac Lab. Gellner noted that the computers are adequate at this time, but since it will be six years before the business education curriculum is reviewed again, computer replacement should be factored into the budget somewhere. At the next curriculum review, the Mac Lab computers would be 12 years old. Superintendent Beth Schwarz said computer replacement would be budgeted as a capital improvement, so the board did not have to deal with it at this time.
Another CTE request was made from all three teachers—$ 6,000 for field trips with students, such as visits to area businesses and/or technical or community colleges.
Superintendent Schwarz said $60,000 had been budgeted for 2011 – 2012 for CTE, so she recommended approving the curriculum as presented. Board Member Leonard Sobanja made the motion to approve the curriculum, totaling $59,985. The motion passed unanimously.
All three of the CTE teachers mentioned fundraising. Cindy Muus said her culinary arts students make and sell desserts at various events. Sam West said with the new equipment, students could make items to sell. And Jane Gellner said with the new professional printer, students could create and sell posters, business cards, and greeting cards.
Finding Funding
When the teachers had completed their presentations, Richard Struck, a retired philanthropist, spoke to the board about fundraising for the school. The school board had passed a motion to work with Struck on this in 2008, but with the transition of superintendents at that time, no progress was made. Schwarz said, “We’re looking at 3-5 years of flat spending from the state. We need to work on getting that up to a more reasonable level. But we need to get more creative if we don’t want to seek another levy, so I invited Mr. Struck back to talk to us.”
Schwarz said she had accompanied Struck on a visit to a potential donor and she said it was beneficial, not just as a possible fundraiser, but as part of her goal to communicate with the public.
The board immediately had questions, with Leonard Sobanja asking what it would cost the school and Deb White asking how Struck found people to talk to about donating to the school. Struck said finding donors was fairly easy. He said he would work with the school board and the Cook County Education Foundation and a good place to start was with the people who had donated to the school in the past. Struck said there would be little cost to the school, requesting only reimbursement of postage, printing, and perhaps mileage. He estimated about $2,500 in the first year. He said if the board directed him to proceed, he could bring a detailed budget to the July school board meeting.
He explained various methods of donations—unrestricted and restricted for specific programs (like the Industrial Tech wish list) and capital campaigns—and said, “I’d love to see a legacy fund on your balance sheet. Sitting there for just these things, so you didn’t have to worry about these types of expenditures,” said Struck.
The board passed a unanimous motion for Schwarz to work with Struck on this philanthropic effort. In other business:
The board approved letters to be sent to reinstate faculty that had been placed on unrequested leave of absence because of anticipated budget shortages. Schwarz said she was pleased to tell the board that science, English, and industrial technology teachers will receive letters letting them know their positions would be restored to full-time.
Superintendent Schwarz said the consolidation of offices has been “relatively smooth.” She commended the custodial staff for helping keep things organized during the move.
Principal Carman distributed a draft discipline policy for review. Board members will vote on whether to adopt the policy or not at the July meeting.
Carman also expressed appreciation to State Patrol Officer Leah Carpenter and Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk for their powerful presentation on teen driving safety. She said Music Teacher Keri Bilben also shared a very personal story about the life-changing experience she had when a classmate died in an alcohol-related accident shortly before graduation.
The board approved a College in the Schools (CITS) partnership with the University of MN. Three CITS courses will be taught in 2011- 2012: College Writing and Introduction to Literature by Ivy Church and Economics and Society by Mitchell Dorr.
School Board Chair Mary Sanders reported on the closed session during the June 7 school board meeting. Sanders said the closed session was held to conduct reviews with Superintendent Beth Schwarz and Principal Gwen Carman. Sanders said the board asked the superintendent and principal to work together to provide benchmarks for performance and those will be reviewed quarterly. Sanders added that the board expressed general satisfaction with both administrators.
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