Lots of controversial items on tonight’s District 150 Board of Education agenda. These recommendations were just revealed a couple of weeks ago by the Superintendent, Dr. Lathan. You can read more about the rationale behind these recommendations by clicking here (PDF).

12. CLOSING OF GARFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Proposed Action: On the recommendation of the Administration the Board of Education closes Garfield Primary School at the end of the 2010 – 2011 school year and authorizes the Administration to set necessary school boundaries.

13. CLOSING OF COLUMBIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: On the recommendation of the Administration the Board of Education closes Columbia Middle School at the end of the 2010 – 2011 school year and authorizes the Administration to set necessary school boundaries.

14. BOUNDARY CHANGE FOR WHITTIER PRIMARY SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to make the necessary boundary changes to Whittier Primary School that were in force prior to the closing of Tyng Primary School.

15. CONFIGURATION FOR GLEN OAK COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to change the configuration of Glen Oak Community Learning Center from K – 8 to K – 6.

16. CONFIGURATION OF TREWYN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to change the configuration of Trewyn Middle School to a K-8 school.

17. IB PROGRAM
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorize the Administration to implement The International Baccalaureate Program at the following schools: Charter Oak, Mark Bills, Sterling and Trewyn.

18. ESTABLISH A CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to establish a Career and Technical Center at the former Woodruff High School. The school will be named the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.

19. RESTRUCTURING OF PEORIA ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the restructuring of Peoria Alternative High School and relocation of the new program to the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.

20. RESTRUCTURING OF GREELEY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the restructuring of Greeley Alternative School and relocation of the new program to the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.

21. CONTRACT WITH EDISON LEARNING
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education terminates the contract with Edison Learning.

22. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education increases the graduation requirements from 18 credits (16 academic and 2 physical education) to 22 credits for Peoria and Richwoods High School students and 28 for Manual High School students. The new requirements will apply to the 2014 graduating class.

23. HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION HANDBOOK
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the High School Registration Handbook. The handbook reflects a change in how class rank is calculated, when the valedictorian calculation is completed and changes the PE requirement.

24. PARENT UNIVERSITY
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to establish a District 150 Parent University.

a. The Parent University would be comprised of three academy sites located in the three high school regions within District 150 boundaries. There would be an academy site located at Glen Oak Primary School, Harrison Primary School and Richwoods High School. The responsibility for the development, implementation and coordination of the Parent University curriculum would be facilitated by the Family Community Coordinator in collaboration with the Title I Department. It is further recommended that the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity for the Parent University. Its primary role would be to oversee and promote the Parent University’s vision.

I haven’t seen an explanation of what’s going to happen to the vacated buildings as a result of these actions, except for the old social security administration office on Knoxville that District 150 inexplicably acquired and remodeled while trying to save money by closing other buildings several years ago. What will happen to Greeley? Or the old Washington School building on Moss? What impact will these decisions have on neighborhoods and transportation/busing overall? Perhaps these issues will be discussed tonight.