School Board to Discuss Tax Levy, Concussion Policy

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the community room of . Here’s a look at what’s on the agenda.

• The board will recognize commended students from , the OHS golf team, the OEHS tennis and soccer teams, reporter Lyle Rolfe and director of communications Kristine Liptrot. The student spotlight will feature Thompson Junior High.
• The board will hear information on a new student athlete concussion and head injury policy. The policy states that any athlete who exhibits one or more symptoms of a concussion after a blow to the head will be immediately removed from the game or event and shall not return to play until they’ve been examined and cleared in writing by a school approved health care profession. The policy is based on the Illinois High School Association Protocal of National Federation of State High School Associations’ Sports Playing Rule for Concussions.
• Tim Neubauer, executive director of financial services for the district, will present the board with the 2011 tentative tax levy.  The total amount the district received from taxpayers in its 2010 extension was about $115 million. The district is asking for about $124 million this year. What the district actually receives will be determined by the county clerks’ office  in the spring. According to district documents, “Normally, the District “balloons,” or requests more than a 5 percent increase (a 5 percent increase is the maximum allowable before Truth-In-Taxation notification rules apply) over the prior year’s extension to assure that all possible funds will be captured in the following year’s extension.  This year, because new property growth is expected to be low, and the fact that the CPI will only be 1.5 percent, the administration is recommending the 4.95 percent increase.”
• The board will also hear an update on the district’s English Language Learners program from director Misael Nascimento. Nacimento will discuss with the board “the current location of each program and the number of students being serviced at each site. Also a vision for future improvements within the different services offered.”
• Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Marsha Hollis will update the board on the district’s progress on adopting common core standards. According to the Illinois State Board of Education website, the ISBE “has adopted new Math and English Language Arts standards for K‐12 education known as the New Illinois State Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core. The goal is to better prepare Illinois students for success in college and the workforce in a competetive global economy.” The standards will be implemented in three phases, and district staff have been busy in Phase 1, which includes awareness, communication and planning. The goal is to have the district fully adopting the common core by the end of the 2015-16 school year. For much more, on the common core log on to the ISEB website.