Board Briefs
Summary of the March 14, 2022 Board Meeting at Westbrook
Board Meeting Recording
Board President's Statement
Board of Education President Scott Nelson made the following statement on behalf of the Board:
Our focus in District 34 is on educating, encouraging, supporting, and caring for children. As a Board and a District, we send our hopes for safety and peace to the children of Ukraine...and to all of the children living in war-torn areas of the globe.
The Board also strongly stands against hate, and specifically wants to denounce the recent anti Semitic messages that have plagued our community. We embrace and celebrate the different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and religions of all members of our community. To our Jewish staff, students and family members: you belong in D34.
Community Participation
Community members are encouraged to attend Board of Education meetings and contribute during the community participation periods. In all regular Board of Education meetings, the Board follows a set agenda that include two opportunities for community participation.
During the first opportunity for community comments, the following people spoke:
- Dan Vosnos, parent of D34 students, asked what federal or state statute gives the Board the authority to reimpose mitigations such as masking and quarantines in the future.
- Paul Kelly, parent of D34 students, commented on the time it took to respond to the temporary restraining order on masking and the Board's communication with community members.
During the second community participation period, Dr. Mary Carleton, parent of D34 students, asked for clarification of proof of vaccination of volunteers. (Director of Communications and Strategic Planning responded that, per the updated mitigation plan, proof of vaccination is not required for volunteers or staff.)
Consent Agenda & Other Resolutions
The Board also approved an updated mitigation plan based on the move to a mask-recommended environment, and an updated ESSER plan.
In the area of staffing, the Board approved a reduction in force resolution and resolutions for non-renewal of probationary and part-time teachers.
Attea's Next Principal
The Board approved the hiring of the next Attea principal, Diana O’Donnell. Mrs. O’Donnell is currently the principal of Rupley Elementary School in Elk Grove Village (District 59). She previously was an elementary principal and middle school assistant principal in District 21 in Wheeling, and was 6th-8th grade classroom teacher having taught science as well as all other content areas.
Contracts for 2022 Referendum Work
Nick Papanicholas and David Torres from construction management firm Nicholas & Associates provided information about the most recent bid opening. The bids, for just under $63M of construction work, came in higher than the original budget for four bid packages.
Mr. Papanicholas explained the factors contributing to the escalation:
-On average materials costs have increased 27.8% from April 2020 to August 2021:
- Steel up 111%
- Copper up 67%
- Plastic composites up 34%
-CPI has risen 7.9% in the last 12 months, the largest increase since 1982
-Lumber costs have risen 200% since 2020
Mr. Torres explained that the project RFPs were separated into these four base bids:
- Base Bid No. 1 (Phase 2 & 3 at Henking, Lyon & Westbrook) $19,182,850
- Base Bid No. 2 (Phase 2 & 3 at Glen Grove, Hoffman & Pleasant Ridge) $22,434,032
- Base Bid No. 3 (Phase 2 & 3 at Attea) $10,121,386
- Base Bid No. 4 (Phase 2 at Springman) $11,253,730
The Nicholas & Associates team recommended that the Board approve base bids 1 and 4, and rebid base bids 2 and 3 in late summer 2022. That step would offer cost-saving options and a more favorable time frame. In that scenario, renovations of learning spaces in the intermediate schools and at Attea would not take place over two summers, but would all be done during the summer of 2023. Therefore, all of the renovations still would be complete by the start of 2023-2024 school year.
Mr. Papanicholas said that it is his company's responsibility to look at trends in costs on behalf of the District so that they are in a position to capitalize on trends when costs are going down. In addition, they will be able to tighten margins thanks to strong relationships with contractors and those contractors' desire to be associated with District 34.
Meantime, additional cost-saving steps will be taken, including reducing allowances and taking action on deductive alternates.
When asked about why these projects were bid out in February, rather than earlier in the bid cycle, representatives from the design team at FGM Architects explained that it was not possible to complete the design by last summer due to the very large size and scope of the work covering eight buildings and two years worth of work. It would not have been possible to have design completed by last summer.
After discussion, the Board approved contracts for referendum work for two of the four bid packages for construction phases two and three. The revised timeline is below.
Discussion
Alltown Transportation Contract Amendment
D34 & Glenview Park District Summer Camp Partnership
Director of EL and Bilingual Services Raquel Kim discussed the District's partnership with the Glenview Park District to support students who have experienced great hardship during the pandemic. ISBE authorized the use of multiple federal funding sources; the District will braid Title I, Title III and ESSER funds to allow 40 students to participate in a summer program with educational opportunities and experiences that they would not otherwise be able to access.
Wishes from Lyon First Graders
May You Be Happy, May You Be Healthy, May You Be Filled with Peace
Before adjourning, the Board shared a video from first graders at Lyon School.
Glenview District 34 is governed by a seven-person Board of Education, elected by the community, that consists of the following individuals:
- Scott Nelson (President)
- John Heggie (Vice President)
- Mike Korman (Secretary)
- Jim Baumstark
- James Dolan
- Natalie Jachtorowycz
- Diane Stefani
You can contact the Board at board@glenview34.org.
About Us
Email: news@glenview34.org
Website: www.glenview34.org
Location: 1401 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: 847-998-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/glenview34
Twitter: @glenview34