Present: Sheila Jegen, Mindy Schloss, Patty Patt, Kelly Konrad, Mary Riley, Eileen Berichon, Melinda Just, Melinda Boutsikakis, Jodi Kay, Lisa Laing, Phil Collins, Julie Wrona, Lori Hinton, Merryl Brownlow, Lisa Antzis

Guest Speaker Phil Collins: District Testing

Meeting called to order at 9:22 AM.

• NWEA Test – Given in the fall and spring which provides status and growth measures used to help teachers meet each child’s need in reading, math, and language usage. The test is given on computers.
• NWEA 3-6 and 8 grade are at or above the High Performing and Township Norms.
• Grade 3-6 math continues to be significantly higher than High Performing and Township Norms.
• Grade 7 reading is now similar to past 7th grade scores. The district is focusing on improving performance of 7th grade in language usage to continue the rising pattern.
• ISAT – This is a paper and pencil test covering reading, math, science, and writing. The test is given in March in which results help for the following school year.
• Grade 3 reading exceeds percentage and combination of meets/exceeds is consistent with the last two years.
• Grade5 reading exceeds percentage increased by 7% over 2005 and is similar to 2004. The combination of meets/exceeds (93%) is significantly higher than previous years.
• Grade 8 reading exceeds percentage and the combination of meets/exceeds are consistent with the last three years.
• Grade3 math exceeds percentage increased by 6% over 2005 and is at its overall highest point. The combination meets/exceeds is consistent with the last several years.
• Grade 5 math exceeds percentage increased by 7% over 2005 and has been consistently rising over the last several years. The combination meets/exceeds is at its highest overall point (97%).
• Grade 8 math exceeds percentage increased by 14% over 2005 and is at its highest point ever (50%). The combination of meets/exceeds is at its highest point ever (91%).
• 2006 Adequate Yearly Progress – All of our schools with the exception of Lyon are evaluated for AYP. A subgroup is analyzed if there are 45 or more students in that group in the school that were tested in reading and math. The state target for 2006 is that 47.5% or more students in each subgroup analyzed meet or exceed state standards. In 2007, the target increases to 55%. The state uses a 95% confidence interval which varies the target percentage dependent on group size.
• Our students continue to demonstrate strong performance on the ISAT tests. In all cases, performance was either consistent with previous years or showed improvement. We will continue to monitor the subgroups that are coming closer to AYP targets. The lack of timelines of the data from the state makes it challenging to use the information. Our students took the test ten months ago. Hopefully this will improve in future years.

Principals Report – Glen Grove Merryl Brownlow reported
• Enrollment: 3rd – 135 4th – 128 5th – 129 NSSED – 8 Total 400
• The 4th grade show has been moved to April 25th.
• The student council were responsible for hosting our community readers during Read Across America week. They also will be voting for the cover for next year’s assignment book. The deadline for artwork is 3/23.
• ISAT/IMAGE tests were the week of 3/12. Along with reading and math, 4th grade were tested on science and 5th grade did one session of expository writing. Next year, the state will be reintroducing the writing component of ISAT in third grade.
• The Child’s Play assembly was held in Feb. and was a huge hit. This is a theater troupe that is based on performing stories/poems written by students. The students have submitted around 100 stories to be read and reviewed in anticipation of their return when they will select 2 or 3 of our own students’ work to perform for the school.
• The Rope Warrior spent a day with our students sharing various tricks and stunts using the jump rope. This was a great way to kick off our Jump Rope for Heart event that took place on 3/2 and raised $4,740.42.
• All transition activities for 2nd graders will take place in May. There will be a visitation day at Glen Grove. There will be school tours in August. Orientation for parents will be on 5/9 at 6:30 pm. Information for class placement will be included in the April registration packets.
• We had a great week celebrating Read Across America by celebrating Dr. Suess and 5th graders visited Westbrook to read to the younger students. We also welcomed community readers to share some of their favorite stories.
• We had an authors visit from Ruth Vander Zee on 3/5 and Carolyn Crimi on 3/16. Both of these authors focus on the writing process in their presentations, helping to provide an authentic connection for all of the editing and revising they are asked to do in school.
• The GG staff participated in their mid-year data day experiences. They were given a half-day to meet in teams and study the growth of students in their classrooms. Teachers were able to share ideas, revise planning and instruction to address individual needs and set goals for their students for the remainder of the year.
• The facility addition will be finalized by the end of April. The district budget has set aside money for the playground, but the PTA is able to fund additional pieces.

Principal Report – Westbrook Lori Hinton reported.
• Enrollment: K – 153 1st – 189 2nd – 187 Total 529 (not including PreK & Early Childhood)
• The Board voted to reduce class size to 20 at the primary level. Based on current projections, we will most likely have 7 sections of Kindergarten, 9 sections of 1st grade, and 9 sections of 2nd grade. To better meet the needs of English Language Learners, one section of kindergarten will most likely be a bilingual kindergarten program for Spanish speaking students. Research suggests that students who develop foundational academic skills in their primary language are more likely to be successful in school. This program would continue through 1st and 2nd grade.
• Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring the author Susan Steven Crummel.
• The students were honored to have former Westbrook students share their favorite stories this month.
• We have continued to collect Panda Paws to acknowledge examples of good citizenship and behavior. Our students are reading about the pillars with their classes for our LSC project in collaboration with the Glenview Public Library.
• As a school, we are also working together to help Panda protect the planet. We will be participating in an aluminum can drive to adopt an animal at the Grove. More details to come soon.
• We have continues to have Thursday Recess Workshops to teach our students conflict prevention/resolution strategies. As a part of this they complete a reflection sheet to bring home to parents.
• Please use the front entrance to drop off students for school. The north entrance is for buses only. It is illegal and very dangerous to pull in front of the buses. We appreciate your help with creating a safe environment for all our students.
• Movie night is scheduled for 4/20. Students are voting on their movie choice. Times for the evening will be based on the length of the movie.

Treasurer’s Report: Julie Wrona reported. The checking account at Chase Bank is now closed. We have one checking account at Glenview State Bank. The balance is $74,786.55. $25,000 was placed in a 7 month CD at 5.09% which will mature on 9/23/07. After the major expenses from the dinner dance, wish lists, and the budget for 2007 -2008 is paid out the balance will be $8,940.

Wish List: Julie Revello reported. The finalized lists have been approved for Glen Grove and Westbrook to fund their requests. Glen Grove will receive $15,662. The LRC will receive 2007 Britannica and a barcode scanner. The technology department will receive instructional tools and camcorders. The Fine Arts team will receive instruments and aids to compose music through Garage Band software. The teams and classrooms requested a variety of books, games, math manipulatives, Reading Counts computerized tests, and listening centers. There is a carryover of $7,000 for playground equipment from the 2006 wish list due to the construction taking place at Glen Grove. This money is on hold until the construction is done.
Westbrook will receive $16,474. $14,000 of that will go towards making Westbrook a wireless building. $3,000 is allotted for an all school activity that has not been decided on yet. The rest of the money will go towards other technology software and classroom items such as learning centers, Life Skills dvds, microphones, and a binding machine. $4,400 was carryover money for wireless from the 2006 wish list. The grand total of both schools is $32,136. All of this money is funded by the profits from the dinner dance. Thank you to all the teachers, principals, and PTA wish list committee members for all their hard work putting together these wish lists.

Committee Reports:

Dinner Dance: A great big thank you goes out to Shelly Quill and Michelle Kryscio and all the numerous volunteers who helped make this dinner dance a huge success. The event raised $45,000. $3,500 of that money were pledge donations for wish list items. There were many extra raffle tickets sold at the event. $12,000 was made on just the live auction items. Thank you to all the teachers and principals who donated their time for the very popular staff auction items. Well done everyone!

Global Language Program: Mindy Schloss and Lisa Laing reported. The GLP coordinator resigned in February and there is a need for an immediate replacement. After much research done by the committee members it has been decided that we need to hire a new coordinator who is familiar with the program. We want to keep the classes fun, consistent, effective, and affordable. In order to keep our mission as well as sustaining the good intention and affordability of the program the committee has recommended to hire Kira Maar. Kira currently runs the GLP at Henking and is very familiar with the program. She will be very involved in teacher hiring and training to have teachers with a consistent philosophy in the classroom. We can maintain the cost of GLP with Kira as our new coordinator. The PTA voted on hiring the new coordinator and it was approved.

Movie Night: Westbrook will be having movie night on 4/20. More details to come.

Other:

New positions: The 2007 -2008 PTA is looking for 2 new positions. A Health and Safety Position will monitor safe walking and biking routes to and from school. The Environmental Position will coordinate recycling efforts at the schools as well as environmental awareness. If anyone is interested please contact Mary Riley at 832-6001.

Avon Fundraiser Proposal: Shelia Jegen suggested a new fundraiser which will involve purchasing Avon products and profits go to the school. Due to time constraints at this meeting, Shelia will have a formal presentation at the April or May meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 11:38 AM. Submitted by Lisa Antzis