The future reigned at the District 428 School Board meeting Monday night.

But board member Susan Barshinger will not be in DeKalb to see it. Barshinger, who was elected for the 2001-2005 term, resigned from the school board at the end of Monday’s meeting.

“I really feel sad to leave,” Barshinger said. She is moving to Glen Ellyn to be with her husband, who now is the superintendent there.

In her final statements as a member of the board, Barshinger highlighted the goals she made when vying for the a place on the board, and she said she thinks the board is on its way to reaching those goals.

Progress toward reaching Barshinger’s goals could be attributed to the plans for the former Malta High School.

In Monday night’s meeting, the school board was inundated with presentations on various options for transforming the building into a unique learning environment.

Year-round schools, extended day programs and dual-language classrooms were only three of the many options highlighted for the board. Ideas about grouping students through two grade levels with the same teacher and grouping students of different grade levels with the same teacher also were presented.

In the end, no decision was made, but the board decided to hold a workshop at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 to discuss all the presented ideas thoroughly.

The board also discussed forming a committee to determine the best way to redistrict for the 2004-2005 school year, because the Malta High School building will provide the district with another K-5 school.

A draft of the newly revised elementary school report card also was presented to the board Monday night.

The report cards were updated to align with the new state standards and goals.

While all grade levels will receive report cards, only fourth graders and older students will receive letter grades.

Up until students reach third grade, they only will receive marks on whether or not they are meeting set standards. Once in third grade and beyond, students also will receive marks for the effort they put forth to achieve these standards.

The budget was passed for Fiscal Year 2004 Monday night after a public hearing opened and closed without comment from the public.

School Board President Tom Teresinski said the budget was balanced as adopted, but MeriAnn Besonen, assistant superintendent of Business and Finances, said a revised budget would be presented mid-year once the final bond issues were addressed.

In other board decisions, the Children’s Learning Center and Growing Place were given the OK to use local elementary schools for after school childcare programs. After much debate, the motion passed by a 5-1 vote to allow these groups to use the buildings free of charge. On days when school is not in session, the groups will be charged custodial costs.