School District 220 - Barrington

BOE Meeting November 20, 2018
 
Highlights of the meeting were:
 
  • Board member Mike Shackleton not present.
  • President Brian Battle reported on the defeat of IASB resolution to support arming teachers. The board had voted 4 to 2 to support the resolution. Brian Battle and Penny Kazmier opposed the resolution. Brain Battle said that it is a misconception that the board voted to put guns in schools. Rather, it was a vote of support for rural areas where police response time could be longer.
  • During the Public Comment several Barrington residents spoke out against the board's support of arming teachers. Three members of Barrington Area Moms Demand Action spoke of their "shock" of learning of the board's support and their strong opposition to the resolution. They asked the board for more transparency in the future. They presented the board with a letter regarding their concerns. Another BAMDA member and a member of our LWV, Jim McGrath, spoke to the board about the Moms Demand Action Be Smart program that educates adults about safe gun storage. The BAMDA would like to partner with the school district to present the Be Smart program to staff and parents.
  • Brian Battle reported that there are currently 6,000 Illinois school board members, half of which have served less than 5 years. Twenty percent of the current school board members have served over 20 years.
  • Discussed the estimated 4.87% 2018 tax levy. There will be a public hearing about this on December 4.
  • Three Barrington residents reported on the Blueprint 220 priorities and community engagement committee's recommendations. The committee would like the Blueprint 220 to be tax neutral, with improvements to school safety and security being paramount.
  • Increase of the kindergarten all day fee was discussed. The board may put a yearly $250 increase on the fee or tie it to the CPI. This year the program has a $10,000 surplus.
  • The food service bid was presented to the board. Discussion centered on not continuing to participate in the National School Lunch Program, because the meals are prescribed. The board will be looking at how lunch service is provided at New Tier HS and Stevenson HS.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Jackie McGrath
Board Of Education Meeting September 5, 2017
Reported by: Jackie McGrath

Highlights of the meeting were:
  • Enrollment drop at the high school of 55 students. Enrollment is steady at the elementary level.
  • The $200,000 TV van donated by the Barrington Education Foundation will begin use on Oct 5.
  • Sunny Hill Library is going to be renovated.
  • Barrington 220 changed its start time this year to give high school students more time to sleep. Start time baseline data was presented, the most interesting being:  Only 8% of high school students reported that they got the optimal amount of sleep (8 1/2 to 9 hours). Of the1186 students that reported that they drive to school, 12% reported nodding off while driving to school.
  • An update on Blueprint 220 was presented. The district is in Phase 4 and will begin community involvement in the near future.