ROE eNewsletter 6.19.09 - DuPage County Regional Office of ...

June 19, 2009 Volume IV, Issue 18
• Congratulations Retiring Superintendents
• Senior Spelling Bee
• ROE Webinar – Requirements and Implications of Federal Stimulus Funds
for School Districts
• Future of English Studies Conference Looking for Proposals
• ROE Update
• Links
• Dates to Remember
Latest News
Congratulations Retiring Superintendents
The Regional Office of Education would like to congratulate and send best wishes to the
following DuPage County Superintendents who are retiring this year. “I would like to express my
heartfelt thanks to each of these individuals for their example of professionalism and the
countless hours of dedicated service to the students of DuPage County,” said Dr. Darlene
Ruscitti. “Though we will miss your leadership, we wish you a happy and fulfilling retirement.”
Dr. Henry Gmitro – Community Consolidated District 93 Superintendent since 1996
Dr. A. Donald Hendricks - Addison District 4 Superintendent since 2004
Warren “Chip” Johnson - Darien District 61 Superintendent since 1995
Dr. Alan Leis – Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent since 2003
Dr. Lee Rieck - West Chicago High School District 94 Superintendent since 1999
Senior Spelling Bee
The 2009 Illinois State Senior Spelling Bee for those 50 and older provided the opportunity for
local spellers to show off their knowledge. Regional Superintendent Dr. Darlene Ruscitti of the
DuPage ROE provided the introduction and welcome to those attending the event. She
congratulated the contestants on their lifelong learning and said they provide a wonderful
example to today’s students.
Our local winner, Angela Orlando, received a cash prize and, along with runner up Sally Hamer,
will compete at a regional competition for the chance to participate in the state finals at the
Illinois State Fair. Congratulations to all who participated and good luck to our two local
representatives.
The event was hosted by Senator Carol Pankau, Representative Franco Coladipietro, the Illinois
Department on Aging, Association of Illinois Senior Centers and Home Care Headquarters.

News to Know
ROE Webinar – Requirements and Implications of Federal Stimulus Funds for
School Districts
Recognizing that school districts were in need of information and guidance relating to the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds being received, Regional Office of
Education Superintendent Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, coordinated a workshop to address these needs.
Dr. Ruscitti partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Association of
School Business Officials to present a workshop on the accountability requirements and
implications of the ARRA funds. The event brought together superintendents, business managers
and finance directors to learn about the reporting and audit requirements associated with the
federal dollars and provided the opportunity to those present to discuss the use of the monies to
provide the greatest impact for students while staying within federal guidelines.
The ROE is pleased to provide this webinar to those unable to attend the event. The information
presented was of great value to attendees and now you too can benefit from the expertise and
advice offered.
The ROE would like to give a special thank you to the co-sponsors and presenters of the event:
• Sue Bertrand, Assistant Executive Director of the Illinois Association of School Business
Officials
• Debbie Vespa, Division Administrator, ISBE School Business Services
• Bert Nuehring, Executive, Crowe Horwath, LLP
• Linda Matkowski, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Public Finance, PMA
Financial Network, Inc.
• Steve Miller, Senior Financial Advisor, PMA Financial Network, Inc.
• Michael Hernandez, Partner with Franczek, Radelet & Rose
Future of English Studies Conference Looking for Proposals
Curriculum, Politics and the Student/Teacher of English: The 2nd Conference on the Future of
English Studies will take place on October 16-17, 2009 at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
The conference keynote speaker, Richard Miller, argues that we are experiencing the greatest
change in human communication ever. Web 2.0 technologies are drastically altering how
knowledge and texts are produced, mediated, and consumed. Such changes require educators in
the humanities to re-think (perhaps re-mix) theories and practices related to teacher education,
reading strategies, and writing pedagogies. Proposals are invited on any topic related to the
pressures that English Studies, from the secondary to the university level, face from
technological, political, economic, and other spheres of influence.
Click here for further information or contact Bill Carpenter at 217-206-8332 or Sara Cordell at
217-206-7213 for with any questions.
ROE Update
Summer Learning Opportunities

Do you need to hone your skills in the use of technology as a tool for lesson delivery? Do you
need to brush up on the latest research related to teaching reading to intermediate and middle
school students? The ROE Center for Professional Learning has just what you need.
Some of the highlights of this summer’s offerings include:
• Technology and the Humanities – develop engaging lessons using technology in a
meaningful way
• Administrator Academies
• Legal Lite for New Teachers
• Paraprofessional Training Workshops
There is still time to register for a session of your choice. Go to:
https://www.dupage.k12.il.us/register/search.php
Links
National Board Certification
Check out the National Board website at http://www.nbpts.org/ to learn more about how
certification through this program improves teaching and enhances learning. Information specific
to teachers, administrators, school boards and community members is available.
Dates to Remember
July
• At the beginning of each calendar or fiscal year, the school board must give notice of its
schedule of regular meetings, including dates, times and places. Notice must include
publication on the school district’s website.
1 The Secretary of the school board shall report to the regional superintendent and secretary of
state a list of students who have left school during the previous attendance quarter.
1 First day of the fiscal year in most Illinois school districts. The board of education shall adopt
an annual balanced budget within or before the first quarter of the fiscal year. Within 30 days
of its adoption, the annual budget must be filed with the county clerk and the Illinois State
Board of Education.
1 Last day to file with the State Board of Education attendance figures for the school year that
began in the preceding calendar year.
4 Independence Day; a legal school holiday.
7 Secretary or clerk of the school board shall file annual statistical report with the treasurer.
15 Last day for school districts to file a certified copy of the prevailing wage statement with the
office of the Secretary of State and the Illinois Department of Labor.
30 Last day for the school district to certify to the State Superintendent of Education claim for
tuition for children from orphanages and children’s homes.
31 Last day for filing federal and state income tax withholding reports and paying taxes due for
quarter ending June 30, 2009.
Quotable

“There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and
education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race.”
--John F. Kennedy
ROE Professional Development
Event ID Title Date(s) Category
ROE510-10
ROE511-10
Working Together to Prepare Illinois School
Leaders Initiative - Principal Preparation
Program
Working Together to Prepare Illinois School
Leaders Initiative - Principal Preparation
Program
W4074-10 Introduction to the Evaluation of Certified
Staff - 2008 Revision (AA #1000)
July 1, 2009
July 1, 2009
July 9 & 23, 2009
Special
Events
Special
Events
Administrators'
Academy
LTC2514-10 Technology in Humanities OEDS 6394 July 27-31, 2009 Technology
(Graduate
credit
available)
W4077-10 Gifted Education for Principals (AA #761) July 30, 2009 Administrators'
Academy
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