OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL

201 NORTH SCOVILLE AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302-2296

To: From: Re: Date:

Board of Education Nathaniel L. Rouse Modified Closed Campus Report June 14, 2012

BACKGROUND: Our Modified Closed Campus Task Force Committee has met bimonthly since the beginning of the school year to trouble shoot and address concerns of students. Committee Members Included : Alexandra LaDue, Amy McCormack, Andrea Neuman, Cheryl Witham, Cindy, Milojevic, Chris Thieme, Dale Craft, Deja Mackey, Galvin Warpness, Jack Hendrix, James Goodfellow, Jessica Greenberg, Julie Blankemeier, Kamille Brashear, Lela Biggus, Mark Pappalardo, Meghan Hannigan, Mike Piekarski, Nancy McGinnis, Nathan Pimentel, Nikita Bondarenko, Peter Slattery, Pilar McQuirter, Rebekah Dempsey, Rob Wroble, Robert Zummallen, Robin Gottlieb, Rucha Mehendale, Ruth Lazarus, Stephen Skepek, Terrie Rayburn, and Theresa Lipo FINDINGS: As a result, we have made progress in identifying additional places for students to go during lunch. We have provided a 33 seat Studio Study Area in our Student Gallery that currently allows Jrs/Srs with a pass an opportunity to study independently during lunch. The Little Theatre has also been made available for students to study. The 276 Computer Lab was also made available for students during lunch periods starting with our second semester. Lastly, we have created a concept entitled Fun Fridays which allows Fr/So students the opportunity to utilize the West Gym for basketball during the lunch periods on Fridays, and we have encouraged student activity groups to put on activities in the student center during the lunch periods as well. Our 2nd semester focus shifted towards identifying potential furniture for our Student Lobby Area, in addition to working with Legat Architects to determine long term solutions to solve space, study, and activity concerns. The committee met with Legat Architects earlier in the semester and participated in a Charrette (Architectural term for brain storming session with lead planners and architects) to look at our current space differently. We also discussed the plan for outdoor mall activity for students on good weather days in the spring, led to a discussion on some form of a band shelter adjacent to our current South Cafeteria. Students have been permitted to utilize the Mall area during lunch periods. We also allowed students to utilize the gymnasiums during the second half of lunches to allow for more flexibility during the lunch periods as the school year came to an end. Additionally, our MCC statistics have consistently shown positive results in deterring absences, tardies, failing grades, and disciplinary infractions; as they are criteria used for determining eligibility. Our statistics through the end of the year are attached.

AREA (708) 383-0700

TTY/TDD (708) 434-3949

http://www.oprfhs.org

FAX (708) 434-3910

We envision that the same resources for staff need to be considered for next year to continue our efforts of effectively supervising the cafeterias, hallways, and campus. The costs that were associated with our MCC implementation are also included in this report. Next Steps Thanks to our Oak Park and River Forest Booster Auction, $8700 was donated on the spot that night for MCC Furniture by families at the auction! Additionally, we were also given approximately $30,000 to cover additional costs. Our committee selected furniture for the Student Lobby Area, in addition to furniture for the Mall area that will be in place at the beginning of next school year. Lastly, we have been working with our architects on a design for an OPRF Pavilion for the outside Mall area. The Pavilion will be scheduled for construction in the summer of 2013. RECOMMENDATIONS Information Only. We believe that we have been effective at managing our MCC environment and those students have in the end responded extremely positively. I have also attached the Frequently Asked Questions document that we provided to families at the beginning of the school year. We envision using this document in the fall as well. Our committee will reconvene shortly after the start of school with the intent of having at least 2 representatives from each class, 3 teachers, 3 parents, and representatives from technology, safety and support, food service, and administration. Attachments: Student Lobby Furniture Layout Student Lobby Furniture Mall Area Patio Furniture Design of our Pavilion MCC Stats MCC FAQs Document

PRELIMINARY PLAN NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION

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Modified Closed Campus - Student Data Comparison May 25, 2012

Criteria Tardies 9
th th th th

8/24/2010 5/27/2011 4175(Class of 2014) 4175 4515 4797 17662

8/23/2011 5/25/2012 3029(Class of 2015) 3732 3520 3549 13830 DOWN 27% DOWN 11% DOWN 22% DOWN 26% DOWN 22%

(Class of 2015) (Class of 2014) (Class of 2013) (Class of 2012)

10 11 12

Tardies Total Unexcused Absences 9

th th th th

(Class of 2015) (Class of 2014) (Class of 2013)

11714(Class of 2014) 11714 17136 23094 63658

6832(Class of 2015) 11022 13495 17571 48920

DOWN 42% DOWN 6% DOWN 21% DOWN 24% DOWN 29%

10 11

12 (Class of 2012) UAs Total Total Failing Grades 9

th th th th

(Class of 2015)

320(Class of 2014) 320 386 431 1457

201(Class of 2015) 202 284 253 940

DOWN 37% DOWN 37% DOWN 26% DOWN 41% DOWN 35%

10 ( Class of 2014) 11 (Class of 2013) 12 (Class of 2012) Total Failing Grades

Discipline Occurrences (# of Students) 9th (Class of 2015) 10 (Class of 2014) 11 (Class of 2013) 12 (Class of 2012) Discipline Total
th th th

Number of Occurrences Report 1553(257) (Class of 2015} 2081(323) 1818(308) 1675(319) 7127(1207)
D 34%; D 17% D 11%; U 4% D 35%; D 13% D 41%; D 16%

2349(310)(Class of 2014} 2349(310) 2801(356) 2838(380) 10337(1356)

D 31%; D 11%

MCC - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Since we are working to be responsive to the needs of our students and create a safe and positive learning environment, changes have been made to address various concerns that we believe are interfering with our ability to provide guidance and support to our students throughout the day. These first seven days with all 3,200 students and 475 staff and faculty members back under one roof, we have focused on the challenge of actually implementing, testing and fine-tuning all these new plans and procedures that weve put in place. We believe these changes will help with our building effort to foster greater accountability and focus on academics and achievement. We also believe that all adults in the building have a stake in helping students follow these procedures. All of us are learning how to effectively implement these new procedures into our routines, too. Let us remember that last year, we recorded 52,118 unexcused absences. We need to work together to create and expect from our students a new norm. Here are some of the questions our students and parents have posed and our answers -- as we all adjust to new ways of doing things. Q: Why are we requiring passes for students now? A: The school has had passes in place prior to this year but there was not consistent use or procedures. With students as our priority, we need to ensure that the school is a safe space for them and is an environment that supports and promotes the importance of learning. Attendance and tardies are a huge problem within the building. To address our attendance problems and to better ensure that we are accountable for student safety, we are normalizing the use of passes. Q: When does my student need a pass? A: To ensure that students have a purpose for leaving the classroom or other designated areas, other than passing periods, students will need to have a pass written for them every time they are released from an area. Q: Does this mean my student cant go to the Library or Tutoring Center during study halls or lunch anymore? As in the past, students may go to the Library or Tutoring Center. Whats different this year is that they must check into the Stud y Hall first and obtain a pass from the study hall supervisor after attendance has been taken. During lunch periods, students may obtain passes to the Library or Tutoring Center simply by asking one of the lunch monitors to issue a pass. With hall monitors in place throughout the building, we will be able to better ensure that students are then going from the study hall room to the Library or Tutoring Center. Q: If a student wants to go to the Library or to the Tutoring Center during lunch, can they go? A: Yes. There will be a designated member of the Safety and Support Team (SST) outside of the lunch room that will provide students with passes to these areas during the lunch periods. Q: Why do students need to report to study hall first before going to a different location for support?

A: Since we are responsible for knowing where our students are and helping them identify supports, we think it is important for students to touch base with the study hall supervisor before going to other locations. Study hall supervisors will have an opportunity to input accurate attendance and to discuss with students possible options to obtain the support they are requesting. Since study halls are considered an academic support area, students should know and feel that study halls are spaces for them to complete academic work and they are scheduled for this purpose. Q: Will my student still be able to visit teachers/counselors/deans/resource managers during study halls or lunch anymore? A: Students can still use their lunch or study hall periods to visit teachers and other staff members. To ensure a teacher, counselor, dean or other staff person is present and available; students should make an appointment and obtain a pass in advance from the faculty/staff person they plan to visit. The presigned study hall pass verifies for the study hall supervisor that the teacher is available and has agreed to use that time to support the student. This was the expectation in the past. Q: My student always ate lunch in the INSERT ROOM #/TEACHERS NAME here. They say they cant do that anymore. WHY? As noted above, we are fortunate to have teachers, counselors, etc. who gladly meet with students during their own planning and lunch periods. We will continue to support and encourage those connections. However, we simply cannot meet the needs of students and staff with food allergies nor can we keep mice and bugs at bay -- if we continue to allow food consumption and disposal in our classrooms and instructional spaces. Food needs to stay in the cafeterias (and a few other designated areas with prior arrangement through Food Services). As outlined above, students can get a pass in advance from any staff member they hope to spend time with, thereby ensuring the person is expecting them. A student can use the pass to leave from the Cafeteria area, so they can eat lunch first. Q: If a student does not have a pass, what will happen? A: Students without a pass will be directed back to the location they last visited to obtain one. Q: Why do students need to wait 10 minutes in their study hall room before being allowed to go to a different location? A: Ten minutes provides time for study hall supervisors to take attendance, check in with students regarding their needs and complete passes to go to other locations, if needed. This will also allow us to clear the halls after the bell rings and help deter tardies and unexcused absences. Q. My student said the teacher wouldnt let him/her use the restroom. A. We are discouraging any hallway movement during the first 10 minutes of each class period, as noted above. But certainly, teachers can give their students hall passes at any time to attend to any necessary personal care needs. This is at the teachers discretion. Q: What are the hours of the Tutoring Center? A: The Tutoring Center is open from 7:15 a.m. 3:45 p.m. Q: Where is the Tutoring Center located and why did the location change? A: The Tutoring Center is now located in 201. The location was chosen because it is easier for students to access the support if they want to receive tutoring during the lunch periods.

Q: If a student needs support in an academic area and a teacher whose expertise in the area is not available during the time the student is available, what do you recommend? A: Besides before school and after school, we will have two or more academic areas represented in the Tutoring Center. We recommend that students and staff consult the schedule that will be provided but we also recommend that students stop by the Tutoring Center to talk with the monitor. There are times when the needs of a student do not require a lot of content knowledge and any teacher assigned to the center can provide assistance. The monitor will help students match the need they have with the appropriate staff member for support. Q: Are student tutors available for students? A: Once school starts, we will work to embed peer tutoring through the Tutoring Center. More information regarding this will be forthcoming. Q. Are the lunch rooms crowded? A. We have seating for 727 in the South Caf and 433 in the North Caf capacity. The South Caf is designated for overflow, and we have provided an additional two servers added in the South Caf. Currently, about 1,200 juniors and seniors have been given parent permission to go off campus for lunch. Q: If a student wants to go to the Library or to the Tutoring Center during lunch, can they go? A: Yes. There will be a designated member of the Safety and Support Team (SST) outside of the lunch room that will provide students with passes to these areas during the lunch periods. Q: Can my student use the restroom during lunch? A. Students are permitted to leave the cafeterias without passes to go to the restrooms. Our directive for our staff is to simply allow students who need to go to the bathroom during lunch to go. We have spoken to our staff again today to be certain that directive is clear. Q: What about accessing lockers? A. We do not take attendance at or record tardies in the lunchroom. Students are free to go to their lockers prior to heading down to the cafeteria. They are not marked tardy for arriving at the cafeterias after the bell rings. Once the period starts, students in the lunchroom may not leave to go to their lockers.

Q. Why do students have to stay in the cafeterias during the lunch period? A. It is important for us to test our new procedures and capacities and to set new expectations. We are starting off testing our new routines and procedures at their most rigorous levels.

Q . Will there be a way to monitor and provide input on how these procedures are working throughout the year? There is daily monitoring by administrative staff. A task force with student, staff, faculty, parent, Board representation will be meeting to provide feedback and ideas.