IN BRIEF
September 23, 1999

 
This is a summary of the actions of the Oak Park and River Forest High School Board of Education at its last meeting on Thursday, September 23, 1999.
 
 
Board Actions
  • approved the consent items: minutes of August 26, 1999; personnel recommendations; FDSE actions; and financial reports; List of Activities Subject to Policy 5132, Activity Program; 1999 Summer Graduates; 
  • accepted with gratitude a donation of a 1986 Camry from Ms. Amy Razzino; and a donation of a 1985 Ford from Mr. Joe Hadac;
  • approved for first reading Policy 3600, Prohibited Gifts;
  • approved the 1999-2000 Assurances for District Compliance;
  • approved the application for Specialized Instruction Provided by a Non-Certificated Person;
  • approved the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and the Village of River Forest and Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Providing for a School Resource Officer and the Development of Guidelines for Reciprocal Reporting Between Oak Park and River Forest High School and the Oak Park Police Department and the River Forest Police Department as presented;

Reports Superintendent's Report - Dr. Susan Bridge reported that she would be attending the Superintendents Conference in Springfield next week where she will attend an all-day workshop for new superintendents; a dinner with State Superintendent McGee; and another all-day workshop on implementing standards and instituting assessments.  Dr. Bridge announced the resolution for the commencement dress—girls will be allowed to wear white pantsuits.  Dr. Bridge invited all Board members to participate in the Homecoming parade October 2.  The Tradition of Excellence dinner is scheduled for October 7. Dr. Bridge reported that 27 students had been recognized as semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, five students as semi-finalists in the National Achievement Competition, three students were recognized as being Scholar Finalists in the 2000 National Hispanic Recognition Program, and one student received honorable mention in that same program.  An additional 27 students were also named Commended Students in the 2000 National Merit Scholarship Program.  This represents 9.3% of the students in the class of 2000.  Oak Park and River Forest High School’s rank was number three in the state for receiving the most number of semi-finalists—IMSA—44, New Trier—29, OPRFHS—27.  Dr. Bridge will attend a “nuts and bolts” planning workshop for superintendents sponsored by the Minority Student Achievement Network September 24 and 25.

Mr. Deptuch reported on the academic outcomes of the 1998-99 school year. While the ACT scores were not record breaking this year, they exceeded national and state averages.  This year the Illinois Standard Assessment Test (ISAT) replaced the IGAP test.  The results were as expected.  They reflected scores based on standards rather than a comparison of how well students were doing when compared to other students in the state.  Next year ISAT will be replaced by the Prairie State Test, but will be similar in content. 

Dr. Lebrecht reported on the many construction projects completed, i.e., Suite 373, the language labs, SPED rooms, Welcome Center, hallways and the lighting.  He reported that the field house floor should be completed by October 5.

Dr. Danes provided the list of Probationary Teachers by Division.

Mr. Sye submitted the Tuition and Foreign Students report for 1999-00.  Currently, there is one tuition-paying student and six foreign exchange students—two from Brazil, one from Spain, one from Italy, one from Germany, and one from Costa Rico.

The Board Members reported on their various Board committee and liaison representative responsibilities. 

Personnel
Certified Staff
Appointments Lana Geselbracht, Engaged Learning Coordinator, effective 8/26/99
Nikoletta Karnezis, part-time Business Teacher and School to Career Coordinator, effective 9/13/99

Early 
Retirement
Request
Polly Walwark, English Teacher, effective 6/8/2001
Non-Certified Staff
Appointments Velma Ahmed, part-time Food Service, effective 8/26/99 
Jason Alfonsi, Freshman Seminar Paraprofessional, effective 9/2/99
Etta Coker-Martin, College Center Paraprofessional, effective 9/2/99
Thyesha Gaiter, part-time Food Service personnel, effective 8/26/99
Rose Lane, Special Education TA, effective 9/3/99
Malisa Lindsey, part-time Food Service personnel, effective 8/27/99
Vicki-Lyn Murphy-Abraham, part-time Food Service personnel, effective 8/26/99
Debbie Silva, part-time Food Service personnel, effective 8/26/99
Nina Spraggino, part-time Food Service personnel, effective 8/31/99
Yvonne Stennis, Applied Arts Division Secretary, effective 8/30/99
Sergio Vasquez, Special Education TA, effective 8/27/99
Patrice Wilson, Freshman Seminar Paraprofessional, effective 8/30/99
Resignation Irene Danko, part-time Food Service Personnel, effective 8/26/99
Eunice Godzosa, part-time Food Service Personnel, effective 9/17/99
Maimiti Matthews, part-time Food Service Personnel, effective 8/26/99
Geraldine Nekrosius, Academy Tutor, effective 8/26/99
Mozella Snowden, part-time Food Service Personnel, effective 8/26/99
Michael Vena, part-time Food Service Personnel, effective 8/26/99
The next regular Board Meeting will be on Thursday, October 28, 1999, at 7:30 p.m., Board Conference Rooms.

OPRFHS Home Page       Board of Education     tcieplak@oprfhs.org      10/05/99