Swift actions by the DeKalb District 428 School Board brought board members’ visions a little closer to reality Monday night.

After being inundated with alternative ideas for the use of the former Malta high school at the last board meeting, school board members officially endorsed a partnership school with NIU.

Superintendent Brian Ali said the unique opportunity to partner the school district with the university will build on existing initiatives and nurture teaching potential. The partnership requires commitment from both parties as well as a policy for shared governance.

Chris Sorensen, dean of NIU’s College of Education, said this shared governance calls for board control over the partnership school. The agreement will be held not just between the current boards, but future boards as well.

At the Sept. 29 school board workshop, important features of the partnership school were highlighted. The partnership will allow for an all-day kindergarten program, an extended-day program and increase what is offered in terms of fine arts and technology. Social-service programs also could be integrated into after-school or family oriented programs.

With the addition of the former Malta high school as a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school in the 2004-’05 school year, a redistricting committee was needed.

Monday night, the board approved a redistricting task force that would include 10 parents and 10 staff members, one from each school, as well as two school board members and a representative from the Citizens Advisory Committee. Ten alternate parents also would be needed in case the appointed parents were not able to attend meetings.

Representatives from other organizations vital to a functioning school also will be available to the task force. Parents will be appointed by the principal of each school to represent that school, but the meetings will be open to the community.

The school board will hold its next regular meeting Oct. 20, with a joint session with DeKalb City Council tentatively scheduled for Oct. 22.