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elect incumbent  Jackie Romberg

proven leadership       

              

for District 203 School Board

 

  Listens.  Responds.  Leads.

          

What has happened since the referendum passed?

The Community’s support for the 2007 referendum will not be forgotten. I take your trust and this responsibility very seriously and pledge to oversee the spending of the community’s resources wisely.  Fiscal responsibility is key.  I hear the Community say that quality education is paramount, but I also understand that the Community’s interest in educational achievement must be matched with fiscal realities.

• The design teams met with NCHS department heads and administration to discuss the 21st century classroom seminar. Ongoing meetings with architects, construction managers, district representative and parents to ensure design plans meet our educational needs

• The design teams met with NCHS department heads and administration to discuss the 21st century classroom seminar. Active communication with Naper Settlement and Naperville Park District to discuss plans

• The design teams met with NCHS department heads and administration to discuss the 21st century classroom seminar. A top “triple A” (AAA) S & P bond rating was received, saving $270,000 due to the district’s eligibility for better rates and lower insurance costs

• The design teams met with NCHS department heads and administration to discuss the 21st century classroom seminar. Finance Advisory Committee  (comprised of outside community members) recommended to abate (not take) the first year of the 20 year levy to repay facilitates bonds (did not need funds anticipating  current operating forecasts)

How are the major facilities projects going?

The major facilities projects at NCHS, NNHS, Mill Street and the Early Childhood Center (ECC) are on schedule.

Naperville Central High School (NCHS):

  • Wight presented future NCHS to the Board. Included were samples of exterior materials, discussions about the design of the Commons area and a demonstration of a prototype classroom
  • The District and NCHS Technology staff members met to discuss feedback questions on prototypical classrooms for faculty and students.
  •  The design teams met with NCHS department heads and administration to discuss the 21st century classroom seminar. NNHS also had representatives in attendance. The group reviewed proposed classroom layouts, and agreed on display technology, breakout areas, and general furniture requirements. The group also discussed storage needs and the use of a traditional desk or podium for teachers. The teachers have been so open to new classroom layouts and fixtures and excited about new ways to deliver instruction.
  •  LRC plans are being finalized with LRC staff and the architects. The LRC and surround support areas were modified by the architects based on group input. 
  •  The design team will meet with math, languages, and social science to discuss lab and resource needs not covered in the general 21st century classroom discussion

 

Naperville North High School (NNHS):

  • The excavator plans to restart work on the base for the synthetic turf the last week of March. The actual synthetic turf will be delivered in mid-April
  •  Meetings were held to discuss pool equipment purchases with the architects, district staff and NNHS staff, so equipment can be purchased
  •  Lamp and Company was named construction manager
  •  The architects submitted civil drawings to the City of Naperville for review

 

Mill Street:

  • The stud walls for the Kindergarten and Administrative offices are being installed
  • HVAC duct work is being installed
  • Brick facing is being installed on the east and north sides
  •  Excavation work completed. Masonry construction has begun…drive by, it is very exciting….

 

Early Childhood Center (ECC):

  • The ground breaking ceremony was on March 18th and was very well attended
  •  Homeowners have been very supportive of this new building as a way to assist pre-school children with a strong early educational foundation
  • The district will email the local homeowners, detailing the schedule for the start of construction

  • Excavation to begin on Monday, March 30th
          For construction timelines, see District 203’s web site at     www.naperville203.org, and click on “Build the Future”

 

How is the district going to select two high schools principals? 

Bill Wiesbrook was named Principal of Naperville Central High School, having served the 2008-2009 school year as the NCHS interim principal. Kevin Pobst, currently the principal of Hinsdale Central High School, will be joining the District as principal of Naperville North High School, beginning July 1, 2009. The official announcement was made at the March   Board of Education meeting. The district hired a consulting firm, School Exec Connect to assist in the national search for two high school principals. The new superintendent Mark Mitrovich, together with Dr. Alan Leis was very involved in the selection of principals at NCHS and NNHS , to fill the interim position at NCHS and the opening created by the retirement of Ross Truemper from NNHS on June 30, 2009. The search firm held focus group meetings and interviewed all stakeholder groups to put a profile together as to what the school district and community wanted for these building principals

 

How are we changing our current teachings for the new world our children will enter after graduation from high school?

 

 At the Board of Education’s request, we met with high school teachers, administrators and district staff at a work session Board meeting on January 5, 2009. We wanted an open discussion on how our students will be prepared for their future and specifically will they have acquired the 21st century skills needed to contribute in our global society? We spent two hours discussing how the structure of high school might change and spent time hearing emerging trends in education and how our administrators are adapting to meet the challenges. Topics that were discussed included:
  • Changing student population
  • Grading
  • Supporting struggling students;  the challenge transfer students have catching up in math in particular
  • Engagement through the Socratic seminar approach in physics
  • Benchmark - oral proficiency and language acquisition
  • Literacy support/learning readiness
  • Technology internships
  • Extracurricular actives of high school students to balance academics
  • Guidance department support of students, decision making

These same conversations (an open discussion on  how our students will be prepared for their future and specifically will they have acquired the 21st century skills needed  to contribute in our global society?) will occur for junior high school in February and elementary school in March. The Board of Education will then want to consider if these conversations raised questions about current board policy.

What does the Finance Advisory Committee do for the District?

 

The Finance Advisory Committee was established to provide the Board of Education and the Superintendent with new ideas and specialized expertise related to financial issues. Over 35 interested community members with financial backgrounds submitted a letter of application. This advisory committee was formed in late 2007. The group has helped the District with suggestions about financial requirements to obtain a better bond rating which ultimately resulted in a savings of $270,000. This was due to the District’s eligibility for better rates and lower insurance costs. This type of advisory committee is used in the corporate world and is well received as both objective oversight and a chance to obtain fresh perspectives.