New and Returning Staff, Bids Galore at D135 Board Meet

Julie Oberwise had hoped that most of the 12 faculty and staff members would be able to return, after they were laid off in March due to another predicted drop in enrollment for District 135.

But with enough faculty and staff retiring between this school year and next to cover positions that needed cutting, all 12 people were officially recalled to their positions Monday night, by an approving vote from the Orland School District 135 Board of Education. All board members present voted in favor of the recall. Members Lynne Donegan and Ann Gentile were not at the meeting.

The recalled staff positions ran a gamut of educational types, including math, speech, special needs, orchestra, 1st grade, language and physical education.

 “We know the teachers have been on pins and needles until this special day, when we can look ahead and make the realization that the student population is in support of a recall,” District 135 Superintendent Paul Howell said during the meeting. “Thanks to Julie Oberwise for the insight she had in structuring this.”

At the March 29 board meeting, Oberwise, the district’s human resources director, said a projected drop in district enrollment of about 110 students in the 2011-2012 school would lead to a cut in 7.5 teaching positions across the district. If enrollment does fall in the next school year, it will be the seventh consecutive school year that has happened in District 135.

Oberwise also said at the March meeting that the number of kindergarteners did jump this year from 250 to 450, while the number of first graders have been spiking even higher.

New Assistant Principal for Jerling

Ann Marie Riordan was selected as the new assistant principal for Jerling Junior High out of 150 candidates. Riordan has worked in District 135 for the last 14 years, 10 of which have been spent as an enrichment resource teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

Riordan is taking the space left vacant by Heather Conrad, who will be moving to Meadow Ridge as assistant principal.

Jerling Principal Pam Hodgson said Riordan’s background in reading will be a compliment to her experience in math.

“Coming from that background to us will only enhance what we are doing,” Hodgson said after the meeting.

All board members voted in favor of the hire.

Construction Bids Approved and Others

The board all voted in favor of the following contracts:

• Asphalt paving for bus driveways at Centennial School, as well as Century, Orland and Jerling junior highs, was awarded to Oak Lawn Blacktop for no more than $389,000.
• Roof replacement at Liberty School, as well as at Century and Orland junior highs, was awarded to R.B. Crowther Company for no more than $851,585. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services John Reiniche said the capital projects are paid for with money from the district’s cash reserves, and were factored into a five-year plan for the district.
• Physical education uniforms contract was awarded to Don’s World of Sports for no more than $10,779.12.
• Engineering and architecture services for paving, roofing and playground work during summer 2011 was awarded to FGM Architects for no more than 8 percent of the total awarded project bids.
• Wireless sound amplification systems for classrooms in Centennial, Center, Park and Prairie schools contract was awarded to Phonak, LLC for no more than $128,942. Colleen Schultz, assistant superintendent of student services and director of special education, said research into using the sound system in classes showed better academic results for students, especially those with learning disabilities and hearing difficulties. The sound system can be set to transmit the teacher’s voice directly into a student’s hearing aid, as if it were a radio. The district will also be able to contribute data from classrooms toward research into the systems.
• Investigative services were awarded to National Investigators, Inc. for the 2011-2012 school year. Schultz said the district has worked with for three years. In the last year, surveillance was performed on seven families who were investigated for proof of residency, and three families were followed up on from there, Schultz said. The issue was resolved with two of those families, while one investigation is ongoing.