NORMAL – One could say Chiddix Junior High School went into orbit to bring back its “good news” report during the meeting of Oct. 25 of Board Members of Normal-based Unit 5 School District.
Board members and a small audience present for the meeting at district headquarters learned that CJHS eighth grade student Dhruv Rebba had been working on and successfully achieved a hookup between the school and the International Space Station. The hookup took place on Monday, Oct. 23. Rebba wasn’t alone for the event, however, as roughly 50 students, teachers, and media witnessed the event.
At an event in 2015, Rebba met astronaut Douglas H. Wehlock. That meeting led Whelock to suggest Rebba and CJHS get in touch with Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).
The very long distance hookup was done in cooperation with Challenger Learning Center, the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Central Illinois Radio Club. As a result of the connection, Rebba and his fellow students got the chance to speak with astronaut Joe Acaba. It took three tries over three school years to arrange, but the 60 students involved with the project were only granted 10 minutes to squeeze in as many questions as they would allow.
Among the questions students formulated through various class discussions and asked Acaba included wanting to know how astronauts stay in shape while on the station; which space travel movie was the most accurate; if the astronauts were able to grow vegetables in space, and how many space walks have the astronauts taken recently. The answer to that last question, Acaba told students was between 3-5 in the last week alone, although he said, that many in that length of time is “pretty unusual.”
Those people who didn’t attend the very long distance communication in person and Board members were able to see a video of the end result as, at the time of the event, it was shown through the social network Facebook’s “Live” streaming service.
Graduation Rate Percentage Is Up: Board members received details from the district’s 2016-17 Achievement Report from Deputy Superintendent Ray Epperson. Chief among the items Epperson presented to Board members was the fact high school graduation rates have gone up in the last six years eight percent, from 84 percent to 92 percent. Having announced that, however, Epperson sounded encouraged about those numbers continuing forward, telling Board Members, “We’re not planning on staying at 92 percent.”
Annual Audit Report Presented: Board members heard, and approved after receiving, an annual audit report presented by Adam Pulley CPA, from the firm of CliftonLarsonAllen. The audit report, Pulley said, noted just one finding concerning use of an incorrect reimbursement rate on claims paid for the beginning of fiscal year 2017. This particular item was also noted by auditors in last year’s annual report.
Settlement Agreement Approved: Board members unanimously approved a settlement agreement with student apartment owners establishing the earned assessed valuation of certain properties for the tax years 2015 through 2022. The settlement appears to be “slightly above” 2014 EAV figures, Curt Richardson, attorney for Unit 5, told Board members. Richardson reminded Board members “significant increases” in EAV translates to more money coming into the district from taxpayers.
Board Members Hear Proposal For A “Welcoming Schools” Resolution: Board members were introduced to the idea of a resolution to make all schools within Unit 5 “Welcoming Schools.” The “Welcoming Schools” initiative, started by the Human Rights Campaign, strives to make schools accessible and safe for students coming from all types of families. As a result of this, the resolution said Unit 5 is a district “where all students have the right to attend regardless of their immigration status” and that “Unit 5 will protect the rights of all students and their families, including student confidentiality rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), when handling any request for student records or information.”
Two district teachers, and a student who could benefit from such a resolution, addressed Board members. The discussion began with Board members being informed by Normal Community West Social Studies teacher John Bierbaum and Normal Community High School Social Studies teacher Patrick Lawler that to pass such a resolution helps keep kids safe.
“We should take an overt action and emphasize we will do something to keep kids safe,” Bierbaum said.
“This is not about politics to do what is best for our kids,” Lawler added. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, was an immigration policy that began after passage during the Obama Administration in 2012 which allowed some individuals who entered the country as minors, and had either entered or remained in the country illegally, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferment from deportation. It also granted the people in this classification eligibility for work permits. As of 2017, approximately 800,000 individuals—referred to as Dreamers after the DREAM Act bill—were enrolled in the program created by DACA. The policy was rescinded by the Trump administration in September.
Aditi Sharma, a freshman at NCHS joined Bierbaum and Lawler to ask Board members to consider passing the resolution which is slated to be on the Board’s agenda for it Nov. 8 meeting, the only meeting that month because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Bloomington School District #87 “vowed to protect immigrant kids,” Bierbaum added, noting that district has already voted to approve such a resolution. “We should take an overt action and emphasize we will do something to keep kids safe.” Lawler added, “I urge you to pass the resolution in support of our students.”
Saying the high schools have helped to build a welcoming culture, Board Member Meta Mickens-Baker thanked the trio for their efforts to bring the subject to the Board for consideration.
Board Members Hear Proposal For A “Farm-To-School” Resolution: Board Member David W. Fortner also proposed the Board give consideration to a “Farm To School” Resolution, helping to bring agriculture to district classrooms. Fortner said he would like to see students examine what local outlets there are which could educate students “not just about food but the ag sector.” He added such instruction is happening “in pockets in our district. This kind of program is good for our students.”
Dr. Mark Daniel, district superintendent, said “such a curriculum attaches itself to STEM,” – teaching related to Science, Technology, Education, and Math – with components of Agriculture added. “Many of our schools have gardens, but they need to develop programs.”
But to get such a program going to be beneficial to students, Daniel added, “”Data must be gathered and which companies and groups will help it continue.” He said, then, there is the issue of “how do you commit to staying to it when the school year is out.” He said that means there is “a lot of work to be done upfront” to get it started.
The discussion among Board members on this topic led to the feeling there are varying concerns needing to addressed before voting on a resolution. Board Member Joe Cleary said he wants to make sure proceeding to begin such a project is “done wisely, effectively, and with purpose.”
Board Member Mike Trask informed Fortner such resolutions need to be drawn up with the assistance of district legal counsel. Board Member Barry Hitchins, saying he favored what was being proposed, told Board Members he didn’t believe using a resolution was the right mechanism by which to achieve it.
Board Member Jim Hayek, Jr. said Daniel needs to direct resources to look into the matter further, and that such an initiative could be part of the district’s next strategic plan.