Last year, the school board renewed the charter for Cambridge Lakes in Pingree Grove through 2014, but ISBE asked Northern Kane for more information in January before it certified the district’s action. Specifically, it asked the charter holder to more accurately reflect its relationships with the school district and other partners, Crowley said.

But Northern Kane didn’t get that amended agreement to the district until August. And, in a discussion at Monday night’s board meeting, District 300 board members expressed discomfort signing off on the amended charter school agreement, which also includes some “significant” changes, according to the district’s attorney.

Those changes include extending the charter another year, through 2015; expanding the school from the current preschool to eighth grade up to grade 12; and expanding its virtual learning program to educate those high school students.

For the rest of the article, go to Cambridge Lakes Charter School faces ‘time crunch’

He said he also wants to expand learning opportunities for at-risk students and is very interested in pursuing “virtual learning technology,” such as offering online educational possibilities rather than alternative schools, to reduce busing and building costs for taxpayers.

Establishing a countywide pool of substitute teachers would also be a goal, McDermott said. While affluent districts generally have good depth in their substitute teacher pools, less wealthy districts sometimes have more limited options, he said, and a countywide pool would serve as a reliable back-up option for those districts.

For the rest of the article, go to McDermott, Wood battle for regional superintendent seat