03.10.10

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State ISAT Testing Window - March 1-12 
By Mr. Robert Baker - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Coordinator

We will be giving students state-required achievement tests during the window of March 1-12. Students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 will be tested in reading, mathematics, and writing. Students in grades 4 and 7 will be tested in reading, mathematics, and science.

These tests, called ISAT tests, are a part of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test program. The results of reading, matematics, and science state tests will be reported to you on the School Report Card in the fall. In addition, you will receive information about your child's performance on the state tests he or she took.

 

Task Force Meetings Board Meetings

Group District Leadership Team/Strategic Planning Meetings

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Teaching and Learning Task Force
March 10, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Board Of Education Meeting Room Agenda

Board of Education
Committe of the Whole Meetings

ATTENTION!

Thursday March
11
2010		 Board of Education Meeting - COW - Board of Education Meeting Room 7:00 PM Agenda
Thursday March
25
2010		 Regular Board of Education Meeting - Board of Education Meeting Room 

 
For more information link to the Task Force page
Click for all Board   Agendas and Minutes

Special Education Advisory Board's Resource Fair     
From the Byron Special Education Advisory Committee

 SchoolCenter Picture   Do you have a child who may be in need of special resources?  Where can you go to learn about customized opportunities that are available for you and your child in your community or surrounding area? Come join other interested parents at the Resource Fair.

Date: Saturday March 20th
Place: Byron Middle School
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Concessions will be available 

Download the Resource Fair Brochure (pdf)
Get more info by visiting the Special Education Parent Advisory webpage.

Preschool Screening Dates for 2010   
From the Central Offices 
The developmental screening is for children ages 3-5 years old. Areas of development that are screened include language, concepts, motor, hearing, and vision.

Please call Joy at 815-234-5491 x 223 to make an appointment for your child. Developmental questionnaires will also be available for parents to fill out for children birth to 2 years, 11 months


Save the Date - Preschool screening dates for 2010.

Friday April 9   8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday April 15 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Technology Survey Results   
From Mr. Baker

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The Byron School District would like to thank the 207 people who generously gave their time to complete our tech survey.

 


Free Dental Clinic
From the School Nurse

Free Dental Clinic!  Our school district will be offering a free dental clinic this Spring for our students. Dental services are provided through grant programs offered to our region by the Winnebago County Health Department and will include a thorough dental exam, and in some cases fluoride and sealant applications.

All students are eligible for the exam, even if you have dental insurance! If your child has no dentist or you have inability to pay for these services, then we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.

All Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade students are REQUIRED to have a dental exam. Participation in this clinic will meet those requirements.

If you need additional forms , they can be downloaded off this site or picked up in your child's school office. Dental health is important to your child's overall health. Let's keep our children's smiles bright!

Call your school nurse if you have any further questions about the clinic.

  		• MM   Cathy Manning RN   234-5491 ext. 260
  		• MS   Karen Shiver RN   234-5491 ext. 744
  		• HS   Mary Cay Rasmussen RN   234-5491 ext. 747

    Revisiting Homework 
    By Mr. Robert Baker - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Coordinator

    Homework is an educational topic that is frequently discussed at home and schools across our nation.  everyone seems to agree that the only thing we agree about is the fact that there seems to be very little agreement about this topic at all.  The more I speak with parents, students, and educators, the more that I am convinced that this general disagreement about homework is caused by a lack of understanding about the purpose of homework and the lack of understanding regarding what research indicates is successful and what is not.

    Read more on page 5 of the December District Newsletter .


    Alert Now
    From Central Office

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    The AlertNow system, which is used in notifying parents of emergencies by either text, e-mail or phone is how the district will be informed of potential snow days.

    Link to Byron weather.


    Committee of the Whole Meeting
    From Dr. Margaret Fostiak, Superintendent

    Committee of the Whole   On Thursday September 10th the Byron School District's Committee of the Whole hosted its meeting in the Byron Middle School Theater. Proposed improvements to Mary Morgan Elementary School and potential funding options to finance the project were presented.

    Steve Guthrie, Building and Grounds Director, explained Mary Morgan Elementary building challenges and concerns.
  • Mary Morgan building concerns   (PowerPoint)
  • Pictures of building concerns 

    Representatives from Turner Construction and Cordogan Clark Architects (CCA) presented a proposed building design option and estimates of Mary Morgan additions and renovations.
  • CCA cost estimates for Mary Morgan addition and renovation  (pdf format)
  • CCA proposed building design  (pdf format)
  • Turner building cost index for 2nd quarter of 2009   (pdf format)
  • Turner proposed building schedule for Mary Morgan Elementary School  (pdf format)

    • Elizabeth Hennessy of William Blair & Company presented information related to different bonding options for the proposed Mary Morgan addition and renovations.
  • William Blair & Company financing options  (PowerPoint)

    • Byron School District attorney, Stuart Whitt, responded to questions regarding the terms of the four year settlement agreement with Exelon and post-agreement property values.

     

    Related Documents (pdf format)
  • Document 1:
    		•  Impact of 2008 Exelon Agreement on Members of Ogle County Intergovernmental Agency vs. Proposed 2005 Exelon Settlement Agreement
  • Document 2:
    		•  Impact of Byron Power Station Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement on the Byron School District.
  • Document 3:
    		•  December 2008 Estimated Cost of Mary Morgan Elementary Project - Turner Construction
  • Document 4:
    		• Mary Morgan Elementary School Health Life Safety Document - Violation/Work Item Listing.
  • Document 5:
    		• Financing of Mary Morgan Project Information
  • Document 6:
    		• Enrollment Projections Based on Current Population

     

    Resolution to Withdraw from OCEC
    Official Press Release
    The Byron School District Board of Education passed a resolution on March 19, 2009, taking the other member districts of the Ogle County Educational Cooperative (OCEC) to task for being unwilling to negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the Byron District. read more...


    Please click here to view the 2009 Illinois District Report Cards for the Byron School District.
    (Note: These are NOT student report cards.)