|
District 27 board meeting
Send a link to a friend
[DEC. 18, 2003]
According to the "School
Report Card" assessments based on ISAT scores, Lincoln elementary
students are not being left behind. Out of all schools in the
district, only Jefferson School did not meet adequate improvement by
state standards. These standards are a part of the No Child Left
Behind Act, and under the law all students between third and eighth
grades have to be tested.
|
|
Superintendent Robert Kidd doubts
whether Jefferson School will ever meet the required standards,
because Jefferson school tests only third-graders and there are more
handicapped third-graders in the special education programs there.
He did stress that there are about 300 other schools across Illinois
with similar problems, and the state is looking at alternative ways
to work with these schools and the students affected therein.
Across the board, students in the other
Lincoln schools met or exceeded the progress standards easily.
Parents who would like to see the School Report Cards can access
them at the District 27 website, http://logan.k12.il.us/les27/office.html.
The district met last night at Central
School's band room and discussed the progress under No Child Left
Behind, as well as many other issues.
Court Coles, a representative from S.M.
Wilson Co., was on hand at the meeting to discuss contracts and
building schedules for the junior high building now under way on
Broadway Street. The contracts have all been signed, and
construction is proceeding as expected.
Bond issuance documents drawn up by
bond attorneys Chapman and Cutler were presented, and the sale of
bonds to help cover costs within the district was approved
unanimously. The contracts were signed immediately.
The board also discussed the
possibility of hiring two additional teachers to help work with
those students who struggle with the work in mainstream classes but
do not qualify for the special education classes.
[to top of second column in
this article]
 |
In other matters, District 27 board
members:
--Discussed and approved an estimated
tax levy to be filed with the county clerk for assessment. The tax
rate is anticipated to be lower than in previous years at this time.
--Discussed illness among students and
teachers in the district due to cold weather and flu outbreaks.
--Finalized adoption of a new board
policy to tape closed sessions. This policy has to be in effect by
the January meeting, as mandated by law. Superintendent Robert Kidd
said he is working with Lincolnland Communications to find an
adequate tape recorder for this use.
--Clarified an erroneous rumor
surrounding Dr. Kidd's resignation. He will not be leaving at the
end of this year, as was previously reported in the Courier, but at
the end of next year.
The board also discussed a request from
Rachel Grunder to work with District 27's gifted students in a
research project for her master's degree in education. After reading
through her proposed survey and suggesting changes, Dr. Kidd and
Marcia Dallas, the district's teacher for the gifted, approved the
proposal and brought it to the board for a vote. The board agreed to
allow the Grunder to do the research but said that parents will have
to sign a permission waiver before their individual student takes
part in the survey.
Before
adjourning, board President Bruce Carmitchel presented a plaque of
appreciation to Dr. W. James Wilmert, who is resigning from the
school board after 20 years of service. Dr. Wilmert accepted the
plaque saying, "It's been a great 20 years, but it's time for a
change."
[Ruth Halpin] |
