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“In my view, the biggest challenge for
school personnel heading into the 2013-
2014 school year is meeting the needs of
all children while coping with education
reform initiatives of outside, political groups.
We plan to focus on meeting students’ needs based on local
community needs, and pay attention to, but not be distracted
by, the ebb/flow of reform initiatives so that when our local
goals align with reform initiatives, we can benefit from the
larger dialogue.”
Dr. Jason D. Henry
Sesser-Valier Comm 196
Egyptian Region
“Since I have a property poor school district that is very dependent on General State
Aid, having the finances to maintain our programs and keeping staff employed is an ongoing challenge for
my district. We have spent down our fund balances rather than cutting teachers and programs and now
face the tough decisions that come as the fund balances are reaching critical levels that would not support
another deficit budget year.
We cut two staff positions and are not replacing two other retiring teaching positions. We are also
planning to borrow the maximum possible in the Working Cash Fund in order to supplement the
inadequate revenue in the Ed Fund. We have already cut back in spending on supplies and other
discretionary areas. We are changing to self insurance for our Major Medical insurance in order to save
additional dollars. We continue to advocate for full funding of the General State Aid formula.”
Dan Marenda
La Salle
Elementary
District 122
Starved Rock
Region
“I feel the biggest
challenge I face
heading into the new school year is
finding time and resources to provide
meaningful professional development
for teachers. In the past, we used
Block Grant funds to help provide this
training to our staff. Now, without
those funds, combined with the
number of mandated changes we are
trying to implement, it places further
stress on both the budget, and our
teachers.
To address this challenge, we attempt
to train our best teachers, and ask
them to present what they learn to
their colleagues. This gives these
teachers ownership when they are
either asked to attend a workshop, or
they request to attend one. They also
understand that it is sort of a privilege
to get to attend a conference, and not
a ‘right’ as perhaps it once was. We
also will use many of our own
‘experts’ to train their colleagues, as
well as utilizing our Regional Office of
Education. In simpler terms, it all boils
down to time and money!”
President-Elect Scott Kuffel
Geneseo Community Unit District 228
Blackhawk Region
“The biggest challenge for 2013-14 is
continuing down the path towards student
growth for principal and teacher
evaluation, particularly in those areas that
are not as easily ‘quantifiably calculated.’ It seems self-evident
to me that a teacher of a Building Trades house with 20
students, who successfully completes an 1800-square-foot
house, without incident, and high student engagement, and
can sell it for a profit, has demonstrated student learning and
value-added growth, but we're never quite sure if that meets
the letter of the evaluation regulations. Likewise with that choir
teacher or art teacher, who typically are more performance- or
product-based in their teaching and assessment, but who do
not have the same metrics that a math teacher may have
available.
I plan to address the challenge by being as resourceful as
possible in working with our faculty, administration and with
those colleagues from IASA who have great answers and
experience in these areas.”
Ron Jacobs
Riverdale Comm
Unit District 100
Blackhawk Region
