Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124

9400 South Sawyer

Evergreen Park, IL

 

Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes

 

Meeting Date:  September 30, 2008

 

The following Committee members were in attendance:

 

Kathy Rohan                Co-Chairperson/Board Representative

Jim Shine                      Co-Chairperson

Terry MacDonald         Board Representative

Robert Howard            Interim Superintendent

Fran LaBella                 Executive Director of Business Services

Kathy Hatczel               Assistant Superintendent

John Stanton                 Principal, Northwest Elementary School

Bill Smith                      Director of Buildings and Grounds

Tom Kikta                    Legat Architects

Helen Cuprisin  Community Representative, NW Quadrant

Camille Dickey Community Representative (SE Quadrant)/Staff Member (CJHS)

Steve Grazevich            Community Representative, NW Quadrant

Ken Langevin               Community Representative, SW Quadrant

Jill McGrath                  Community Representative, SW Quadrant

Teri Schulte                  Community Representative, NW Quadrant

Mary Zofkie                 Community Representative (NW Quadrant)/Staff Member (NE)

 

The following Committee members were absent:

 

Craig Miller                  Board Representative

Charles Haun                Community Representative, NE Quadrant

Bill Lorenz                    Community Representative, Village Representative

Robert Simpson            Community Representative, NE Quadrant

Renee Welch                Community Representative, SE Quadrant

 

The facilities committee met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, in the Multi-Purpose Room at Central Jr. High School to complete the following agenda items:

 

  1. Review of 2007/08 Committee Meeting Recommendations
  2. Review of the Facility Committee’s Responsibilities
  3. Review of informational handouts, those being: a) Facility survey responses from parents, b) 2008/09 School Year District enrollment, c) 2008 summer school enrollment, d) Cost summary projections on building improvement projects identified by the facilities committee, e) classroom temperature data for August/September 2008, f) Band Enrollment, and g) update on CCRC proposal adjacent to Southwest Elementary School.
  4. Discussion Items, those being:  a) current economic conditions, b) interests in partnership with community for new recreational space,   c) committee/community interest in green strategies, d) feasibility of providing air conditioned space for summer school, and e) community informational campaign.
  5. Discussion on future role and meetings of the Facilities Committee.

 

Kathy Rohan welcomed those in attendance and announced that one of the Committee members, Daniel Mangin, has decided to not continue as member of the Committee.  Mrs. Rohan announced the school district was looking for another member of the community to join the Committee, possibly a senior citizen. 

 

Mrs. Rohan provided a brief update about the status of recommendations developed by the Committee during the June 3, 2008 meeting and indicted many of the items included as part of the recommendations were part of the discussions for the evening.  Much discussion followed about development of an informational campaign for the school district; a systematic and organized process for communicating with community member and families about programs and initiatives underway within the school district.  Members indicated the town hall meetings went well; however, several were lightly attended.  Suggestions were offered about different forms of communication that appear to be successful within the community such as ones offered by the Village and Public Library.  One member mentioned the Village allows residents to register to receive email updates about events/activities underway within the Village.  Others suggested we have much to learn from some of our parochial school neighbors about running successful informational campaigns.   Kathy Hatczel suggested an option for the school district to consider would be the expanded use of Ed Line to communicate to families and residents.  She indicated Central Jr. High School was in its second year in tapping some of the components of Ed Line.  She also indicated the school where her child attends has been using this program for over ten years and have found success in expanding communication with families via the Ed Line system.  A suggestion was to have the Board of Education hear a presentation about Ed Line. 

 

Members reviewed informational handouts included within the meeting agenda materials.  A total of 179 parents completed the facility survey out of 1275 families affiliated with the school district (14%) and 18 of 8,500 residents (0.21%) returned a completed survey as a follow-up to the summer District Newsletter mailing.  Mrs. Rohan reported there appeared to be a favorable response for air conditioning schools, providing separate classrooms for Art & Music and the need for additional space to eliminate reliance on outside temporary classrooms.   The financial question asked respondents to indicate if they would support an increase in property taxes allowing 6th grader students to be relocated to Central Jr. High School.  The estimated cost to a homeowner for a $200,000 market value home would be $65.00.   Sixty-nine percent of those responding indicated they were in agreement to support an increase in property taxes to relocate 6th grade students to Central Jr. High School.  Mrs. LaBella cautioned members that the actual increase in property taxes if a referendum were successful might result in a total tax bill for the year to be greater than a $65.00 increase because of changes in assessments in the school district and tax rates.  Discussion followed about the idea of moving 6th grade students to the Central Jr. High and the fact that some of the respondents completing the survey indicated they would be opposed to moving sixth grade students.  Members revisited the benefits gained by creating a middle school concept for 6, 7 & 8th grade students and there appeared to be overall support for the middle school concepts involving grades six through eight.

 

The enrollment report for the 2008/09 school year represented a decline in student enrollment by 57 students when comparing the 2007/08 enrollment (1909 students) to the 2008/09 enrollment (1852 students).  The proposal to move sixth grade students to the junior high school would allow the school district to eliminate use of temporary classroom units.  However, all five schools would still be needed based upon the district’s enrollment and current programming.

 

There was an increase in enrollment for the 2008 summer school when compared to the two prior summers (2008:  Reading @ 296 & Math @ 267; 2007:  Reading @ 262 & Math @ 244; and 2006:  Reading @ 217 & Math @ 212.  A summer Band program was offered during 2008, which was housed at Central Jr. High School.  Northeast school has been the district’s site for summer school.  A question was raised about running the entire program at Central with concern raised by staff about the need to move elementary equipment to the junior high school and the fact that Central has the least amount of air conditioned classroom space. 

 

Members reviewed the cost analysis summary identifying estimated costs for completion of facility improvements throughout the school district.  The estimated cost for each building follows:  Central Jr. High @ $11,155,524, Northeast @ $1,287,512, Northwest @ $487,998, Southeast @ $1,319,673 and Southwest @ 1,075,945.  Members agreed the economic climate was not conducive to placing a tax question in front of the community at this time.  Mrs. LaBella indicated the district would need to place an Education Fund tax rate referendum in front of registered voters during calendar year 2012.  Although not certain, it would appear the current economic downturn will probably last two more years, which raised concerns about the close proximity of two financial issues should the Board of Education consider asking the community for capital improvements for building improvements followed shortly thereafter by an Education Fund tax rate increase. 

 

A question was raised to the group about submitting a recommendation to the Board of Education for use of district funds to air condition Northwest Elementary School, recognizing it would not be financially possible to air condition the other four buildings without a tax referendum.  Northwest Elementary School would be the most economical school to air condition and according to Mrs. LaBella there may be sufficient financial resources available via the Working Cash Fund to cover the anticipated construction cost of air conditioning (estimated @ $487,998.00).  Northwest is large enough to house the district’s summer school program and by air conditioning this building it would be possible to run the summer program in an air conditioned school.  Each community member was asked if the Committee should submit a recommendation to the Board of Education supporting air conditioning Northwest Elementary School via Work Cash Funds.  All community members indicated they would support the recommendation to air condition Northwest Elementary School using existing financial reserves of the school district.  Board Representatives to the Committee will present this recommendation to the Board of Education at an upcoming school board meeting. 

 

Mrs. Rohan discussed with the membership the future direction of the Committee. Mr. MacDonald suggested the Committee meet three times per year with the second meeting to be held in December or January.  Mrs. Rohan suggested the Committee revisit the idea of a partnership with the community for new recreational space along with a discussion on “Green” strategies for the school district.  No date was set for the next meeting thinking it would be best to look at the district calendar, identify a couple possible dates and notify Committee members via email of the options.  The topics for the next meeting will be a discussion about forming a partnership with the community for shared recreational space (should new revenues become available) and “Green” conservation strategies.  Bill Smith was asked to update the Committee during the next meeting on initiatives that have been completed related to “Green” conservation strategies. 

 

Mrs. Rohan provided an update on community efforts in opposition of the Sisters of Mercy plan to convert the property adjacent to Southwest Elementary School to an Independent Living and Assisted Living complex.  It was announced the Mayor of Evergreen Park has filed suit to prevent this conversion although several members indicated they were not optimistic that the suit would be successful.  Concern was raised about the possible disruption to Southwest Elementary School given the construction of new facilities on the Sisters of Mercy property. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. 

 

 

____________________

Kathy Rohan, Co-Chair

 

____________________

Superintendent