Here’s what’s happening at District 205
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. All seven board members attended the meeting.
There were no public comments.
• ‘Thoughtexchange’ agreement approved
Following brief discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve a $24,000 service agreement with Fulcrum Management Solutions/Thoughtexchange. The agreement will reportedly facilitate community engagement through the Thrive 205 project. The agreement allows for multiple community engagements throughout the year. Thoughtexchange is a tool of community feedback that gathers information from the community. Feedback, which will be provided by students, parents and staff members, will help the board and administration develop strategies to reduce stress and anxiety among district students.
• Calendars approved for 2020-21, 2021-22
The board voted unanimously to approve the school calendars for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. A committee including representatives from District 205 employee groups, as well as a PTA representatives, conducted multiple meetings to discuss and make recommendations for the school calendars.
In the 2020-21 calendar, the first day of student attendance for all levels will be Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. The last day for all levels will be Thursday, May 27, 2021. The last day could be extended to as late as June 4, 2021, if any emergency days are used.
Winter break will begin on Dec. 23, 2020, with students returning on Jan. 6, 2021. Spring break will begin on March 29, 2021, with students returning on April 5, 2021.
York High School’s graduation will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2021.
The 2021-22 school year will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. The last day will be Friday, May 27, 2022. The last day could be extended up to five days to June 6, 2022, if emergency days are used.
The winter break will begin on Dec. 23, 2021, with students returning on Jan. 6, 2022. Spring break will begin on March 28, 2022, with classes resuming on April 4, 2022.
York High School’s Class of 2022 will graduate on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
• District hires executive director of technology
Board members voted 5-0 to approve the hiring of Robert Bialk as the district’s executive director of technology. Bialk will have an annual base salary of about $131,000, and a start date of no later than July 1, 2020. Bialk currently works in Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103, which feeds into Stevenson High School. He will replace David Smith—District 205’s current executive director of technology.
Board members Jim Collins and Karen Stuefen abstained from voting on the motion to hire Bialk. Neither board member explained why they abstained.
• IASA-IASBO conference discusses arming staff
Board members also discussed the recent Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) joint conference, which took place in Chicago.
One of the proposed resolutions considered at the conference was a resolution calling for the IASB to support legislation that would provide local school boards the option to decide if they would allow for properly trained staff to be armed in school buildings. District 205, which had one vote, voted against the resolution. That resolution did not pass, with 249 voting against it, and 198 voting for it. Board member Margaret Harrell noted that there are approximately 900 school districts in Illinois. About half of those districts sent delegates to the conference.
The board will hold its next regular meeting—its final meeting of 2019 — on Dec. 17. The board will hold its first meeting of 2020 on Jan. 14.
