South High students (l-r) Joe Stellato, Wes Davenport, Principal Ed Schwartz, Jon Guttello, Matt Wiechec, Teacher and Sponsor Mark Molinari, Jon Urgello and Emily Zaprianov presented to the Board of Education on May 2.
The District 99 Board of Education held a workshop meeting on May 2, 2016. Highlights from the meeting include:
Student Perspectives
South High Principal Ed Schwartz introduced students who competed at the SkillsUSA and journalism state competitions.
- Senior Emily Zaprianov explained that SkillsUSA is a career and technical education focused competition, and includes a variety of categories including architecture, mobile robotics, 3-D visualization and animation, and engineering. She competed in the Architectural CAD drawing. “I learned all the different things that an architect should know, including drawing, planning and designing,” Zaprianov explained. “This competition has given me good career insights.” Jon Guttello was State Champion in the Architectural CAD Drawing. Students Matt Wiechec and Jon Urgello were State Champions in Mobile Robotics, and they explained how they were provided with a fictitious client and instructed to build a robot to meet the client’s needs. As part of the challenge, students pitched the project to an engineer, were given physics and math skills tests and built and tested the robot. Click here to see photos and a video from the competition.
- Students Joe Stellato and Wes Davenport shared their experiences competing at the Northern Illinois School Press Association state competition for journalism, which was held at Eastern Illinois University. Stellato, who serves as the editor of the school newspaper, the Blueprint, competed in sports writing and Davenport competed in the broadcast news category. Stellato said that the competition was more intense than any sports competition he’s experienced, and that at state he went up against 21 other sports writers. “It was a great experience for me, being able to meet people from around the state who are interested in the same thing I am,” said Stellato, who plans to major in English at the University of Illinois at Chicago next year.
The Board members commended the students. “You are all so talented, it sometimes amazes me that you all are only between the ages of 16 to 18,” said member Deborah Boyle. “It’s astounding, but it’s not surprising… Congratulations to all of you!”
2017-18 School Calendar
Superintendent Dr. Mark McDonald shared the recommended school calendar for 2017-18. The calendar was create by the district’s calendar committee, which considered feedback provided by 2,400 students, parents and community members who responded to the calendar survey administered in February. The proposed 2017-18 calendar is an early start format; the proposed first day of school is August 18, 2017 and the first semester ends December 21, 2017.
The Board members discussed various aspects of the proposed calendar, including parent-teacher conferences and the impact of the early start calendar on the schools’ fine arts programs and concerts. The Board is expected to vote on the calendar at its meeting on May 16, 2016.
Please click here to see a video of the meeting
Please click here to see the full agenda and supporting documents
Remaining Board Meetings for the 2015-16 school year:
- May 9, 2016 – Board of Education Recognition at South High, 6:30 p.m.
- May 16, 2016 – Board of Education Business Meeting at ASC, 7:30 p.m.
- June 6, 2016 – Board of Education Workshop Meeting at ASC, 7 p.m.
- June 20, 2016 – Board of Education Business Meeting at ASC, 7:30 p.m.