News
March 9, 2021
Share this story

Planning for 2021-22 and Board Highlights

In this issue:

  • Superintendent outlines planning for 2021-22
  • Highlights of March 8 Board of Education meeting
  • Apply to be a substitute, temporary supervisor
  • How you can help slow the spread of COVID-19 

Superintendent outlines planning for 2021-22
We know the 2021-22 school year will be a year like no other and we are preparing now for a successful return to full-day, in-person learning for our students. We are eager to see more of our students in the classroom and pursuing their passions in their classes and in extracurricular activities on campus. We plan to return to our pre-pandemic school schedule, where all eight periods meet five days a week.

The following is an outline of our draft plan for the 2021-22 school year that will continue to evolve as we receive guidance from health officials. Our preparations are based on assumptions that will continue to evolve. We anticipate we will receive new guidance from national, state and county health officials in the coming months and will adjust our plan as needed.

As conditions improve and our region moves into Phase 5 of the state’s Restore Illinois plan, schools will resume traditional operations with new safety guidance and procedures. We are developing our plan with the assumption that in 2021-22 safety mitigations will include wearing masks, temperature screening and increased school-wide cleaning. The well-being and safety of students and staff will remain our highest priority, and we will continue to follow public health officials’ safety guidance.

Our draft plan covers the following key areas:

  • Safety priorities
  • School day schedule
  • Welcoming back students to campus
  • Supports for students
  • Summer supports for students
  • Athletics, clubs and activities

This is our framework for right now, and we will develop it over time.

Community Input
We are committed to a transparent process that involves input from various stakeholders, local community experts and other government agencies. In the coming weeks, we will announce a series of town hall meetings to gather feedback. These will be followed by opportunities for future planning to engage our school community. We will continue to survey our students, families and staff for feedback about their current experience at school and their expectations for the future.

Timeline for Feedback and Plan Development 

  • March 2021 – Board of Education discussions and district-wide surveys for students, families and staff
  • April 2021 – town halls and announce, form and implement community engagement teams
  • May 2021 – Community engagement teams meet, plan and provide feedback
  • Summer 2021 – Finalize plans and communicate with stakeholders

Design Priorities for this Plan
The design priorities noted below will guide our planning teams. We will continue to follow public health officials’ safety guidance. Our draft plan is responsive to the contextual realities and needs of our community.

  • Community input on developing plans for the 2021-22 school year.
  • Supports for families/students include academic supports, financial assistance and access to food. Students and staff work together to address the academic needs and social emotional needs of each student.
  • Prioritizing equity and belonging by cultivating a Glenbard culture of inclusion, belonging and high achievement for every student
  • Focusing on our Profile of Graduate vision for teaching and learning. Our students will learn to communicate, collaborate, think critically, create, embrace diversity and be self-empowered.

Safety continues to be a major focus.  Because conditions continue to evolve, we will closely monitor health agency guidelines as we frame details of our plan for the fall and will make adjustments as needed.

Throughout our planning process, we will keep students, families and staff informed about our plan for the 2021-22 school year. I am eager to see the plan take shape.

Superintendent David F. Larson, Ed.D.

Highlights of March 8 Board of Education meeting
After each Board of Education meeting, we provide Board Highlights, which 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 – Judith Weinstock, Margaret DeLaRosa, Bob Friend, Jennifer Jendras, John Kenwood and Martha Mueller. Absent: Mireya Vera.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

  1. Congratulations to Glenbard West student Pierce Cousins on being one of 26 students named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team. Team members needed to have a minimum 3.50 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale after their seventh semester, have participated in at least two IHSA-sponsored activities during each of the last two years of high school and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.
  1. Congratulations to Glenbard East math teacher and girls gymnastics coach Jessica Bugajsky on being named 2019-20 State Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Association Coaches Association. The honor recognizes outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic activities.
  1. We encourage community members to attend the following Glenbard Parent Series webinars. Details are at Glenbardgps.org.
  • Most Likely to Succeed: Anticipating the Future of Education and Careers at 7 p.m. March 9
  • Grooming for Excellence Parent Academy in Spanish at 7 p.m. March 11
  • Your Turn: How to Be an Adult at 7 p.m. March 16
  1. SAT Prep is in week six of the program, marking the time when students will take their midpoint practice test. Students will use their scores from the initial diagnostic test week one, as well as their scores from this week, to evaluate their growth through the first half of the course. Families are communicated with when students are absent from class. These added communication efforts to families are helping us to monitor and sustain student attendance.
  1. During summer 2020, our teachers rallied to redesign coursework for a fully remote summer school experience. Over 2,500 student enrollments participated in a variety of summer school opportunities. For summer 2021, we will offer a mixture of both in-person and fully remote course offerings, including Credit Recovery Courses, Get Ahead Credit Courses, Bridge Courses, Extended School Year and new this year Math and Argumentative Writing Enrichment Courses. Students in our English Learners program will also have access to a variety of English Learner specific course options. All of our courses and supports are designed to address student needs in credit acquisition and skill development. We will offer a variety of instructional formats to allow for diversity in offerings and accessibility for a wide range of students.
  1. On February 16, 2021, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Stephanie Clark, requesting information regarding Rick Heim’s resignation from the D87 Board of Education. The district has responded to this request.
  1. On February 19, 2021, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from LocalLabs, Vince Espi, requesting the information about the 1619 Project and curriculum. The district has responded to this request.
  1. On February 25, 2021, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Marty Boyd, requesting information about Superintendent David Larson’s contract. The district has responded to this request.

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– minutes from the Feb. 22 Board of Education meeting and Feb. 22 closed session meeting.

– the following personnel items:

SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:

Name                         School/Position                                             FTE                Effective Date

Mirka, Peggy             East/Attendance Clerk                                   100%                 03/08/2021

Theus, Richard         North/Special Ed Assistant                            87.5%                02/09/2021

SUPPORT STAFF – POSITION CHANGE:

Name                         School/Position                                             FTE                Effective Date

Klopfenstein, Efpril   North/Receptionist to Special Ed Secretary 100%               03/01/2021

LICENSED STAFF – LEAVES OF ABSENCE:

Name                         School/Position                                       Term                       Reason

Pelland, Joel             East/Physical Education                          2021-2022              Personal

Voland, David           West/Physical Education                   04/14/21-04/28/21      Personal

SUPPORT STAFF – LEAVES OF ABSENCE:

Name                         School/Position                                       Term                       Reason

Stueve, Grant           Transitions So./Special Ed Aide         03/01/21-05/21/21     Personal

LICENSED STAFF – RESIGNATIONS & TERMINATIONS

Name                         School/Position                                                                     Effective Date

Athens, Susan          East/FaCS Teacher                                                                   05/21/2021

Foster, Thomas        North/English                                                                              05/21/2021

Sanchez, Jorge J     East/Dean of Students                                                              06/09/2021

– rescheduling the May 10, 2021 Board of Education meeting to May 3, 2021.  The Board of Education meeting calendar was approved by the board on April 27, 2020.  The first May meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 10, 2021. 

In preparation for the May organization meeting, it was discovered that, per Illinois School Code, the organization meeting must be held within 28 days of the consolidated election on April 6, 2021.  The May 10 meeting is 34 days past April 6, 2021. 

To meet the requirements of the school code we are rescheduling the May 10, 2021 Board of Education meeting to May 3, 2021.  This is 27 days past April 6, 2021.

– awarding 2021 Summer Capital Improvement Projects bids to Hargrave Builders in the amount of $6,042,900 and Valor Technologies in the amount of $62,990.

On February 4, 2021 Performance Services Inc. (PSI) opened four sealed bids for the 2021 capital improvement project. PSI identified the following low bidder listed below:

General Trades:
Hargrave Builders: Base Bid (Contract at our four schools and Administration Center): $6,042,900 inclusive of Alternates 1N, 2N, 1S, 3W, 1E, 2E, 3E, 1A and 1T.

Asbestos Abatement:
Pekron Consulting opened 11 sealed bids for asbestos abatement work.  After review of bids, Pekron identified Valor Technologies as the lowest responsible bidder for $62,990.

PSI & Pekron recommend contract awards to the above bidders for this project after review of the contractor’s scope and qualifications.

The total capital project cost for this public bid award is $6,042,900, which includes project alternates in the amount of $1,955,900. 

Our total capital project cost for summer 2021 is $12,411,748, which includes capital project and guaranteed savings project scope, inclusive of all fees and allowances.  Our budget was initially $10.5 million; however, we believe it is prudent to award this full project scope due to:  favorable bid pricing; all projects are on our priority list for completion; and our financial position can support this spend. Specifically, $1.3 million of this scope will be funded via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant, and remaining dollars will be funded via projected favorable performance in our allowances and budget.

The 2021 capital project projects substantial completion date is Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 except for the Glenbard East theatre rigging replacement and the Glenbard North locker room renovation, which is scheduled for Nov. 30.

– the seventh addendum to installation contract No. PC-K16-2162 with Performance Services Inc. We have implemented major project work with Performance Services, Inc. (PSI) at our four campuses.  We have been very pleased with PSI’s ability to design and deliver these major projects within our tight time constraints and within our financial targets. 

The Board of Education approved the sixth addendum to the installation contract in March 2020 to provide dollars for scope of work throughout the district.  We continue with our focus on Master Facility Plan upgrades and propose $12,411,748 in overall capital project work for summer 2021, inclusive of fees.  Energy conservation measure project work identified for PSI and their contractors is $5,474,680. An approved addendum to the contract provides sufficient dollars to fund this scope.

– intergovernmental agreements for paramedic services at football games with the Carol Stream Fire Protection District at Glenbard North football games at the rate of $150 per hour, with the Village of Lombard at Glenbard East football games at the rate of $120 per hour, and with the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District at Glenbard South football games at the rate of $140 per hour. The paramedics will be parked at the school during the football games for rapid response in the event of an emergency medical situation.

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– a resolution directing the school treasurer to transfer funds from the Operations & Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund. The Illinois Program Accounting Manual requires that all debt expenditures, principal and interest, be paid out of the Debt Service Fund.

DuPage County levies tax dollars for Glenbard’s previously approved referendum debt.  We cannot levy dollars for non-referendum debt, such as our Alternate Revenue Source Bonds, etc.  Therefore, we need to make a permanent fund transfer from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund to ensure there are sufficient dollars on hand to pay non-referendum debt out of the Debt Service Fund.  This prevents the fund from going into a negative position. A permanent fund transfer of $2,282,491.56 is required to support operating debt payments. 

– a resolution directing the school treasurer to transfer funds from the Education Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. Based on our fiscal 2021 financial forecast, we expect to be favorable to budget this year and propose a permanent fund transfer of $3,000,000 from the Education Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. These dollars will be reserved to fund future capital project work.  We project that our day’s cash on hand at the end of the year will be in our targeted range of 180 to 190, following the transfer, in line with the Illinois State Board of Education’s days cash on hand goal.

We will continue to monitor our performance and if our reserve position improves, we have the opportunity to adjust.

– hybrid and remote learning report. Administrators provided an update about our hybrid and remote learning, activities for our seniors, planning for the 2021-22 school year and updates on summer school. 

Apply to be a substitute, temporary supervisor
We are hiring substitute teachers, temporary supervisors, and/or volunteers to assist with classroom and building opportunities. If you are looking for a rewarding job in education or know someone who is, please check out our job postings here and apply today.

How you can help slow the spread of COVID-19
To slow the spread of COVID-19, the DuPage County Health Department urges residents to: 

  • Wear a mask whenever outside your home or around people not from your household;
  • Watch your distance, staying at least 6 feet from people outside of your immediate household; 
  • Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer often; 
  • Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors;
  • Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19; consult with your healthcare provider for medical evaluation and testing, as needed; and 
  • Get your flu shot, to prevent illness from influenza and to prevent possible co-infection from influenza and COVID-19. 

Also, check the DuPage County Health Department COVID-19 vaccine website.