Here’s what’s going on at District 205
By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a meeting on Feb. 12 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. All seven board members attended the meeting.
There were no public comments.
Ostwald, Polkow recognized
The board recognized York High School Orchestra Director Ray Ostwald, who recently received the Illinois American String Teachers Association (ILASTA) 2019 Outstanding Educator Award. Ostwald, who has been teaching at York for 23 years, was honored at the ILASTA awards banquet in Peoria on Jan. 25.
The board also presented a Shining Star Award to Sandburg Middle School technology assistant David Polkow.
Blended learning pilot program
The meeting included a presentation about the blended learning pilot program that will be enacted at York during the 2019-20 school year. York Principal Erin DeLuga and Mark Cohen, the district’s assistant superintendent of innovation and growth, delivered the presentation. They described blended learning as a delivery model of instruction that includes flexible use of time, with teacher instruction including a combination of days in which students are in the classroom and out of the classroom. The “out of class” learning days allow a teacher to bring in small groups of students for targeted support. Students can take advantage of technology to continue their classwork and communicate with their teachers and fellow students.
DeLuga and Cohen noted that the blended learning pilot program, which will focus on seniors, will give students an idea of the college experience, where they will have to manage their own time.
The blended learning pilot program at York in the 2019-20 school year will be offered in two senior courses—Chicago Lit and Anatomy/Physiology. Participation is voluntary; students can opt into a blended section of those courses. There will be other sections of the two courses that won’t feature the blended learning option.
Cohen noted that that blending learning instruction is not for all students, some of whom require more structure. Cohen and DeLuga added that the program could provide benefits in behavioral health by giving students more flexibility in their schedules.
Special education analysis presentation
The meeting also included a presentation about an analysis of the district’s special education program. Mariann Lemke, the district’s executive director of research and program analysis, gave the presentation. Lemke said that overall, about 1,200 district students—approximately 14 percent of the district’s overall student population–receive special education. About 270 of those students attend York.
The most common impairment of the district’s special education students is a speech and/or language impairment. The second most common impairment is some other health impairment. On average, the district’s special education students receive those special education services for three to five years.
Lemke’s presentation also noted that the district has 88 special education teachers. About 85 percent of those teachers have at least a master’s degree. Lemke referred to students with an IEP (individualized educational plan) and stated that IEPs are reviewed at least once per year.
Whelton offers future financial projections
Christopher Whelton, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, gave a brief presentation during the meeting about future financial projections. Whelton told the board that such projections are never exact. He also stated that the projections do not include funds related to the recently passed referendum approving the district’s master facilities plan.
Whelton stated that property taxes account for about 83 percent of the district’s operating revenues. He also noted that about 75 percent of the district’s expenditures (63 percent toward salaries and 12 percent toward benefits) are related to staffing. The district’s current contract with teachers runs through the district’s 2021 fiscal year.
Whelton also said that the district’s enrollment projections are relatively flat through the 2023-24 school year. The district has a total of about 8,500 students during the current 2018-19 school year. The number of students is projected to rise to about 8,700 students in the 2023-24 school year.
The district anticipates about $122.9 million in total revenues and about $122.1 million in total expenditures during its 2019 fiscal year. The district is projected to end the current fiscal year with a fund balance of about $57 million. According to the most recent projections, the district’s fund balance will be about $47.8 million by the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
Cohen promoted to replace Woell
The board also unanimously approved the cost-neutral reassignment of Mark Cohen, assistant superintendent of innovation and growth, from his current position to the position of assistant superintendent for human resources. He will replace Jim Woell, who resigning to take a superintendent position in another district. Cohen will officially begin his new position on July 1.
New principal at Fischer approved
In its final vote of the meeting, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Irene Villa as the new principal of Conrad Fischer Elementary School. Villa, who will begin as the school’s principal on Aug. 1, will have a base annual salary of about $121,000. She will replace Jane Bailey, who is retiring.
The board will hold its next regular meeting on Feb. 26.
