District 225 Outlines Goals for 2011-12 School Year

The administration identified 12 goals in various categories intended to focus on district improvement during the coming school year.

The administration of Glenbrook High School District 225 has pinpointed 12 goals to focus on for the next school year, officials recently announced. The schools design their own goals each year, striving to provide an annual direction to help focus efforts as an organization, said district spokeswoman Karen Geddeis. Read more: District 225 approves $8 million in construction projects The 12 goals are focused in the areas of  curriculum, employee relations, environmental, financial, organizational planning, public relations/communications, strategic vision and technology. The goals include: Costs of the plan have already appropriated in their respective program budgets, Geddeis said. “These goals are designed to compliment the individual …

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Local Schools Honored for Academic Excellence

District 34, District 30 and District 225 were recently named recipients of the 2011 Bright Red Apple Award.

Three area school districts have received an award for educational excellence that was bestowed to only about 8 percent of Illinois school districts. Glenview School District 34,  Glenbrook High Schools District 225 and Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 are all recipients of the SchoolSearch™ 2011 Bright Red Apple Awards.  The award, which was started in 1994, evaluates districts in five areas: academic performance, pupil/teacher ratio, expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers and average teacher salary. Out of 868 school districts in the state, 73 were honored with the award this year. SchoolSearch is an educational research and consulting firm that publishes online ranking systems, according to the firm's website…

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District 225 Board of Education Makes New Course Recommendations

As part of an annual review of courses, new recommendations were made Jan. 10.

The 2011-2012 school year may bring new courses for Glenbrook North and South students. District 225’s Board of Education reviewed a list of proposed new courses for the upcoming school year on Jan. 10 and administrators recommended several courses after completing an annual curriculum review, officials said. Each year, 20 percent of course offerings are evaluated as recommendations are made to improve current curriculum. This annual cycle guarantees every course is reviewed at least every five years, according to a recent district release.  The most recent recommendations would have moderate to no affect on district resources, the release said. “Conducting an annual course review helps the District maintain the comprehensive and rigorous …

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New Bomb Threat Details: Classmates, Court Records Paint Picture of Troubled Glenbrook Student

While Ryan Ricco faces a felony charge for his alleged Dec. 8 threat, students and parents mostly agree that the incident hasn't shaken their sense of security.

It started with Facebook, fireworks, and a girl. Now, District 225 high school student Ryan Ricco, 18, faces a Dec. 27 court date and a felony charge for threatening to blow up two local high schools.  According to court documents, Ricco initiated unwanted contact with a female Glenbrook South student beginning June 29. Despite repeated warnings not to contact her or her sibling, Ricco continued to approach the girl via Facebook and over the phone on Sept. 26, Oct. 12 and Oct. 29.  Although she did not respond to any of Ricco's contacts, he communicated with her through Facebook again on Dec. 8, and threatened to bomb the Glenbrook Schools, according to court documents and Glenview Police Department reports.  Ricco told the girl that he …

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Local Students Report Drug Use and Risk Behaviors for State-Wide Survey

District 225 recently shared results from the voluntary 2010 Illinois Youth Survey. To help students with decision-making and risk management, the District provides support through its student services program.

To help better identify and understand students' needs, District 225 recently participated in the 2010 Illinois Youth Survey. This is the second year the district has been involved with the youth survey, last offered in 2008. Schools across the state partake in the survey, geared towards helping communities identify risk behaviors including alcohol, drug and tobaccos use, explained Director of Public Relations for District 225 Karen Geddeis, in a recent press release. "The insights gained from this type of data helps communities better address the needs of their youth," she said.  Results Reported At a district meeting Dec. 13, administrators presented survey results and a summary of the district's student services program to the Board of …

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District 225 Board Approves Tax Levy

A 4.7 percent tax levy was approved Dec. 13 at a Truth in Taxation hearing.

District 225's Board of Education approved a proposed tax levy at a Truth in Taxation hearing Dec. 13. The tax levy—4.7 percent for 2010— represents 2.7 percent based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and 2 percent for new property growth, explained Public Relations Director Karen Geddeis in a press release yesterday. "The action taken by the Board is consistent with sound fiscal management practices that have helped maintain high quality educational services for students as well as uphold the financial promise made to taxpayers at the time of the 2006 referendum," said Board President Skip Shein. Under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, Cook County school districts are restricted to a property tax revenue increase of 5 percent or …

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UPDATE: Bomb Threat Investigation Complete, Bond Set at $250,000

Dist. 225 student Ryan Ricco threatened school safety via a Facebook message Dec. 8.

Update, Dec. 9 at 1:50 p.m. Ryan Ricco, who was charged yesterday after police received a report that he threatened to bomb Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North via Faceook, remains in police custody. Bond was set at $250,000 D with electronic monitoring if released. Ricco is next scheduled to appear in court Dec. 27.  Editor's Note: Stay tuned for more updates from Patch as new information becomes available. ------- Dec. 8, school administrators received notification from Glenview Police Department officials that a message threatening school safety had been reported via a third party. At 8:12 a.m., a resident reported her daughter had communicated via Facebook with Ryan Ricco, a fellow student and Northbrook resident. Ricco "threatened…

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GBS Students Make Strong Showing on AP Exams

Following Advanced Placement exams last May, GBS students are recognized based on exam performance.

Numerous students were recognized for their academic excellence this week when Advanced Placement  scores from exams taken last May were released. "AP classes are valuable as they help our students prepare for success after high school," said Karen Geddeis, director or public relations for District 225. "In addition, students who score a three, four or five on the [AP test] may be eligible for college credit, at the discretion of the college they attend." Glenbrook South offers 24 AP classes to students and a larger percentage of students enroll in at least one AP class, according to the District's website. "To have this many students succeed on a number of AP tests really highlights the depth of preparation that our AP classes offer to …

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EduNation: A Patch Report on Local Schools

State Education Cuts Won't Hurt Glenview Schools

While school districts across the state lay off teachers and cut programs, Glenview public school funding remains secure.

While schools around the state are laying off teachers and cutting programs to make up for recession-driven tax shortfalls, both major public school districts in Glenview recently passed budgets with small projected surpluses and healthy reserves. "We won't have cuts in personnel or anything that impacts our students," said District 34 Superintendent Gerald Hill. "At a time when many school districts are struggling, District 225 has maintained its financial stability through the support of our communities and the implementation of proactive cost-reduction strategies," said Board of Education President Skip Shein. It's a case of no news is good news, but also a function of how little Glenview schools rely on volatile state funding for …

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School District Honors Special Olympics Director

Pa'al Joshi receives accolades from school board, parents for starting a Special Olympics program at Glenbrook schools.

At Monday night's school board meeting, District 225 recognized Glenbrook Special Olympics director Pa'al Joshi for leading the formation of a Special Olympics program in the Glenbrook schools. Karen Geddeis, communications director for the district, introduced each of the players and thanked them for paving the way for future Special Olympic athletes. "I can't thank the board enough for helping us be here," Joshi said. Moving forward, Joshi hopes to attract more than 40 athletes to participate in year-round volleyball, basketball and other sports. With help from the board and the Glenbrook Foundation, he was able to purchase uniforms for the Glenbrook United players and says the team is focused on developing skills, making friends and …

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