Published: September 25, 2008 11:03 am      

D118 starts superintendent search

DANVILLE — A job opening for the next Danville District 118 superintendent was posted this morning.

At their meeting Wednesday, District 118 board members discussed a timeline for the selection process, which could result in a hire from either within or outside the district by December.

Candidates for the position must have application packages turned in by Nov. 3. District officials will give a final list of candidates for interviews to the district human resources office by Nov. 17.

The board will announce their choice Dec. 10 and the new superintendent will begin the post July 1.

The job description states the total compensation package for the new hire would not be less than $150,000 and benefits include board-paid Teachers’ Retirement System contributions and 100 percent paid medical insurance premiums.

Superintendent Nanette Mellen said the timeline gives the district adequate time to evaluate candidate qualifications and determine who is to be interviewed.

Board members also addressed community members who demanded a week ago during a special meeting that the public be allowed a part of the selection process. Several of the individuals were present at Wednesday’s meeting as well.

Mellen said groups including district staff members and other individuals would have the opportunity to give their input on finalists’ qualifications.

Board President Randal Ashton told the audience that exactly how the community may be involved isn’t determined yet, but that their interests and opinions are valued.

“We haven’t worked out the details,” he said.

Board members including Ashton have explained during the course of two meetings that one of their primary responsibilities as a board is to select — whether by appointment or via an application process — the top district official.

Board member Bill Dobbles told the audience the board had seriously considered an appointment for the job. His preference was that an individual be appointed to the position, but he said because the board chose to open the position to applications, he’d carefully consider every candidate without giving preference to any one individual.

Board members also heard updates on the implemented restructuring plans at Danville High School and South View Middle School.

DHS Principal Mark Neil told the board that discipline referrals are down and attendance is up compared to last year. Expulsions and suspensions are fewer than they were the same time last year for the entire school.

Neil credits the teaching teams to the success, because the ninth-graders have more individual attention than in past years.

In addition, reading and math support classes are helping students who need some additional practice, he said.

By the end of three years, changes in the school that resulted because of the restructuring — including a higher graduation rate — will be apparent, he said.

The introduction of a school administration manager, Christy Wagers, has also freed much of Neil’s time so he can visit more classrooms and work more closely with teachers.

Part of the classroom work has been developing “academic background” for all students, which means developing 30 key vocabulary terms in a six-step process for each course. The school is also working with math experts to align curriculum to standards.

Freshmen also are competing in teams for the highest attendance this quarter. Beginning second quarter, the ninth grade will compete to see which team has the highest credit completion rate. Next year, the students who earned all their credits will get a significant award, said Freshman House principal Sharon Phillips.

The school also is working to create upper classmen small learning communities.

South View Assistant Principal Patti Rull gave the board a run-down of the school’s new structure. The school is utilizing Target Teach and Read-180 to make ensure teaching practices are effective and compliant with standards.

South View language arts teacher Robin Twidwell told the board she loves the data-drive approach of Target Teach. Teachers can easily identify which students struggle and help them accordingly, she said.

The school recently hired former South View Principal Bill Cooper as the school’s administration manager.

Budget approval

The board approved the 2009 budget, which had been on display for more than 30 days.

The total budget is $69,784,619. Estimated revenues are $70,745,196, which leaves a surplus of $906,577.

The education fund, which is the largest piece of the budget, includes expenditures of $58,024,489 and estimated revenues of $59, 511,551.

General state aid for FY09 will be $26,549,332 and comprises 38 percent of the revenue.

The estimated equalized assessed valuation for the district is $401,657,421. The district’s estimated tax rate would be $4.8945, which would result in tax revenue for the district of $19,659,123.

Local property taxes account for approximately 28 percent of the district's revenue.

The district’s EAV increased from $383,056,049 to $401,657,421, which resulted in a decreased tax rate. The rate dropped from $4.9624 in FY2008 to $4.8945.

Local revenue amounts for 35.8 percent of the budget revenues. State money accounts for 53.5 percent and federal dollars account for 10.5 percent.

In other business, the board:

--Approved BTU Consultants as the service for E-rate consultation.

--Approved renewing Midwest Employers Casualty Insurance Company as excess workers compensation insurance.

COMING UP

The next regular meeting of the Danville District 118 school board will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Jackson Building, 516 N. Jackson St.