Q&A: Bylsma faces post-referendum challenges

Principal Pam Bylsma is entering her second year in RB administration.  If it’s anything like her first one, it’ll be a doozy.  The 2010-2011 school year included a hotly contested referendum campaign, the hiring of a new superintendent, the filing of an electioneering lawsuit, the introduction of a major values learning educational initiative, and more.

Q: Will you be doing anything differently this year?

A: “Every year is different from the year before. We’re looking to do more with the Character Counts program and the Social Emotional Learning. We’re working on more initiatives having to do with academics and something called a positive behavior support system.”

Q: How do you feel about the changes to the school due to the referendum?

A: “We knew that students would be hurt by the changes. You can’t reduce large amounts of money without impacting students. And the teachers and staff have been impacted as well. But ultimately, we’re all here for the students and giving them the best education we can possibly give them. There was less flexibility in the schedule for students to get courses they desired to take. There were reductions in the total number of classes, so for the first time we were in the uncomfortable position of telling students they couldn’t take certain classes. It always gets a little bit trickier for the older students, but this year, more kids experienced this.”

Q: Did you have any say in what was cut?

A: “Yes, it was a collaborative process. So, I was not the only voice, but I was a voice. Everyone was involved when we created the plan. The administrative team had some ideas. And then we took the information and went to our leadership council. We then took the plan and presented it to the faculty. So, there were several steps along the way to allow feedback and to get people to respond to it. It was also presented to the public. Finally, the Board ultimately chose to go with the plan or to alter the plan.”

Q: How does this year differ from last year in terms of student and staff morale?

A: “I found the students to be incredibly positive. The Student Association Executive Board Members decided to really work to build school spirit and make it a positive year. They have put incredible creativity and energy into the school year. I know that there are students who are upset and frustrated. They’re not thrilled, but they’re not falling apart at the seams either. I still see a vibrant learning community where wonderful things are happening.”

Q: Were you surprised that the referendum failed this previous year?

A: “On that night, yes, I was surprised. I was surprised it had failed by that much. We worked with people who were so supportive and we were getting more positive responses than negative. I don’t think our methods were flawed, but the data indicated we were closer. But in a sense, I wasn’t surprised because my local community had voted down our school district’s referendum four times in a row. Having seen that in my own backyard, I was worried that it might not pass, but I was hopeful.”

Q: What can you say about any upcoming referendums?

A: “The school board makes that decision. The board will sit down with all the professional financial projections, what we know about our money this year and where we expect to be, and they’ll decide whether  they’re going to put it on the ballot or not. To this point, they haven’t done that yet. They just at the last meeting passed the budget. Now they’ll start working on the next phases; what does it look like a year from now? Five years from now? What are the projections looking like? Are we going to go for a referendum or not? They decide that.”

Erik Kramer rallying students for referendum

Erik Kramer is planning a student rally hoping to help pass the upcoming tax referendum in April. The rally will take place in March but the date is still tentative.

Kramer described the gathering as a rally for the students. He wants everyone to know how important the clubs at RB are to the students and the impact the make at the school.

“I think going door to door, and giving people information works, but I want people to see how important these clubs are to the kids.” Kramer said.

He hopes that having all the kids in one place will show the community the real impact of the referendum.

Although Kramer is a senior and will be gone next year, he still feels the need to help out RB. He said, “I had all the opportunities all four years at RB, and I loved that, and I want everyone else to experience that too.”

Kramer’s enthusiasm doesn’t go unnoticed. Principal Pam Bylsma explains what a great kid Kramer is.

“He saw a need and stepped up to fill it, thinking more of others than himself.  As many seniors are winding down in their focus and enthusiasm for school, Erik is gearing up in order to support the school he loves” Bylsma said.

There are approximately 25 clubs that Kramer is trying to get involved in the rally. Kramer currently participates in Model UN and Improv. club.

Grant denied but still moving forward on rooftop garden

Having a rooftop garden at RB is an idea that was started at the end of the last school year, and action on creating has been started. It would be beneficial to RB overall; it could get students to actually interact with a garden outside of a classroom and work in a green space. Students and staff could actually eat what will be grown, and it could also cut energy costs and make RB a greener school.

The rooftop garden, spearheaded by Kathleen Harsy, was on its way to creation and hopefully success, but the first step was to get a grant to get the project moving.

The Green Thumb Challenge, the grant from the Green Education Foundation, was not obtained by RB. The organization that was applied to could only give out one grant, and it went to a juvenile correction center in a desert region in Oklahoma. They intend to grow vegetables and serve food from their garden to homeless people.

“The organization was looking to give the grant to something that was already established. But just because we didn’t get [the grant], doesn’t mean the garden idea is over. I’m happy for them; if we were going to lose the grant, I’m glad it was to them,” said Harsy.

So far, a grant application has been sent to Captain Planet Foundation and they are waiting for a response. They have also applied to Illinois Parks for a state grant.

Meanwhile, Harsy and others have been making connections with Quest, the food service program used at RB. Quest has agreed to serve the vegetables grown in the garden once it starts up. They are even willing to provide seeds to plant.

“Pam Bylsma [principal] is really excited about this, and has been really supportive,” said Harsy.

There will be a group meeting sometime in the near future for fundraising ideas. They are going to meet with Whole Foods to try to get their sponsorship for the garden.

New principal selected

Having gone for months into the school year without a principal, RB has finally come to make a decision as to who is to fill this position. A board meeting took place on Tuesday, February 2nd, in which the final choice was reached. In the end, there were three finalists that Interim Superintendent David Bonnette and the school board could vote for.

Troy Gobble, the current interim assistant principal for instruction at RB; Pamela Bylsma, assistant principal for operations at Hinsdale Central High School; and David Travis, assistant principal for instruction at Elk Grove High School were the finalists.

Gobble was a physics teacher at RB and also became the science department chair. Last June, he was made assistant principal for instruction.

Bylsma’s teaching background has been focused on student services and she was a teacher for both English and Art.

Travis served in the U.S. Air Force. After his experiences serving his country, he applied to Elmhurst College and went on to become a teacher. He has a background in curriculum and instruction. 

The board meeting that occurred on Tuesday, February 2 decided who was to be the new principal of RB. The final decision was Pamela Bylsma.

With a very warm and inviting personality, she answered a few questions. When asked how she felt about her newly acquired job opportunity at RB, Bylsma’s excitement was hard to contain.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the building getting to know students. This is a wonderful community and RB is special and unique,” said Bylsma “The students talk about how their teachers are there to help them. There are also a lot of classes that students are able to take.”

Bylsma must now make the transition from being the assistant to being in the big chair.

When questioned about her goals for the remaining school year, Bylsma expressed her desires to bring a collection of ideas and student voices together. To move forward with these ideas and allow the student opinion to be heard is one of her ultimate goals as principal.

“The student voice is huge to me,” remarked Bylsma, “I want to hear the students’ opinions and for them to be heard.”