Leadership Matters Summer 2015

Matters Leadership SUMMER 2 0 1 5

New State Superintendent wants to open doors of opportunity for all students

In this month’s issue

Additional Items

District architects and construction delivery methods P. 16 End of Year Happenings P. 20 Greatest Achievement/ Accomplishments P. 32 Getting to know your committee members P. 37

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IASA News in Brief P. 38

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IASA Calendar of Events P. 40

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Westerhold becomes president of IASA P. 4

Outgoing IASA president: Make new year ‘Essential’ for kids P. 7

New State Superintendent wants to open doors of opportunity for all students P. 9

IASA Annual Conference Keynote speakers P. 14

Cover Photo: Dr. Tony Smith being sworn in as State Superintendent by State Board Chairman James Meeks.

2648 Beechler Court Springfield, IL 62703-7305 217.753.2213 800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717 847.466.5075

IASA Newsletter Editor Michael Chamness mchamness@iasaedu.org

Assistant Editor Mary Ellen Buch mbuch@iasaedu.org

1200 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959-1138 618.364.0501

Volume 3, Issue 6

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Despite education budget, schools not immune to Statehouse drama It’s shaping up to be not only one of the wettest summers ever in Illinois, but also one of the most frigid times in the Statehouse as Governor Bruce

 Creation of a General State Aid Commission to come up with a new school funding. The commission is required to submit its report by the end of 2016.  The state making payments into the Chicago teachers’ pension fund. While overshadowed by the budget impasse and the possibility of a state government shutdown, the property tax freeze issue could have major implications for school districts that, on average, depend on local property taxes for two-thirds of their revenue. IASA Conference lineup set The IASA Annual Conference scheduled for September 30-October 2 is shaping up to be another great opportunity for professional development and networking. By popular demand, we are moving this year’s conference to downtown Springfield at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and the Prairie Capital Convention Center. The downtown location offers a wide variety of restaurants, shops and attractions within easy walking distance. Keynote speakers this year include:  Karen Beerer , Discovery Education’s Vice President for Professional Development, whose presentation is titled “Leading the Learning in a Digital Age: Why Now?”  Consuelo Kickbusch , an educator, author and motivational speaker who founded Educational Achievement Services, Inc. Her presentation is titled: “Valuing Diversity.”  New Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith , whose presentation is titled “Moving Forward.” This issue of Leadership Matters includes an in-depth profile of Dr. Smith. Registration for the conference will open up by the end of July, so please save the dates September 30- October 2! In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation at the state capitol. I urge you to communicate with your state legislators to let them know how the property tax freeze would impact your school district. Best wishes for a great summer, and I hope you are able to find the time to enjoy family and friends and recharge your batteries!

Rauner and the Democrat- controlled General Assembly continue a high-stakes political showdown over the state budget. When someone finally blinks or a

compromise is reached is anyone’s guess, but many observers think the stalemate could last deep into the summer. The governor deftly avoided one of the biggest public pressure points by signing the education budget while vetoing the rest of the state budget. By doing so, he avoided the specter of some schools not being able to open in August. Even though school administrators now know their districts will have a budget, that doesn’t Message from the Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark “Turnaround Agenda” is a property tax freeze that could hamstring many school districts. There have been various plans floated, the current one being for a two-year property tax freeze. The proposal that passed a Senate Committee last week also included changing the school funding formula, something Democrats insisted be part of the package. For their part, Republicans want limits on collective bargaining and prevailing wages and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno said her party could not support the version passed by the committee. Senate President John Cullerton said he would hold the bill and make changes as they negotiate. Senate Bill 316, Amendment 1, includes more than just a two-year property tax freeze. Other items of interest include:  In addition to the freeze for the levy years of 2016 and 2017, all counties would fall under the Property Tax Extension Law Limit (PTELL) instead of the roughly one-third of the counties that currently have tax caps. After the two-year freeze, the tax caps would be tied to the Consumer Price Index and be capped at 5 percent.  A supplemental grant to limit the General State Aid loss for the neediest school districts, similar to what was included in the education budget for FY2016.  A clause that says no district shall receive less of a percentage of GSA than it receives in the 2015-16 school year. mean schools are immune from the drama. One of the major items in the governor’s

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Westerhold becomes president of IASA Des Plaines superintendent takes reins of statewide association

Technology Board.

The superintendent of Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62 is the new president of the statewide

Westerhold is a graduate of Staunton High School and attained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Southern Illinois University and her Doctor of Education Degree from Loyola University in Chicago. She served as a teacher, principal, director of curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent in various school districts before being named superintendent in Des Plaines in 2005. In addition to being named Illinois Superintendent of the Year, other honors for Westerhold include the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) “Those Who Excel” Award, the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce Community Enhancement Award, the Illinois National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) Distinguished Service Award, and the District 62 Lighthouse Award. This year she was named winner of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) Nelson Gray Presidential Award. Des Plaines School Board President Stephanie Duckmann called Westerhold “a leader not just in our district, but also in the community and state level.” “Jane is relentless in making sure our students will be successful in the 21 st century and in achieving academic growth every day,” said Duckmann. “Her leadership has propelled our district forward. We accomplished a major renovation of our eleven schools, increased technology and improved test scores in the eleven years of her tenure.” Westerhold said that she looks forward to working with her colleagues from throughout the state to meet the tough challenges facing public education. “Superintendents are facing some of the most tumultuous times in recent history. Horace Mann stated in 1846 that education is the great equalizer of the conditions of men. As the poverty rates continue to increase in our schools, this has never been more true,” Westerhold said. “In a state as diverse as Illinois, finding a solution for equitable and adequate funding to meet the needs of our state's two million students remains a priority and obstacle.” Westerhold is married to Dr. Kenneth Cull, a retired school superintendent. Daughter Emily Westerhold and husband Sebastian Rymarz live in San Francisco, stepson Ian Cull and wife Heather live in Chicago, and stepdaughter Jami Cull Patrick and husband Andrew live in Nashville, Tennessee. The couple has four grandchildren - Stone, Brooklyn and Savannah Cull and Melis Patrick.

association for school superintendents and administrators. Dr. Jane L.

Westerhold began her one-year term on July 1 as president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). “I am deeply honored to serve in such a capacity. Throughout the years of my membership, the

Dr. Jane L. Westerhold

IASA has been a consistent source of support and fellowship, avenue for professional growth, and advocate for public education,” said Westerhold, who has been an educator for 38 years, the past 11 as superintendent in the Des Plaines district. “I am a better educator and leader as a result of my involvement in the IASA. I am particularly excited to continue articulating and supporting Vision 20/20's policy platform to fulfill the promise of public education.” Dr. Brent Clark, executive director of IASA, said Westerhold’s vast experience and her leadership skills will serve her well in providing solid leadership for IASA, which is one of the nation’s largest statewide associations for school administrators with more than 1,700 members. “Jane Westerhold has been on the IASA Board of Directors for more than seven years and was chosen Illinois Superintendent of the Year in 2013. She is a respected educator and leader who is committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for children,” Clark said. “These are some of the most challenging times ever for public education and I believe Jane’s leadership abilities can help us navigate through these difficult times.” In addition to serving this past year as president- elect of the association, Westerhold also has been treasurer of IASA as well as being on various committees. She also has served as a coach for IASA’s School for Advanced Leadership (ISAL) and is an IASA mentor for new school superintendents. She was inducted in 2014 into the Century Club 100, a national honorary group that selects two superintendents per state. Westerhold also is a member of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Governing Board as well as a member of the National Center for Research and

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Outgoing IASA president: Make new year ‘Essential’ for kids

educational associations, and begins a process of pushing the boulder of best thinking and best practices up a hill of reform and restructuring. I would prefer we look not at battling against the political will of the state, but rather that we now have a blueprint available that allows us to offer the tools we have from our toolkit to assist legislators and the governor in understanding what we must do and what we can do for the more than 2 million children who depend upon us each day. No, this will not be easy, but we

have a great start. Finally, I share with you a thought from the book, Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less , by Greg McKeown. He says, "The Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the non-essentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage." Our responsibility as IASA members is to continue to speak out against that which is non- essential for our children, and to reinforce and re- fortify that which is necessary and absolute for our children. And if we need to have tough conversations to remove those obstacles to the 'clear, smooth passage,' it's comforting to know that there are thousands of leading educators in Illinois ready to speak up. Make 2015-16 an Essential year for your District!

I would have enjoyed writing this column to conclude the 2015 school year full of vim and vigor, fresh from reviewing the next fiscal year's budget and with full plans for staffing and programming, and examining clear goals and principles for outcomes necessary to provide the best resources for our students here in Geneseo District 228. But alas, despite promises of changes in Springfield and greater transparency, we find ourselves looking through a fog of fiscal uncertainty and a myriad of imminent changes coming towards us without any clear relevance or direction in most cases. However, I can say that the 2014-15 year for IASA has demonstrated renewed commitment to children and persistence towards professional integrity and leadership. Celebrating our 50th anniversary as a stand-alone organization ushered in a spirit of renewal and a refreshing approach, encapsulated in the unveiling and strong embrace of Vision 20/20. Through the efforts of hundreds of educational "life touchers," this hard-bound book demonstrates the collective soul, spirit, and synergy of major

Scott Kuffel Geneseo Comm Unit 228 IASA Past President

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As superintendent of schools in Oakland, (CA), new Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith focused on improving educational opportunities and closing achievement gaps among all students.

New State Superintendent wants to open doors of opportunity for all students

By Michael Chamness IASA Director of Communications

too well the challenges facing many kids in Illinois, where more than half of the students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program that marks the poverty line. “I really believe that every kid is unique and has so much to offer, that the potential of our young people is not being fully maximized or touched and activated,” Smith said during a recent interview in his Springfield office. “Our kids are situated either close to or further from opportunity and our public schools have the ability to create opportunities and change life outcomes. There are very few other places like that. “Some kids are born where there are amazing opportunities all around them. They’re on an maximized or touched and activated. Our kids are situated either close to or further from opportunity and our public schools have the ability to create opportunities and change life outcomes. There are very few other places like that.” “I really believe that every kid is unique and has so much to offer, that the potential of our young people is not being fully

When new Illinois State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Smith talks about providing educational opportunities for children on the lower end of the silver spoon spectrum, the passion in his voice belies his calm exterior. One gets the feeling that much like he used to blast open holes for running backs as an offensive guard for the University of California Golden Bears, Smith would like nothing better than to bulldoze some longstanding obstacles. In a story for the Cal Alumni Association magazine in 2013, Vicki Haddock wrote: Tony Smith sports the physique of Buzz Lightyear yet speaks the vernacular of a psychotherapist. Throughout life, his exterior has simultaneously reflected and contradicted his interior self – the result being that people tend to typecast him, and then get taken by surprise. Underestimate Smith at your own risk. Born to 17- year-old parents who split up, Smith bounced among relatives and friends in northern California, attending as many as 10 different schools. He even lived on his own for a while as a fifth-grader. Yet he went on to become captain of the football team at the University of California, where he also attained his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees to complement the street smarts he had acquired out of necessity. He understands all

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escalator. Some kids are born in situations where you know it’s work and they go ‘Oh, there’s a staircase’ to get to the next level. Some kids are born where there’s nothing, there’s no connection, no route to that other place. The college-going gene isn’t only in “She was really a thoughtful and wonderful person who listened to the things that were on my mind. She said, ‘Tony, remember how you helped your teammates? I don’t know why you don’t see this: You’re an educator.’

--Smith returned to Cal after injuries ended his NFL dreams. He credits the head of Cal’s Athletic Studies center, Jo Baker, with helping him find his career path as an educator.

those kids that are born where there’s an escalator. It’s in our communities’, our state’s and our country’s best interest to educate all of our children well. And when we don’t, shame on us. So that’s the thing that drives me.” Before Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois State Board of Education tapped Smith to become State Superintendent, Smith had served four years as superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District in California. He previously had been superintendent in Emeryville (California) and deputy superintendent in San Francisco. His wife, Kathleen, is a native of Oak Park and two years ago they moved back to the Chicago suburbs because of her father’s illness. Smith became the executive director of the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation, which gives millions to support children’s development and education. Asked why he would take on the job of schools chief in Illinois -- where the budget deficit is among the largest in the nation, the school funding formula is outdated and the political infighting is legendary -- Smith reflected for a moment before answering. When he spoke it was about the state’s potential, but also maybe about his personal competitiveness when it comes to tackling a really good challenge. “The core reason I said yes when I was approached by (ISBE) Chairman (James) Meeks is that there is an incredible opportunity to serve in the moment that we’re in and to help figure out how to support school districts in meeting the needs of so

many different parts of their communities. It’s an incredible diversity of needs and districts are stretched. Figuring out how to be a good support and service organization for those districts is important to me. “There are some really extraordinary leaders, amazing practices and some phenomenal programs in Illinois. I mean we are leading the country in some early childhood work, some community development work and engagement with youth. The work that Illinois has taken up around Common Core and the new Illinois Learning Standards also puts us in a position to support children and families for the world that’s coming. So there’s much to build on.” Smith’s career path to becoming the schools chief in the fifth largest state in the nation not only defied the odds, but also his own boyhood plans to play in the NFL – ambitions that almost were realized but for a series of injuries. He was named the Most Improved Lineman at Cal in 1987 and in 1989 was named the Golden Bears’ Most Valuable Lineman and Most Outstanding Senior. He signed with the Green Bay Packers, but suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. Later, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, but suffered other injuries. After three surgeries in 14 months, the finality that his NFL dream was over hit Smith hard, a feeling he once described as “vertigo.”

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and places where districts are innovating and finding ways for kids to have remarkable opportunities. I also think the stress that public education is under generally in this country is also present here in Illinois.” Those stressors, Smith said, include the lack of financial resources, demands on classroom time, poverty, homelessness, transient populations and unfunded mandates. “The needs are not getting fewer, they’re getting greater and the resources to meet those needs have been constrained. So how do you actually get the right kind of service and get the right kind of attention to the whole child, the social emotional learning conditions that are necessary for kids to feel connected? I’m a very, very big proponent of community schools creating the conditions that make kids feel like they belong. In fact, in Oakland we organized ourselves in ways to coordinate, align and leverage the public, private and philanthropic assets kind of as the lead agency for children in the community. We’ve got to be much more aggressive in our public school systems about doing that work. “And I think increasingly as those needs are so broad it’s getting clearer that teachers’ relationships with kids and families is at the heart of a great school. We have to make sure that teachers have the content and emotional support they need and the kind of professional culture that’s essential. I think in the context of a community, schools are where that stuff happens best.” Smith’s short-term goals for the coming school year include continuing the conversation about overhauling the current school funding formula that last was changed in 1997. “A goal would be that we make progress and have a collective conversation so that it’s no longer a “The needs are not getting fewer, they’re getting greater and the resources to meet those needs have been constrained. So how do you actually get the right kind of service and get the right kind of attention to the whole child, the social emotional learning conditions that are necessary for kids to feel connected? I’m a very, very big proponent of community schools creating the conditions that make kids feel like they belong...I think in the context of a community, schools are where that stuff happens best.”

He returned to the campus at Berkeley to try and figure out a new path. Behind the scenes during his playing days at Cal, Smith had been tutoring teammates who were struggling in English classes. The hulking 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman had graduated El Dorado High School as English Student of the Year and chose English as his undergraduate major. He credits the head of Cal’s Athletic Studies Center, Jo Baker, for helping steer him toward becoming an educator. “She was really a thoughtful and wonderful person who listened to the things that were on my mind,” said Smith, who in the magazine article recalled Baker saying to him: “Tony, remember how you helped your teammates? I don’t know why you don’t see this: You’re an educator.” Smith ended up teaming with Derek Van Rheenen, a former pro soccer player who now is coordinator of Cal’s Cultural Studies of Sport in Education program, to develop a course titled “Introduction to Sport and Society.” Smith taught the class that became the basis of his dissertation looking at the role that race, class, gender and sexual orientation had on sports participation and academic achievement, and how those factors produce different types of experiences. While he was working on his Ph.D. Smith started working for the Bay Area Coalition of Equitable Schools. “It was one of those things where it was more about what felt right and what felt connected – teaching and coaching and being in support of kids,” Smith said. “Some places were really amazing and others were less so. Just what made the difference and why some places were so good, I was curious about that. “I think there are remarkable stories of success

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Save the Date - Super Region Meetings with State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith

IASA and new ISBE state superintendent Dr. Tony Smith will host 3 super-region meetings to formally introduce Dr. Smith to our membership. These super-region meetings will be: September 1 in Naperville September 2 in Normal September 3 at Rend Lake Additional details will be sent soon

fight about winners and losers but realization that the current structure sets Illinois up for failure. So what’s a better structure? It is critical to me that we make progress on what that should look like. Understanding local needs and assets is really important. I think the idea that we would differentiate our funding to support kids who are in different places in relationship to opportunity has to be a part of it. I think there has to be a better sense of adequacy, what we would expect the baseline to be. What’s our desired outcome? We need to work backwards from that, and that’s a big conversation for this state.” As for his long-term vision, Smith said that moving from the Carnegie unit, a system developed in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries that bases academic credit on time spent in the classroom, to a competency-based system could be transformative for Illinois. “It is time for us to recognize that our young people can demonstrate in multiple ways that they know and understand and have mastered content in ways that are faster and not limited by the amount of seat time. The time they sit in school has very little correlation to what they know,” said Smith. “If in the first two weeks we could demonstrate what we’re expected to know in six months, would we put up with having to keep going? Or, on the flipside, if I go through something for a year and I don’t do well on one section from February to April, do I have to redo the whole thing? Why can’t I just redo February to April and then get back on track?”

Vocational education is part of that vision. “In my experience, when kids are doing real things they care about, they excel,” Smith said. “If they are doing work in the context of learning a skill that they need to have to earn money, that’s real work. And why are we not figuring out how to count that against a standard?” Never one to dodge a linebacker who needed to be blocked, Smith also met head-on the topic of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test that was administered in Illinois for the first time during the 2014-15 school year. Developed by educators for the National Governor’s Association, PARCC has become a political lightning rod nationally and in Illinois. “I think the promise of PARCC is greater than the promise of most of the other assessments we’ve ever had. Kids can test to the edge of their knowledge. But it’s not perfect by any means, it’s not where it needs to be yet,” said Smith, noting that next year’s PARCC tests will be about 90 minutes shorter. He said that even though PARCC can be taken by pencil and paper, it has illuminated the technological gaps among schools in the state. “There’s a use value in the taking of the test online that is powerful, the manipulation of the screen, the understanding of how you use technology. We live in a technology-based world and there is a tremendous inequity in our state when it comes to bandwidth and technology capabilities of school districts.”

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“I have read the Vision 20/20 plan and think there’s a tremendous amount of alignment. One place I’d like to have more conversation is how we can maximize to the fullest extent possible district autonomy when it comes to things like mandates. Mandates have different impacts in different districts.”

When it comes to vouchers, Smith’s said his stance is grounded in reality. “I think if the world was well funded, if inequality between groups of kids in different places was erased, if every school was a quality school, I might have a conversation about vouchers. Absent that reality, I think vouchers exacerbate inequity,” he said. “If you start with choice, in my experience, people who have social, economic or political capital will take advantage of that. Now you’ve concentrated the highest need in places with the least quality. You need to invest first in figuring out how to increase quality and opportunity in those places with the greatest need.” And his view on charter schools is pretty simple: “If a public charter school is providing a quality opportunity for kids and is making good on its charter agreement with the community, then we should all be saying ‘Great! Outstanding!’ If a charter school is not doing a good job, is not following through on its commitments to the community, then it should close.” Much of Smith’s blueprint for the future of public education in Illinois seems to mirror the Vision 20/20 plan developed by IASA, the other members of the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance and groups such as the regional superintendents and the Superintendents’ Commission on the Study of Demographics and Diversity. In fact, a hardbound copy of the Vision 20/20 plan sits on a coffee table in Smith’s Springfield office. “I have read the Vision 20/20 plan and think there’s a tremendous amount of alignment,” Smith

said. “One place I’d like to have more conversation is how we can maximize to the fullest extent possible district autonomy when it comes to things like mandates. Mandates have different impacts in different districts.” The State Superintendent’s common thread during an hour-long discussion was providing equitable opportunity to all children across Illinois, a noble but monumental mission in a state with such diverse needs and assets. Smith has never forgotten how people reached out and helped transform his life. He is an example of the powerful difference that caring teachers, coaches and administrators can make in a child’s life. Smith said he believes ISBE’s primary role is to provide support to local school districts. “I believe deeply in leadership from the middle, that people in leadership in districts know and understand their work better than anybody else and the opportunity to serve kids is most directly theirs,” Smith said. “I want to be absolutely clear that districts must be in compliance with regard to things that will jeopardize federal funding. At the state level, our job is to be oriented around helping those leaders in districts do the work that they know is best for the kids in their communities and then, at the end of the day, asking the questions ‘How are all of the children doing? Is it more likely that the kids who were further away from opportunity are now doing better? As the result of your choices have you increased opportunity for kids?’ “

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Leading the Learning in a Digital Age: Why Now? Karen Beerer, Discovery Wednesday, September 30 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.

It's not only a necessity, but a moral imperative to ensure that curriculum and instructional practices meet the needs of 21st century learners; we can't do this without the integration of digital tools and resources. As leaders, we need to be laser-focused on "the here, the why and the now" of the digital transformation. Learn from early digital trailblazers who have developed best practices of going digital and rely on resources whose effectiveness is supported by research. Join us as we shine the spotlight on districts who are "doing it right" and share the best strategies and tools to use as you walk the digital walk to transform teaching and learning in your schools for all students.

Valuing Diversity Consuelo Kickbusch Thursday, October 1 9:15 to 11 a.m.

This keynote provides participants with the different dimensions of diversity in today’s environment. Learning to accommodate cultural differences is important for managers and employees in order to be successful in the work environment. Moreover, it is important in parenting and education as well. Aspects of cultural differences, strengths and challenges will be examined and examples will be provided. LTC Kickbusch will provide her personal story of challenges and triumphs as a child of the “barrio” who succeeded in spite of many cultural, social and educational obstacles. She gently guides her audience to a better understanding of cultural differences and similarities, as she emphasizes that appreciation of diverse cultures and their contributions to today’s society is a very important element of team-building and team-work, which makes for a

successful, productive work environment. LTC Kickbusch will provide insights on yet another necessity for successful professional development and personal growth. This introspective keynote will force participants to look inward at themselves, their work environments, and communities and motivate them to take action.

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Moving Forward Dr. Tony Smith Thursday, October 1 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.

Moving Forward - State Superintendent Tony Smith will discuss his priorities and vision for Illinois’ education system. He will also address critical topics that Illinois school administrators will face during the 2015-16 school year, including finance, budget, assessments and supports.

Mark Anthony Garrett Friday, October 2 9:30 to 11:45

The author of “Teachers Are Heroes – 7 Success Principles for Transformational Teaching,” Mark Anthony Garrett is one of the nation’s leading experts within the K-12 industry and with regard to child welfare. He also is a motivational speaker on such topics as teacher leadership, cultural pedagogy, overcoming adversity, youth success, building relationships and maximizing human potential. He speaks from experience. Garrett grew up in the tough inner city of Dayton, Ohio as a foster child and was later adopted. Throughout his childhood, Garrett faced hardships such as poverty, neglect, homelessness, abandonment and physical and sexual abuse. At 14, he lost his adoptive mother to cancer, dropped out of school, joined a gang and was in and out of juvenile jail. Encouraged by his third grade special education teacher to never give up and to strive for excellence, he went on to become a two-time

U.S. Achievement Academy award winner, recipient of the National Collegiate Minority Leadership award and he attained the two highest honors given by his college, the President and the Trustee awards. His experiences inspired Garrett to dedicate his life to helping troubled youth and adults overcome the negative challenges in their own lives.

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District architects and construction delivery methods

Many Administrators can spend their tenure without ever embarking on a significant construction project in their district- so it’s understandable that the role played by the District Architect is unclear to many. A successful construction project can be a highpoint of an administrator’s career, or can turn into a major headache. Ideally your District Architect can serve as a trusted advisor leading you through the

Contractor with the lowest price. In this method a District retains an Architectural firm to work with them to program and design a project to suit the needs, and then the Architect prepares Construction Documents that form the core of the bidding documents. The Architect takes responsibility for not only designing the project, but also administering the bidding and construction administration of the project, and serving as the primary interface between the District and the General Contractor hired by the District. This delivery method is probably the most common, but has some drawbacks- the emphasis on low bid as the primary selection method can lead to conflict during construction since the Contractors sometimes take liberties with the Construction Document requirements in an effort to gain an edge over their competitors. In the public sector where taxpayer money is being spent it is important that no particular vendor or contractor is given an unfair advantage. For this reason the Architect develops open specifications that allow a minimum of three different products for virtually all building components. As part of their lump sum bid, the General Contractor assumes responsibility for coordinating all of the selected building components during a submittal process consisting of shop drawings, samples and mockups reviewed by the Architect and the District. Understanding the process will help you better understand how the Architect works to help Districts deal with day-to-day issues

John F. Ochoa, AIA President, CEO FGM Architects

process, just as your Attorney or Accountant assists in negotiations or audits. Most are familiar with the School Code requirements to use an Architect to perform 10 year Health Life Safety surveys, or to seal Permit drawings for projects exceeding $50,000, but beyond that details can be hazy. We will briefly summarize the most common construction delivery methods, and the Architect’s role in each. Design/ Bid/ Build This construction delivery method, also commonly referred to as Public Bid or General Contractor, is the traditional method that has been relied upon for decades. Many believe that publicly bidding to receive a single lump sum bid from a General Contractor results in the lowest possible price since the “winner” in this process is the responsive

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that develop in construction while maintaining the transparency in contracting demanded by the public. Construction Management After years of battles between design quality versus construction cost with the District caught in the middle, the industry developed alternative means of project delivery. Construction Management has gained significant traction over the last 20 years as an alternative to Design/Bid/Build. In this method the construction period services handled by a General Contractor are now the responsibility of the Construction Manager (CM). There are several major differences however. The CM is ideally selected at the beginning of the design phase in a Quality Based Selection process. Your Architect should be familiar with the process and can assist the District in

projects that reduce energy consumption or operating costs such as insulating exterior walls, installing computerized energy control systems, or replacing inefficient lighting, where the project pays for itself over time through higher efficiency. A major strength of this delivery method is a single provider for all phases of the project through an Energy Services Company or ESCO. Licensed Architects or Engineers are still required to seal permit drawings, but may be contracted by the ESCO so that the District enters into a single vendor agreement. The District trades the checks and balances of the other methods for a single point of responsibility. Since this delivery method has no checks and balances between designer and contractor as in the previous two

delivery methods, the School Code contains several requirements to insure that the District receives fair value. Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for these contracts must be published in the Capital Development Board Bulletin and a local publication at least 30 days prior to the date they are due. These competitive proposals

Editors note: If you don’t have a District Architect and want to get one, or if you need to find a design firm for a single project, the IASA has a number of School Service Associates in the Architecture field. Contact us for a list of Service Associates. Assistance in preparation of this article came from JC Rearden, AIA VP Operations Wm. B Ittner Architects and Mike Waldinger Hon AIA Exec. VP AIA Illinois

preparing a solid Request for Qualifications and help with the selection process. Once selected the CM becomes part of a three party team- Owner/ Architect/Constructor. This team collectively manages decision making, design, budgeting, bidding, and

construction. Contractually the District has separate agreements with the Architect, the CM, and

must be evaluated by an Architect or Engineer retained by the District who does not have a financial or contractual relationship with the ESCO. The cost of the improvements must meet or exceed the operational cost savings within 20 years. Like low bid, the ESCO has an incentive to provide systems or materials that cost the least amount of money. In order to make sure that the District receives the best value, ask your independent evaluator to help prepare the RFP with a particular emphasis on specifying materials and systems that will provide sufficient durability to outlast the 20 year payback period. The independent evaluator can also be the District Architect, who has a familiarity with your facilities, or the District Architect may be retained by the ESCO, in which case a third party must be retained by the District to evaluate RFP’s. We hope that this brief description sheds a little more light onto the role of the District Architect. Fundamentally, the Architect’s goal is to assist the District in obtaining the best value in facilities and infrastructure that will meet the long term need of the District. Our School Facilities are an important component in the vital mission of public education, it’s up to all of us to make sure we have outstanding learning environments.

potentially with individual trade contractors. Strengths of this process include the ability to select the CM based on qualifications and past performance rather than low bid, closer involvement of the CM during the design phase for budgeting and scheduling purposes, and the ability to evaluate individual trade bids versus a single lump sum bid. In some locations where qualified General Contractors with the experience and capability to handle a large construction project are in short supply the CM can provide the opportunity for smaller local contractors to compete for work on the project. The Architect’s responsibilities in this delivery method are similar to Design/Bid/Build, but the relationship between Architect and CM is more cooperative, while maintaining healthy checks and balances between designer and builder to ensure that the District receives the best value from the process. Districts benefit from the Architect and CM each contributing their perspectives and exercising their professional responsibility to protect the District’s interests. Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract or Performance Contract This form of construction delivery is the most recent, and as the name implies, is intended for

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ISDLAF+ May 2015 Monthly Update

Click here to view the May 2015 ISDLAF+ rates, economic indicators and general economic news brief. To obtain additional information regarding this IASA sponsored service, contact Donald E. Weber, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations/ ISDLAF+ at 630.657.6435. To check daily rates, visit the ISDLAF+ website at www.isdlafplus.com .

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End of Year Happenings

Blue Ridge 18 Students from Blue Ridge Intermediate and Junior High School held a car wash and bake sale to benefit a classmate, Madi Houser, who has a serious illness. They raised over $7000. The district's transportation department participated, too, by bringing a bus to be washed by the students!

Prairie Grove 46 Prairie Grover District 46 honored their beloved Chicago Blackhawks! The students and faculty are great supporters!

Wauconda Community 118 Students and staff of Wauconda High School stand in the shape of the number 100 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the high school/ district.

Photo credit: Visual Image Photography

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End of Year Happenings

Woodridge 68 William F. Murphy Elementary School in Woodridge School District 68 celebrates its Million Word Readers, students who have read at least 1 million words over the school year. One student read 6 million!

Naperville 203 What’s APPening at Ranch View Elementary School? Students teaching parents about technology in the classroom.

East Alton-Wood River 14 Students from East Alton-Wood River cleaned up a playground at a local charity, the Community Hope Center in nearby Cottage Hills. Students are required to perform 10 hours of community service per year at EAWR. This work was very much appreciated by the staff at the center. This playground had fallen into disrepair and parts of it were becoming overgrown. Our students did a great job, as well as our sponsors, Principal Leigh Robinson and Assistant Principal Kevin Gockel.

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End of Year Happenings

Metamora 1 After graduation practice, an all-school picture was taken on the stadium field of students in the shape of a cardinal, Metamora Township school’s mascot. Seniors were then served grilled hamburgers before they left for the day.

East Peoria 86 Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students at Central Junior High School in East Peoria Elementary School District 86 will vacate an old building at the end of this school year, and students will walk into a brand new academic building in the fall. This project is the culmination of more than a decade of planning on the

LeRoy Community 2 History comes ALIVE at LeRoy Elementary School during the Wax Museum. Fifth grade students research the 1800s and develop an understanding of the major historical events and the influence of key individuals.

part of District 86 under the leadership of Superintendent Tony Ingold and Director of Operations and Finance Glen Penning.

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End of Year Happenings

Rochester Comm Unit 3A Dr. Thomas Bertrand, the 2015 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, presents the $1,000 IASA Superintendent of the Year scholarship to Allison Bailey of Rochester High School.

Antioch 34 The 2015 graduating class of Antioch Community High School was the 100th class of seniors to graduate.

Marengo/ Union 165 T he Booster Clubs of the Marengo Union Elementary CSD 165 and Marengo Community High School District 154 sponsored a community Color Run. More than 300 people participated in the event, including many families! What a tremendous way for the community to show their support for the Booster Clubs while practicing “good health and fitness”.

Canton Union 66 Roy Webb, superintendent, with two students after he gave a Veteran’s Day Speech to a Kindergarten class at Lincoln School.

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End of Year Happenings

End of Y ar Happenings

Giant City 130 The Giant City School held a Leukemia and Lymphoma Walk in May. The walk raised more than $2,100 with a few pledges still coming in. Students were asked to get pledges for each lap walked on the school track. Children earned small tags for each lap. Community members also attended and made donations. This is the school's second year to host the walk.

Silvis 34 George O. Barr School students in the Silvis district, hosted a Leadership Day for families and community members. In the picture, elementary students explain to City of Silvis Mayor Tom Conrad about the Leader in Me program and what they learned this year.

Perandoe Special Ed District Perandoe Special Education District has held a Perandoe Field Day for the last 10 years. They average 100 student participants and have a great morning of track and field events followed by a picnic lunch. The students and staff come from Monroe and Randolph Counties. Above is the culminating event, which is a parade around the track to honor each school's students and staff that participated. All students receive a blue ribbon. It is an amazing event filled with laughter and applause.

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End of Year Happenings

Highland Community 5 Alhambra Primary held a Mini Marathon in May. Students K-3 run a half mile every Tuesday and Thursday beginning in February and ran the final mile on May 7th. During the 12 weeks the students run they also do several character projects. One of many character projects students completed was raising $200 for the Leaps For Love Foundation. The students gave the check to the Leaps of Love representative the day of the race. We are very proud of our school and students!

Lemont Twp HS 210 Lemont High School senior Steven Brija (center) and other members of the Lemont band joined with Grammy Award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson for the final performance at We Day Illinois.

Photo Credit: Shaw Media.

Morton Comm Unit 70 Bookends. Grundy Elementary kindergarten students practiced for their end of the year program a day after the Morton High School Class of 2015 graduated. From the beginning to the end of their school careers, it goes by fast.

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End of Year Happenings

End of Y ar Happenings

Technology Center of DuPage In May, several Technology Center of DuPage CTE classes and business partners collaborated on a complex scenario for high school Fire Science and EMT students attending the area career center. The multi-vehicle accident simulation in the school’s south parking lot featured two wrecked cars provided by a towing company and an 18-wheeler from the truck driving school attached to the College of DuPage. Cosmetology students created realistic-looking wounds and injuries on classmates volunteering as victims, using special effects make-up and techniques called “moulage.” Criminal Justice students exercised their radio communication skills and provided “crowd control” while members of the Addison FD supervised Fire Science students’ use of hydraulic Winfield SD 34 The Winfield Drama Club continued its long tradition of performance by presenting “Goldilocks and the Three Pigs,” a fractured fairy tale that mashes classic storybook characters to deliver both great morals and greater laughter. Storybook-land characters like Goldilocks, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Little Pigs helped audiences discover that there’s no place like home, and that sometimes parents really do know what’s best. Winfield District 34’s Drama Club has been putting on productions for more than 20 years. Most Winfield Drama students have gone on to West Chicago High School, whose Drama Club is competitive at the state level, and some Winfield alumni have even gone on to perform on Broadway. Come to the play next year and see why Winfield Drama is such fun!

Leyden Community HS 212 West Leyden Principal Wilford Wagner is escorted into the field house by orchestra students for a surprise assembly celebrating his retirement at the end of the year.

equipment (“jaws of life”) on the vehicles. EMT students communicated by radio with the instructor acting as dispatcher, then rescued, treated, and transported the victims to the classroom “medical center.” Adding to the realism was the landing of an Air Methods/Chicago LifeStar helicopter. This capstone event gave students the opportunity to test critical communication, medical, and emergency response skills acquired over the course the year. Students who successfully complete the EMT course may, at age 18, take the state or national EMT licensing examination and graduate from high school with up to 22 hours of dual credit.

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End of Year Happenings

Bloomingdale SD 13 Members of DuJardin Elementary’s student council planted a tree on Arbor Day.

Somonauk 432 At high school graduation each year the high school principal does something called a personal celebration in which he provides all seniors with a bag filled with confetti and has them celebrate during the ceremony. He encourages them to stop and celebrate all of their successes in life.

Beecher 200U Beecher High School's Walk For St. Jude which raised $7,000 in support of St. Jude Children's Hospital, an organization devoted to researching, preventing, and curing pediatric catastrophic diseases. This year, 185 students participated to collect 231 donations that were given to St. Jude in honor of Mrs. Julie Janusek, one of Beecher High School’s aides who passed away unexpectedly on April 16 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Williamsville CU 15 June 3 marked the end of the 2014-15 school year at Sherman Elementary School. Thirty students had perfect attendance this school year. Of those students, Britni Walters and Ashton Hidlebaugh were selected as winners of free bikes for perfect attendance. The bikes were donated by Mike Adams of Horace Mann.

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