Eastland Board of Education Moves Toward 2010 Referendum

At their Strategic Planning Retreat on January 2nd, the Eastland Board of Education heard a summary report on the three-year Strategic Action Plan. The report included incomplete, ongoing, and completed objectives. The entire 3-year review can be accessed at www.eastland308.com/board_info/files/Strategic_Plan_Rubric%20_2009_.pdf. The Board also discussed the original District Vision statement, and possible revisions that would prioritize the core competencies of language arts/reading, math, and science. The Board will discuss revisions to the District Vision further at their January Board meeting, before forwarding the plan to the staff, and the Citizens Advisory Committee for feedback and input.

In the second half of the meeting, the Board heard a presentation from the Facilities Committee on site visits to Rochelle, Sterling Newman, and Maquoketa High Schools. The committee shared photographs and a summary of the information gathered during the visits.

After some discussion, the Board outlined a process and schedule for moving toward a 2010 referendum to improve the athletic/fitness facilities at Eastland High School, and to make library and other improvements at Eastland Elementary:

- Jan.-Feb., 2009: Board of Education discusses options for funding;

- March, 2009: Representatives from the Board of Education, the CAC, and Staff will develop a list of stakeholders to serve as a possible Referendum Committee;

- May, 2009: Representatives and invitees will meet to tour the facilities, and to hear a presentation on the facility needs. This group will select a Committee of Ten, and will develop a wish list of building requirements;

- July, 2009: The Committee of Ten will make site visits;

- August, 2009: The Committee of Ten will make a presentation to the Referendum Committee, reviewing information gathered from the site visits, and revising the original wish list into a final set of parameters / specifications for the project. The Board of Education will approve a Request for Proposal to be advertised and distributed to no less than three (3) architectural design firms;

- October 1, 2009: A special meeting of the Board will be held, with invitations to the Referendum Committee, and open to the public. The purpose of the meeting will be to hear proposals from the architectural firms;

- Nov.-Dec., 2009: The Board of Education will vote on a resolution to place the question of a referendum on the ballot for April, 2010.

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