Transcript I What is PPS? PPS is: - Thornton Township High Schools

District 205
Board
Meeting
October 8, 2008
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Please make certain that your cell phones are silent.
Thank you
Approval of Minutes
 Open Session of the Public Hearing on
 September 17, 2008
 Regular Meeting and Executive Session on
 September 17, 2008
Approval of District 205 Bills
Approval of Resignations
Approval of Leave of Absence
Approval of Employment
COMMUNITY AWARENESS
Mr. Jerry B. Doss
Education Summit 2008
Thornridge High School
 Keynote Speaker Mr. Reginald Weaver
 Attended by over 150 parents, faculty and clergy from
the entire District 205 community.
 New District 205 Honor Band performed under the
direction of Mr. David Eanes.
 District 205 Students Against Violence Everywhere
students gave two 45 minute seminars on violence
prevention in school.
Thornwood High School Hosts
Illinois House of Representatives Hearing on
Education Funding Reform
 Hearing was attended by over 300 faculty and
community members.
 State Representatives Will Davis, David Miller and Al
Riley were in attendance.
 Steve Gress, Mayor Don De Graff and other local
superintendents testified about the need for public
education funding reform in the State of Illinois.
Illinois State Treasure Alexi Giannoulias
Opportunity Knocks Free Workshop
Location: Riverdale Resource Center
 Date:
Friday, October 10, 2008
 Time:
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To register please contact Debbie Meyers-Martin at
(312) 814-1252.
South Suburban PADS 2008-2009
Emergency Overnight Shelter Sites
PADS offers free emergency, overnight shelter
nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. between
October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.
Lifesource Donation
Annual TTHS Blood Drive
THANK YOU LIFESOURCE!
2008 Fall Parent Teacher Conference
September 18th and 19th
Thornton
# of Parents
Thornwood
# of Parents
Thornridge
# of Parents
967
800
1099
Columbus Day
Monday, October 13, 2008
NO SCHOOL
 October 17th Grade/Progress Reports
 October 25th National College Fair
Navy Pier
 October 25th PSAE Retake Day 1-October
28th PSAE Retake Day 2
Congratulations Coach William “Bill” Mosel
Chicago Bears Coach of the Week
 The program honors outstanding Illinois high school
coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge,
character, leadership, discipline, and teamwork abilities.
 Other criteria considered include unique coaching
methodology, community or off-field components, school
and community support, volunteerism, and, most
importantly, contributions to players’ long-term success on
and off the field.
 Coaches are nominated by a panel of local prep authorities,
and the winning “Coach of the Week” is selected each
week.
Public Participation
We now open the Public Participation section of
our agenda. At this time, members of the
community are invited to address the Board. We
ask that you state your name and town, limit
your total time to three minutes, and talk only
about items on the current Board Agenda.
In addition, if your comments are of a critical
nature about specific people, the Board
requests that you present your comments
during the personnel portion of the “executive
session.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 Presentation of Parental Involvement Policy 2nd reading
Dr. Buckner (30-day review, tabled)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 Presentation of Title I Parent Involvement Policy, 2nd reading
Mr. Truesdale (30-day review, tabled)
NEW BUSINESS
 Public Hearing Regarding the Issuance
of $50 Million in Working Cash Bonds
Mr. Gress
COMMENTS FROM THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
COMMENTS FROM THE
PUBLIC
NEW BUSINESS
 Recommended Approval of Designation Letter for
Board Secretary Representative
Dr. Buckner (Approval needed)
NEW BUSINESS
 Appointment of SCOPE representative (previously
Sharon Voliva)
Dr. Buckner (Approval needed)
NEW BUSINESS
 Recommended Approval of Annual Thornwood
Cheerleading Competition.
Mrs. Williams (Approval needed)
NEW BUSINESS
 Recommended Approval of Annual Thornton
Cheerleading Competition.
Dr. Lyke (Approval needed)
NEW BUSINESS
 State (ISBE) Report Card (PSAE)
Mr. Truesdale, Dr. Dague and Principals
P.S.A.E. SCORE PRESENTATION
DISTRICT 205
Thornwood
Thornridge
Thornton
GOING FROM GOOD TO GREAT!!

An increase in the percentage of
students who met or exceeded in
Mathematics

An increase in the percentage of
students who met or exceeded in
Reading
DISTRICT 205
Reading
2007
31.4%
2008
37.0%
5.6% Gain
DISTRICT 205
Math
2007
21.6%
2008
39.1%
17.5% Gain
THORNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Reading
2007
33.5%
2008
38.6%
5.1% Gain
THORNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Mathematics
2007
24.3%
2008
40.1%
15.8% Gain
THORNRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Reading
2007
31.5%
2008
35.5%
4.0% Gain
THORNRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Mathematics
2007
20.7%
2008
36.0%
15.3% Gain
THORNTON TOWNSHIP
HIGH SCHOOL
Reading
2007
29.2%
2008
36.0%
6.8% Gain
THORNTON TOWNSHIP
HIGH SCHOOL
Mathematics
2007
19.1%
2008
40.9%
21.8% Gain
GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT!!!

State goal for this year is 70%

District 205 goal for this year is 100%
We will not settle for less than 100% of
our students meeting or exceeding on
the P.S.A.E. in 2009.
HOW WILL WE GET THERE?
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Safe and Secure Learning Environment
Relevant and Rigorous Curriculum
Interim Assessments
District-wide PSAE Preparation Activities
Classroom Instruction Feedback through Drop-Ins
and Evaluations
Princeton Review-ACT Prep Program
Appropriate and Research-Based Professional
Development for Teachers
Afterschool Tutorial Programs
Continued Support from Parents and Community
Members
NEW BUSINESS
 District School Report Card (District Improvement
Plan)
Mr. Truesdale, Dr. Dague and Principals
Reading Progress Update
 Summer Boost Program
 Students identified in need of support were invited to attend Summer Boost
Program for English/Reading
 New Reading Courses
 Based on a model used at Lincoln-Way High School
 Provides strategies for reading process as well as types of reading
 Taught by staff from all content areas
 Literacy Coaches
 Newly created position to support reading program across all content areas
 Provides training and support for teachers in the freshman reading courses
 Provides coaching and strategies to teachers
 Participates in development of reading program evaluation to improve the
program each year
 Collaborates with English AIL and Superintendent to develop strategies and
materials for Parent Academy
Math Progress Update
 Summer Boost Program
 Students identified in need of support were invited to attend Summer Boost
Program for Math
 Double Dose Course
 Per the DIP Yearlong Algebra on the block was reformatted as double period
class. Each algebra unit is paired with instruction on requisite skills. The
current format is Algebra class for one period and support for one period.
 Numeracy Coach
 Newly created position to support math across the district in all three schools
 Provides coaching and strategies to teachers (27 math teachers are nontenured)
 Continues to supports articulation with feeder schools
 Participates in development of math program evaluation to improve the
program each year
 Collaborates with math AIL and Superintendent to develop strategies and
materials for Parent Academy
Reading and Math Data Sources
 Interim Assessment Data
 Pre and Post Tests
 Grade Distributions
 Summer Program Results
 Parent Involvement Activities
Special Education Progress Update
 Resource room developed at each of the three high schools
 IEPs evaluated with regard to impact of moving to new bell
schedule; Staff is being trained on EZ-IEP
 Co-teaching coordinators :
 Newly created position to provide support to co-teaching
team
 Identify and facilitate professional development for coteaching teams
 Develop and implement a system for evaluating the
effectiveness of the co-teaching model
 Improvement of continuum of services: Instructional
classes implemented
Special Education Data Sources
 Interim Assessment Data
 Pre and Post Tests
 Grade Distributions
 Summer Program Results
 Parent Involvement Activities
 Student use of Special Ed. Resource Rooms
Safe and Supportive Learning
Environment Progress Update
 Attendance Centers
 Handling of daily attendance issues has shifted away from
Deans’ Office to newly created Attendance Centers to allow
Deans more time to focus on discipline issues
 Attendance centers are operational at all three buildings
 Freshman Academy Support Teachers (FAST)
 Work with an identified group of freshmen to provide
support for improved attendance and academic progress
 Support freshman deans and counselors
 Improvements in building security
 Security personnel are more extensively trained than in
previous years
 Improved procedures for visitors to all three buildings
Safe and Supportive Learning
Environment Data Sources
 Student Attendance data
 Student Discipline data
 Expulsions
 Professional Development relative to Creating Positive
Relationships (“CPR”) training
 Parent Involvement Activities
Chicago Metro History Fair
 Theme “The Individual in Chicago/Illinois History:
Actions, Legacies”
 Sponsored by Chicago Metro History Education Center
 Students in all three schools participating
 Incorporates Illinois Learning Standards in Social
Sciences and Language Arts
 Prizes include monetary awards and scholarships
 DePaul University, Loyola University, Roosevelt University
Voter Registration Drive
 Led by teachers, students & parents in all three schools
 Students appointed Deputy Registrars
 Many will be paid Election Judges November 4th
 Nearly 300 registrations were completed
 Mock election in all three schools October 21st
 In cooperation with League of Women Voters and United
States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Illinois Senator Emil Jones Visit
 Thornton High School student Andrea Rogers wrote to
Senator Jones
 Senator Jones scheduled to visit Thornton
 October 28th from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m.
 Thornton is working with Senator Jones’ office to
finalize the agenda for his visit
Other Initiatives
 District 205 is working with UIC to provide faculty to
speak about the economic crisis
 Also exploring a partnership to conduct programs
similar to this summer’s pharmacy program
 Mr. Fickes is working to establish articulation with
social studies leaders in area districts
 Share instructional strategies
 Share project ideas
 Collaborate on initiatives in social studies
Miscellaneous
Superintendent’s Report
Executive Session
Reconvene Open Session
Adjournment