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 regular meeting on Tuesday, May 11 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. All seven board members attended the meeting.
There were no public comments.
Students honored for ‘Reflections’ program
The meeting included a recognition of the four district students who advanced to the national competition of the National PTA’s Reflections program. The arts program asks children to create works of art in any of six different categories, reflecting on a different theme each year. The theme of the 2020-21 school year was “I Matter Because.”
Projects advance through a judging system through council, district, region, state and national levels of the program. The district students who advanced to the Reflections program’s national competition during the current school year are: Shea Coleman (Hawthorne Elementary School), Evan Seiler (Field Elementary School), Elsie Proctor (Conrad Fischer Elementary School) and Charles Connor (Lincoln Elementary School). Shea Coleman’s submission in the Film Production category—”Dream Matters”—received an award of merit at the national competition.
Bialk overviews technology dept., needs for future
The May 11 meeting included a presentation from RJ Bialk, the district’s executive director of technology. Bialk provided an overview of the District 205 Technology Department. He also outlined the plan for the upcoming 2021-22 school year to provide new devices to each district student entering Grade 1, Grade 5 and Grade 9. Bialk said those students will use the same devices for four school years. He said each of the devices will have an expected useful life of four years. Each device issued to students entering Grade 1, Grade 5 and Grade 9 will be issued a charger, which they will be responsible for over the ensuing four school years.
Bialk said that district students entering first grade (approximately 600 students) in the 2021-22 school year will receive an iPad valued at about $400. Each student entering fifth grade in the coming school year (projected at nearly 650 students) will be issued a Chromebook valued at $465. Each student entering their freshman year at York High School (about 650 students) in the 2021-22 school year will also receive a Chromebook valued at $465. The Chromebooks for incoming freshmen at York will not be identical to those being issued to students entering fifth grade.
Bialk said that all district students in grades 3-12 will continue to use Chromebooks during the 2021-22 school year. The district’s early-childhood, kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade students will continue using iPads.
Bialk said the district will collect all issued devices from students at the end of the current 2020-21 school year. Those devices will be wiped, reconfigured and redistributed for the 2021-22 school year to students who aren’t entering Grade 1, Grade 5 and Grade 9.
Bialk noted that another update for the 2021-22 school year involved the second phase of a printer upgrade. The district will lease an additional 34 Konica Minolta multi-function printers during the upcoming school year.
Official vote to decommission, demolish Lincoln School
Board members voted unanimously during the meeting to approve a resolution authorizing the decommission and demolition of Lincoln Elementary School at the end of the current school year. The demolition is scheduled to take place in June. The new Lincoln Elementary School will be built at the same site. The new school is scheduled to open at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Three-year agreement approved with Teachers Council
The board also voted unanimously to approve a three-year agreement between the board and Elmhurst Teachers’ Council (Local 571, American Federation of Teachers) for the period of July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024. Board member Jim Collins, who is the board’s finance chair, stated that, on average, teachers will receive a 1.2-percent annual increase to their base pay in each of the three years of the contract. The Elmhurst Teachers’ Council reportedly ratified the agreement on April 27.
Just before board members voted to approve the agreement with the Elmhurst Teachers’ Council, District 205 Board President Kara Caforio read the following statement—a joint statement from the board and the teachers’ union.
“As partners in the education of the students in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, we are committed to working together toward positive outcomes for all students. We believe all students must learn and grow in our schools. We have a shared responsibility for our students’ academic growth, and their social, emotional and physical health. We support high-quality, in-person instruction as the most effective learning environment. We make decisions based on what is best for students, and we are a future-focused community of learners that embraces innovation in order to accelerate student achievement. It is with these beliefs in mind that we move forward with a continued commitment to working together on behalf of the great students that we serve.”
Four-year agreement approved with PSRP Local 571
Board members also voted unanimously during the meeting to approve a four-year agreement between the board and Elmhurst Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Council (PSRP) (Local 571, International Federation of Teachers/American Federation of Teachers). The agreement covers the period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025. The PSRP ratified the agreement on April 23.
Collins noted that the PSRP includes the district’s administrative assistants, secretaries and aides to students. He said the new contract included annual raises between 2.5 percent and 4.5 percent. Collins, who referred to the PSRP employees as the district’s “unsung heroes,” stated that the lowest-paid workers covered by the contract will receive the highest raises. All of the workers included in the agreement will make at least $15 an hour more than one year before Illinois’ minimum wage reaches $15 an hour in 2025.
Updated discussion of COVID-19 metrics
The meeting also included a discussion of COVID-19 metrics and factors. Dr. Linda Yonke, the district’s interim superintendent, said that the district is required to adhere to certain rules. Those rules include wearing masks and following quarantine procedures. Yonke said that if the district doesn’t follow those mandates, its schools could be closed by the state.
Yonke said the district continues to advocate for changes, particularly regarding rules related to quarantines. She stated that less than 1 percent of quarantined students tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. She also said that a lot of the district’s students who quarantined never became ill.
District arranging vaccine clinics for youth
Yonke also said there had been very few cases of COVID-19 among the district’s staff members since vaccinations became available. She also said that the district is working arranging vaccine clinics for students.
Yonke said that of about 4,700 district students who had to quarantine because of rules related to COVID-19, only 13 tested positive for the coronavirus.
Yonke also said that the district is discontinuing saliva testing for the remainder of the school year. She said that most positive cases of COVID-19 from the district’s students are indicated after those students visit a doctor because of illness. Yonke said that two weeks ago, 25 district students reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, but only four cases were detected through the saliva screening process. Yonke said that in the past week, 19 students tested positive for the coronavirus, but only three cases were detected through the saliva screening.
The district will only pay for the saliva tests conducted, noted Yonke in responding to a question from Collins. Yonke said the district stopped the screenings sooner than the time it contracted for, and will pay substantially less than the maximum amount specified in its contract.
Yonke said it is highly doubtful the district would utilize saliva screening during the 2021-22 school year.
Graduation plans announced
Yonke also said that York High School will be able to have one graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 23. Some other area high schools are holding two graduation ceremonies this year. Glenbard East High School will hold two graduation services on May 22, with about half of the graduates taking part in a ceremony beginning at 10 a.m., and the other half taking part in a ceremony starting at 1 p.m. Willowbrook High School will hold two graduation ceremonies on May 23, with the first service starting at 9 a.m., and the second starting at 11 a.m.
Each of York’s 2021 graduates will receive tickets for three guests for the outdoor ceremony on May 23. If the service is moved to the field house because of inclement weather, each graduate will receive tickets for two guests.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Near the end of the meeting, Caforio noted that the previous week was Teacher Appreciation Week. She said board member Christopher Kocinski proposed that each board member speak about some of the teachers who had a significant impact on their lives. The board members then shared memories of some of their favorite teachers.
The board’s next regular meeting will take place on May 25.
