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Schools

School District Plans Bus Circle at Adler Park School

Libertyville Elementary School District 70 Finance committee members discuss mid-year financial report, construction plans, and teacher contract issues.

board members discussed the building and grounds projects planned for this year, including the addition of a bus turnaround at at Monday's finance committee meeting.

“The architect estimate is $200,000 to $225,000 to build a bus circle at Adler just east of the playground,” said Dr. Kurt Valentin, assistant superintendent of finance and operations.

The project, slated for summer of 2011, will free up traffic in the school parking lot and will also include the addition of sidewalks leading up to the school. The village of Libertyville will require the district to work up a license agreement and include proper drainage in the plan.

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Other projects discussed include parking repairs in the Butterfield and Highland Middle School lots and the removal of parking lot islands at Rockland Elementary.

Dr. Valentin also gave the committee the mid-year financial update. His report included operating expenses from the last three years.

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“We’re a little ahead as far as revenue goes, expenditures are down,” Valentin said. “But it’s all pretty consistent.”

Dr. Tom Bean, district director of human resources, addressed the committee concerning a memo of understanding to teacher contracts regarding their ability to pursue further education.

“The problem we’re having is that teachers can’t further their education because courses don’t follow a regular schedule,” Dr. Bean explained. “We need to be able to approve some hybrid and blended coursework.”

Dr. Bean explained that with education changing drastically, the district needs to look at the teacher’s requests on a case by case basis if the programs they pursue are from reputable and accredited institutions.

The proposal was approved later in the evening at the district’s regular board meeting.

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