Schools

Board Creates Student Discipline Room for Two District Schools

A new one-year test program would give teachers at Walker and Summit Hill schools a new way to deal with disruptive students.

Here are the details of what the Summit Hill School District 161 approved at Wednesday night's school board meeting:

The issue: Creating a one-year test program for a room to deal with disruptive students at Hilda Walker and Summit Hill Junior High schools. 

What it means: The room would be a discipline tool for teachers to use for students who act up in class. The room would be staffed by a permanent substitute teacher, and students would work on assignments. The program will begin at the start of the school year and will be evaluated through teacher and parent surveys.

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Comments by the board and public: Board members Sean Doyle and Dee Molinare expressed concerns about the program's cost and effectiveness.

"We're spending this money, and I don't know if it's being spent wisely," Molinare said. "I'm not sure this is a board discussion. It's making me nervous. ... This should be up to the building principal and how they want to handle things."

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Although Doyle had his doubts, he did say he'd like to see how the program goes.

Board member Joy Murphy said a room like this was important to maintain discipline in the schools, something that was a concern she shared with school police liaisons.  

How it passed: 5-1 (Molinare voted against; board member George Perros was absent).

Residency investigations continued

The issue: Continuing the school district's residency and truancy investigation program. 

What it means: The district hires National Investigations Inc. to find out if certain families are living in the district's boundaries. In the past school year, 125 families were red flagged, with 15 students withdrawing from the district. Eleven families appealed the findings with the board. 

Comments from the board and public: Acting Superintendent Barb Rains said it costs about $8,000 to educate a student, which is one of the reasons it's important to weed out students who don't belong in the district.

"That's a lot of money over the years," said board President Mary Kenny. "We have an obligation to the taxpayers to do this."

Board member Denise Lenz said she wanted more background concerning the costs of employing National Investigations, questioning whether the money saved from removing ineligible students was worth what was spent on the investigation firm.

"What are the pros and cons?" Lenz said. "I'm not saying I'm against this. I'd just like a little more information."

How it passed: Unanimously

Board Reviews Budget

Dean Gerdes, the district's business director, reviewed the 2011-12 budget with board members, adding it was still a work in progress.

Overall, Gerdes said the budgeting was "right on target" and that it was very similar to last year. One of the challenges in budgeting again this year has been factoring outstanding money owed to the district by the state, he added. Currently, the state owes SD 161 about $3 million. 

No action was taken on the budget at this meeting. The public can look over the proposed budget at the district office, 20100 S. Spruce Dr. Approval of the budget will be next month.

State Honors District's Financial Acumen

The district received the Certificate of Financial Recognition from the State Board of Education. The award honors school districts that maintain the highest category of financial strength in the state.


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