Board Briefs
Summary of the April 18, 2022 Board Meeting at Westbrook
Board Meeting Recording
Superintendent's Reflections & District Celebrations
Each month, Superintendent Dr. Dane Delli updates the Board of Education and the community about programs, events, notable achievements, and other timely information and celebrations.
Time Capsules
The principals of the buildings that will have new additions opening in 2022 (Henking, Lyon, Westbrook and Springman) presented time capsules to the Board. Students and staff at each building filled the time capsules, which will be placed within a wall and labeled with a plaque to indicate that they should be opened in 2072.
Those Who Excel
Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to elementary and secondary schools throughout the state. As the first step in a rigorous application process, winners were nominated by colleagues; they then are invited to complete a detailed application.
This year, D34 honors a number of Those Who Excel recipients: four individuals and one team. The following staff members earned meritorious awards (in each category):
- Chantal Diaz (Student Support Personal), Henking school psychologist
- Ernie Gray (Educational Service Personnel), warehouse and custodial supervisor
- Cathy Kedjidjian (Administrator), director of communication & strategic planning
- The Remote Learning Team (Team), with representation from across the District: LRC Directors: Rachel Davidson, Andrea Strope, Megan Freeley, Lisa Funke, Kyle Pucciarello, Esther Storrie, Laura Nekola and Mary Alonzi; Instructional Innovation Specialists: Caryl Doetsch, Alison Keller, Jennifer Nelson, Tamara Slater, Matt Vogel, Kate Konieczka, Jeremy Fischer and Dave Ristow; Coaches: Samantha Eiseman, Carlissa Pokora, Barrie Shinsky, Aaron Wilkins, Adrienne Hoffer, Jennifer Bergeron, Carly Spina, Lillian Uhler, Caroline Vengazo, Sarah Gebhardt, Jennifer Penzinek, Mandy Freer, Allie Greene and Kate Harvey; Science Specialists: Lisa Nathaus, Laura Strejc, Jill Burns; Translators: Alan Hernadez and Gabi Diniello
Karen Hitzeman, in the community volunteer category, received an award of excellence for her work community-wide, particularly efforts to support the Gelfand Children's Foundation.
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, Bill Coons, parent of a D34 student, shared gratitude to the District for their COVID mitigation strategy until recently. He expressed support of mandatory masking in schools. No community members spoke during the second participation period.
Consent Agenda & Other Resolutions
The Board also approved a moving services bid, support staff reduction in force and reduction in hours and action on a former employee complaint.
New Director for Student Services
In the personnel report, the Board approved Natalie Szeles as D34’s next director for student services, and she is the ideal candidate to continue that important work. She will start in that role on July 1.
Ms. Szeles has been Henking’s assistant principal for student services for three years; previously she was a student services coordinator in Park Ridge-Niles District 64, and a special education teacher at Lyon. She holds masters degrees in both educational leadership and administration and literacy education from Northeastern University and a bachelor of science degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University.
New Director of Nutrition & Food Services
the Board of Education approved Stacy Lenihan as District 34’s new director of nutrition and food services. Mrs. Lenihan will start in August, and will work alongside District 34’s current director of food service Kim Cleveland over the 2022-2023 school year to gain important knowledge about our schools, processes and possibilities for the future of the department.
Mrs. Lenihan is a registered dietitian nutritionist. She holds a bachelors of science in food, nutrition and dietetics, and a masters of science in nutrition and wellness. She’s currently the director of nutrition and food services in Township High School District 211 in Palatine.
She and Ms. Cleveland will be partners for the next year, but Mrs. Lenihan’s focus will be on expanding our food service operations into the classrooms and throughout the community. Some of the initiatives she will work on include:
Integrating the school meal program with nutrition focused opportunities during the school day and through extra curricular activities
Initiating community partnerships to promote nutrition within the school community
Advocating for healthy student lifestyle choices and encourage healthy school environments
Creating opportunities for participation in nutrition education promotions in the classroom
Soliciting family and community involvement to encourage healthy habits through nutrition-centered communication to key stakeholders
The partnership year will provide a smooth transition for the Food Service department to prepare for Kim Cleveland’s retirement in 2023.
Discussion
Summer Learning
- Extended School Year (ESY) for students with Individualized Education Plans that meet a specific criteria are invited to participate.
- GRASP, a Common Core Aligned support program that emphasizes basic reading and math skills through a correspondence workbook format, available to all students.
- Partnerships with the Glenview Public Library, the Glenview Park District, Youth Services of Glenview Northbrook. The program with the Glenview Public Library will provide a free novel for each D34 student who participates, and meet the author opportunities.
Consolidated District Plan
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Dr. Matt Silverman explained that the annual plan is a comprehensive report for instructional services and aligns directly with the District's strategic plan. The state requires Board approval of these plans each year.
2022-2023 Board Meeting Dates
The Board considered a draft schedule of Board of Education meeting dates for the 2022-2023 school year. Dr. Delli shared that the draft was developed to avoid conflicts with meetings of the District 225 Board of Education. The Board discussed challenges for Tuesday meetings, including conflicts with District 34 committees and Village of Glenview Trustee meetings.
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