ISAT scores soar when students are at Burr Ridge CCSD 180
for two years or more

At its October 21, 2003 meeting, the CCSD 180 Board of Education heard a report by superintendent Frank Rink that shows substantial increases in student ISAT achievement when children have been in the school district for two or more years. Rink said, “Our student population is more mobile than most school districts in DuPage County, giving us some unique challenges. When children remain with us for at least two years, their test scores soar. For example, less than half of last year’s third graders were with us as first graders. However, 93% of our third graders who had been with us for two or more years met or exceeded state standards on the third grade mathematics ISAT test. Those results compare favorably to any school district in DuPage County. However, only 73% of recent move-ins to our school district met or exceeded those third grade math standards. Although 73% is very close to state of Illinois math achievement, it is still far below our students who have been in the district for a couple years. Our instructional staff provides outstanding teaching no matter when a child comes to us. However, when a child remains with us for two years or more, we have a better opportunity to make that positive difference.” Rink noted that “all students are cherished, no matter when they enroll in the school district, and that any preoccupation with a high mobility rate or a higher than average poverty rate will not and cannot serve as obstacles to our improvement efforts and our commitment to children.” The trend of higher scores for students with more tenure at CCSD 180 has been tracked for the past several years.

In other action, the Burr Ridge CCSD #180 Board . . .

. . . reviewed the district’s transportation program and authorized the establishment of another regular bus route to address routing and timing issues.

. . . passed a resolution of congratulations for seventh graders Amanda Gauthier and Ryan Forgue who ran well at the Illinois Elementary School Association‘s Cross Country State Championship Meet in Normal on October 18.

. . . presented the Board of Education’s Award of Excellence to community resident and parent Dr. Kelly Guglielmi for her commitment to children and for her support of the school district and its related organizations.

. . . employed teacher assistants Toni Humanski, Sara Garcia, Melissa Johnson, and Tabassum Ali for special education students.

. . . authorized the employment of another special education teacher at Burr Ridge Middle School to address increased enrollment.

. . . passed resolutions establishing an activity fund and an imprest fund at CCSD 180.

. . . made its scheduled review of proposed policies relative to Section 600 (First Half) - Instruction - as stipulated in the policy review schedule.

. . . heard a report by superintendent Rink regarding budget shortfalls that will be experienced due to the receipt of $140,000 less state aid funds than the state had projected, due to the auditors’ reallocation of tax revenues reducing end of year fund balances in the operating funds, and due to special education needs requiring a personnel expenditure of $100,000 more than budgeted.

. . . approved installation of a series of Ricoh copiers at a cost savings of, at least, $5,000 per year as compared to the previous copier contract.

. . . heard reports from the administration including the following from Superintendent Rink:

A. E-Rate
B. School District Report Card
C. Copy Machines
D. Citizens’ Advisory Council
E. PTC
F. March State/ROE Compliance Visit
G. October ROE Building Inspection
H. Board of Health Cafeteria Inspection
I. International Day
J. Night at the Races
K. Differentiation Academies
L. December Mailing to Residents
M. Impact Aid/PILT Funds
N. Safety Review at CCSD 180

The Board’s next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room of Burr Ridge CCSD #180.

Click here to access the actual minutes of this meeting