Glenbard News for Jan. 14, 2025

In this issue:

• East Fine Arts Boosters hosting singalong fundraiser on Jan. 24
• GPS program to shed light on fentanyl, meth and other opiates
• Highlights of Jan. 13 board meeting

East Fine Arts Boosters hosting singalong fundraiser on Jan. 24
The Glenbard East Fine Arts Boosters will host a community choir singalong fundraiser at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 inside Biester Auditorium at Glenbard East.

All ages are invited and no experience is necessary. Attendees will learn and perform a song in three-part harmony in less than 90 minutes. Tickets include dessert and a beverage. Tickets can be purchased online at gefinearts.org.

GPS program to shed light on fentanyl, meth and other opiates
The GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will host acclaimed journalist, author and storyteller Sam Quinones in a program titled The Changing Landscape of the Drug Epidemic: Fentanyl Poisoning, Meth and More at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, via Zoom. Go to the GPS Parent Series website for information and the links to these webinars.

Please share information about these events with friends and relatives. 

To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in advance, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at [email protected] or 630-942-7668.

Quinones says the unrelenting supply of two synthetic drugs, fentanyl and methamphetamine, has created a new reality and changed everything. He will update students and families on a drug crisis he says is killing thousands annually. He also will share his reasons for hope.

Quinones will detail his research on the changing landscape of the opioid crisis and discuss how fentanyl replaced other opiates like prescription pills and heroin. He will also discuss the use of Narcan and other related substance use and addiction topics.

Quinones is a former Los Angeles Times reporter and author of four books, including “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic” His most recent release is “The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth.” 

Continuing professional development units are available for this program.

GPS is generously sponsored by the Emmy Gaffey Foundation, Cebrin Goodman Center, Prevention Leadership Team of the DuPage County Health Department, Duly Health and Care, Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, KidsMatter, Endeavor Health, Community Consolidated School District 93 Birth to 5 Coalition, DuPage Regional Office of Education, and Webb-Hutter Family Fund of DuPage Foundation.

Highlights of Jan. 13 board meeting
Board Highlights feature a brief description of the action items and discussion items on the meeting agenda. Board Highlights do not replace minutes. The minutes are approved by the board and posted after the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Present: Margaret DeLaRosa, Bob Friend, Rosemarie Montanez, Martha Mueller and Jim Shannon. Absent: Kermit Eby and Hetal Lee.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

1. Congratulations to Glenbard South Assistant Principal of Instruction Sean Byrne on being recognized by the Illinois Principals’ Association as the Assistant Principal of the Year for the DuPage Region. This is well-earned recognition of Byrne’s dedication to Glenbard students and staff. I am thankful to have him on our leadership team.
2. We encourage community members to attend the following GPS Parent Series events. Details and the link to each event is available at GPSparentseries.org

• January 9 at noon and 7 p.m. – Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less: Tools for Tackling Motivation
• January 15 at noon and 7 p.m. – What Happened to You; A Shift from “What is Wrong with You?”
• January 16 at noon and 7 p.m. – The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal: A Workshop for Parents
• January 22 at noon and 7 p.m. – The Breakthrough Years: A New Scientific Framework for Raising Thriving Teens
• January 23 at 7 p.m. – B-PAC event in Urdu and Hindi: The Essentials of Positive Parenting

3. All of our educators participated in our January Institute Day on January 6, with each building providing its own planned programming. Educators will have the opportunity to further their professional development at the Countywide Institute Day in February and throughout the year in our PD brochure sessions. Additionally, each of the four schools conducted reunification training with all building staff during Institute Day. This scenario-based training focused on various staff roles if an emergency situation arises and we are required to go off-site to reunite our students with their families. First responders from our various municipalities were also in attendance for the reunification drills. The feedback from our staff and first responders was overwhelmingly positive about the experience.
4. At the Joint Annual Conference held in Chicago in late November, education leaders from five statewide organizations introduced the Vision 2030 blueprint for excellence in K-12 public education. Vision 2030 is a comprehensive effort to create a framework of legislative goals and policy changes that would improve Illinois’ public education system. The vision provides a roadmap which includes systems and processes that would enhance public education through future-focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding. Vision 2030 places emphasis on four key priorities:
   * Keeping students safe
   * Keeping high-quality educators in front of students
   * Enhancing post-secondary success
   * Improving measurements of what is working well in schools

5. On November 25, 2024, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from The Data Branch, Kimia Hamadi, requesting all purchase orders from January 1, 2020 to the present day. The district has responded to this request.
6. On December 5, 2024, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Workflow Solution Software, Mary Janice, requesting purchase and lease information about the district’s multifunction copiers, printers, and print management software. The district has responded to this request.
7. On December 19, 2024, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Katherine Schlueter, requesting Glenbard West PowerSchool attendance records from the past five years. The district has responded to this request.

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– the December 16, 2024 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.

– the following personnel items:
LICENSED STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                                  School/Position                                                         FTE          Effective Date
Booth, Stephanie        East / FaCS Teacher (overload)                        10%                01/06/2025
Michelini, Sara              North / Special Ed Teacher (overload)           10%                01/06/2025
Minogue, Sarah            North / EL Teacher (addtl. FTE)                        10%                01/06/2025
Murawski, Amanda     East / FaCS Teacher (overload)                       10%                01/06/2025
Nagel, Christopher      East / FaCS Teacher (overload)                       10%                01/06/2025
Pietras, Jonathan        East / Industrial Tech Teacher (overload)     10%                01/06/2025
Salpekar, Elyse             North / EL Teacher (overload)                            10%                01/06/2025
Shirley, Marti                  East / Bus-Computer Sci. Teacher (overload)   10%         01/07/2025
Siddiqui, Maryam        North / Science Teacher (addtl. FTE)              10%                01/06/2025
Thompson, Kristin      North / Mathematics Teacher (overload)       10%                01/06/2025 

SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                                School/Position                                           FTE            Effective Date
Bialik, Monika              East / Study Hall / BIA Supervisor      93.75%           01/07/2025
Bucio, Dayanara        North / Admin Assist to Nurse              100%               12/17/2024
Simms, Nicole            West / Admin Assist to Fine Arts          100%              01/06/2025
Stack, Edward            East / Special Education Asst               87.5%              12/03/2024
Syracuse, Concetta   South / Special Education Asst          87.5%              12/17/2024
Trahey, Maristela       East / EL Bilingual Interpreter                100%               12/16/2024

LICENSED STAFF – SUMMER SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT:
Name                                School/Position                                                  Term
Slusher, Erica              East / In-School SS Principal                       11/11/2024-05/23/2025

LICENSED STAFF – LEAVES OF ABSENCE:
Name                            School/Position                              Term                               Reason
Clemens, Corie       South / Librarian            12/09/2024 – 02/03/2025      Personal

SUPPORT STAFF – RESIGNATION/TERMINATIONS:
Name                              School/Position                                                           Effective Date
Bates, Kimberly        South / Admin Asst to APSS                                        01/03/2025
Green, Colleen          North / Admin Asst to Dean                                          01/01/2025
Murphy, Charles        East / Building Engineer                                                01/12/2025

– accepting the following donations: Good Heart Work Smart Foundation, $2,000.00 for activities and experiences at East. Dora Korson, $500.00 for basketball team supplies at East.

– four excursions.

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– awards and recognitions. Congratulations to our students who were recognized for outstanding leadership and academics: Syeda Rameeshah and Herminia Zacatzi (East); Adriana Estevez and Abraham Valdez (North); and Ayushi Patel and Christopher Tran (West).

– GPS Parent Series update. Student and Community Projects Coordinator Gilda Ross shared an update on the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families, which embodies priority three of the district to “strengthen productive home, school, and community partnerships for education”.

GPS continues to be recognized regionally and nationally as a model program for engaging parents and community members from diverse groups to increase successful outcomes for students. The presentation updated the board on the expanded partnerships with local organizations and outreach to our diverse Glenbard communities.

– student fee schedule 2025-26. Each year, district administration proposes a student fee schedule for board review, input and approval. For 2025-26, we recommend no increase to the registration fees.

Registration and course fees are $225 (inclusive of prompt pay discount) and include:

• Registration
• All course fees
• Handbook fee
• Student activity pass to all Glenbard events [excludes musicals; plays and state series events (IHSA tournaments)]

If not paid by due date, family will pay the standard registration rate of $250.

Technology rental device: The rental device includes iPad, keyboard, case, charger, insurance, loaner program and technical support for an annual rental fee of $174.

If account is current, returning students can take device home over summer for use. Note: If family has made four rental payments and their account balance is zero at graduation, title of device will transfer to student for zero buyout, in essence a rent-to-own program.

Digital curriculum/app fee: The annual digital curriculum/app fee is $85 and includes all digital licenses for textbooks; novels; learning management system software and district-required applications. If digital curriculum is not available for a particular class and the student requires a textbook, that textbook will be rented to that student at no charge. The student will be responsible for caring for the textbook and returning it at the end of the course term in good condition. 

We will continue to provide course fee budget to departments for consumable instructional supplies, per base line budget previously established.

Optional fees:

• Athletic fee remains at $175 per student/year and allows the student to participate in unlimited sports.
• Summer school get-ahead courses remain at $350 per class.
• Behind-the-wheel remains at $350 per student.
• Parking on campus is $200 per year; off-campus is $100 per year (if assigned space).
• AP exam fees are referenced on fee schedule. Student will receive their first exam at no charge.

All incoming freshmen will be charged a fee for a gym uniform set and will be issued a physical education uniform and lock during back-to-school week or initial days of school.

Fee waivers: We recommend continuing the procedures to assist families who have financial constraints. Fee waivers would continue to include families with household incomes through 185 percent of the federal standard.

– financial projections for fiscal years 2026-30. Each year, the district updates its five-year financial projections for board review and discussion. Financial projections provide the basis for the district to make key decisions regarding staffing, programs, capital investments, etc. while meeting board financial objectives of: 1) balance budget in operating funds; 2) solvency position, with objective of maintaining 180 days cash on hand; and 3) meeting our cash flow requirements without borrowing.

Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year was 104 students above the projected 7,739, coming in at 7,843 district-wide. When compared to the 2023-24 actual enrollment, there was an increase of 104 students district-wide. While this increase was unanticipated based on projections, future year projections are anticipated to decline over the next several years. Based on projections from Dr. Kasarda (updated last in December 2022), we are forecasting enrollment for next year 2025-26 to be slightly under 7,700 students. We anticipate that by 2028-29 that number will decline to slightly under 7,300 students. We have updated our licensed full-time equivalent (FTE) projections based on these enrollment numbers.

We expect to run our operations at a balanced budget over the five-year projection cycle, per our base model projection. We will maintain adequate cash on hand to meet our obligations and maintain our solvency positions over these five years.