On November 4, 2009, Kathy Klees, District 203 Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Staff Development and Bev Johnson, Gifted Coordinator discussed the District’s mission and the gifted opportunities in District 203. They also presented an overview of District 203’s identification process for the gifted.

Mary Kienstra, PI and Honors Math teacher at Beebe Elementary School and Melissa Heitz, PI and Honors Math teacher at Naper School discussed Project Idea (PI), the curriculum model, units of study and how it is different from the general education classroom at the elementary level. Similar information was also provided on the elementary grades’ Honors Math programs.

View the presentation materials here.

 

 

 

 

See article in Daily Herald:  http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=297821&src=76

 

 

 

 

At the May 18th Board Meeting, Dr. Leis asked the Board to recall the Art, Music, PE (AMPE) teachers and enrichment assistants.  He proposed Option C which would maintain current staffing.  It additionally would assign the AMPE teachers to provide enrichment to grade-level classrooms while allowing grade-level teams time for collaborative planning on a regular basis. However in a 4-3 vote the Board REJECTED this proposal with Susan Crotty, Jim Dennison, Mike Jaensch and Dave Weeks voting against the proposal while Terry Fielden, Suzyn Price and Jackie Romberg voted for the proposal.

 

The Board of Education is meeting on Monday, June 1 at 7:30 pm.  Included on their agenda are two items:  rehiring elementary enrichment assistants and rehiring elementary Art, Music and PE teachers.  The following recommendation will be proposed for enrichment:

"Rehire seven elementary enrichment assistants, allowing the current elementary enrichment program to continue next year." 

 

STAGE fully supports this recommendation.

 

However, the Board of Education members need to hear from you!  After the May 18th vote, Dr. Leis revealed that he had received a tremendous amount of emails and calls from parents providing feedback on this issue while board member Susan Crotty said that she had received only a small number of emails.  Your voice can make a difference by letting the Board know your concerns and wishes.  Please follow this link and go to the District 203 website.  You will find an easy way to send an email to all of the Board members at once.  http://www.naperville203.org/board/Members.asp

Also consider attending the Board of Education Meeting on June 1st at 7:30 pm.  The Board meets at the District 203 Administrative Center at 203 W. Hillside Road. 

Only one more vote is needed to approve the re-hiring of our teachers.

 

Our children need our voices to be heard!

• Below is a copy of the District 203 proposal outlining, Options for Addressing the Impact of Declining Enrollment on Elementary Staffing for Art, Music, and PE, click here to go to the document.
  

• At the May 18th Board Meeting, Dr. Leis asked the Board to recall the Art, Music, PE (AMPE) and enrichment teachers and proposed Option C which would maintain current staffing and assign the AMPE teachers to classrooms in order to release grade level teams for collaborative planning time (also known as professional learning conversations) on a regular basis.  However in a 4-3 vote the Board REJECTED this proposal.
  

• Here is a Daily Herald article which provides more details:  http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=294794&src=2
  

• Karen Lindflott, the Steeple Run Home & School President, has organized a meeting to discuss this issue.  STAGE contacted her and she welcomes all parents to attend this meeting.  Here are the details:
  

• THURSDAY, MAY 21st at 7:00 pm at Steeple Run in the LRC to address the proposal to re-hire the specials and enrichment teachers.  Dr. Alan Leis, Superintendent, Kitty Ryan, Assistant Superintendent and Susan Crotty, Board of Education member will be present at the meeting to address our concerns and questions.
  

• STAGE encourages you to attend this meeting, and to contact the School Board members to let them know your opinion!
  

Board Members Who Voted AGAINST the proposal to keep Enrichment Aides:

Susan Crotty  scrotty@naperville203.org

Jim Dennison  jdennison@naperville203.org

Mike Jaensch  mjaensch@naperville203.org

Dave Weeks  dweeks@naperville203.org

Board Members Who Voted FOR the proposal tokeep Enrichment Aides:

Terry Fielden  tfielden@naperville203.org

Suzyn Price  sprice@naperville203.org

Jackie Romberg  jromberg@naperville203.org

DISTRICT 203 ENRICHMENT AIDE CUTBACKS: Q&A

 

This is a financial decision.  It is also possibly a teacher utilization issue.

 

2009-10 school year, if the enrichment aides "stay" released.

 

4.  How will this affect delivery of services in terms of # of students served and hours of service students receive?

That is not clear yet, but the major changes will be who delivers enrichment and in what subject areas. Enrichment may be delivered by art, music, and PE teachers. Enrichment, per se, will not be eliminated.

 

5.  What other cutbacks were considered, curricular or extra curricular?

A long list of cutbacks is being considered, including next year's planned implementation of a Chinese immersion program. 

 

The core of gifted education is PI, Honors Math, and PI plus programs. Currently these are not expected to change.

It is possible.

 

Through the District 203 web site.

 

That has not been determined yet, but there will be some training.

 

THURSDAY, MAY 21st at 7:00 pm at Steeple Run in the LRC to address the proposal to re-hire the specials and enrichment teachers.  Dr. Alan Leis, Superintendent, Kitty Ryan, Assistant Superintendent and Susan Crotty, Board of Education member will be present at the meeting to address our concerns and questions.