The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The LaHarpe School Board held a regular meeting Monday night, May 13, in the School District Library.
Board members in attendance were Don Latherow, Lawrence Johnson, Dan Horton, Larry Caston, Mark Irish, Ricky Johnson and Barbara Cox. Also present were Jerry Arthur, Charlotte Davis, Steve Rodeffer, Tracey Anders, Karen Nudd, John Quigle, Pat Deitrich, Charles Apt, Dick and Shirley Anders, Cheryl Pence, Richard and Donna Wood and Gene and Chris Reische.
Steve Rodeffer and Tracey Anders reported on the latest meetings of the Committee of Ten regarding possible school consolidation.
The board approved the employment of Sondra Mosley as vocal music teacher and Susan Bray as part time Reading Improvement teacher.
They also approved the employment of Libby Olson, Denise Brown, Adam Willey and Linda Branch as summer custodial help; Glenn Gleason as Head of Transportation; and approved an additional 12 hours a week for Sharon Moore in addition to her work with Greenthumb.
In other business, the board
Mrs. Davis reported the Family Day was held on May 3rd. The K-4th grade students sang, PK-4 held a Literacy Fair in the Library, Mrs. Blythe and her library assistants helped to put out the displays, fifth grade had their rock show and the Junior High Science Fair was ready for viewing.
Mr. McKinnon graded all of the projects for assessment of the Illinois Learning Standards goals.
The 5th-8th grades and High School presented their Spring Music Concert on May 1st.
Mrs. Bartlett attended the third and final workshop on bullying prevention. Mrs. Sparrow and Mrs. Myers have registered to attend a technology workshop during the summer.
The second Recognition Program for Junior High was May 14th.
The PTO is sponsoring a day for students to purchase prizes with points they have earned from Accelerated Reader activities. The PTO provided the funds for these prizes. They also co-sponsored a dance for the Junior High on April 17th. The Student Council is sponsoring a 5th-8th grade picnic on May 24th to welcome the new Junior High students and to congratulate the graduates. They also worked on a community service in LaHarpe on the morning of May 14th and then went to Burlington for a fun afternoon activity.
May 24th is the date for the Kindergarten track meet.
Mr. Apt reported that the Prairie State Academic Exam was administered to Juniors on April 24th and 25th at the Christian Church. High School Awards Night was held May 15th. Semester tests will be given on Wednesday, May 22nd through Friday, May 24th. Baccalaureate was held at the Christian Church on Sunday, May 19th, and graduation will be held on Sunday, May 26th, at 2:00 p.m. The activities for prom and post-prom went very well. Post-prom was in the gym for the second year.
The FFA report prepared by Mr. Mealiff included the following items. The officers for next school year are: President-Matt Swanson, Vice President-Isaac Rogers, Secretary-Joni Dowell, Treasurer-Kayla Reische, Reporter-Kayla Brooks, and Sentinel-Ben Cox.
A very successful plant sale was held April 26th and 27th. A single gladiola plant was given to each student in pre-school through 5th grade to take home to their mother for Mothers' Day. The students in the Horticulture class made corsages to take home to their mothers.
On May 3rd, several students, along with Greg Siegworth and Garst representative, Lonnie Fry, planted 43 varieties of seed corn at the plot. Eight FFA members competed at the State Livestock and Dairy CDE on May 7th at the U of I in Urbana. Our livestock team consisted of Jason Graves, Joni Dowell, Kayla Reische, April Horton and Cody McKeown. Ben Cox, Austin Johnson and Kayla Brooks judged the dairy animals. April Horton was elected President; Anna Ziegler, reporter; and Matt Swanson, Sentinel of the Section XI FFA for the 2002-03 school year. Since April is from the LaHarpe Chapter, Mr. Mealiff will serve as the Section FFA Advisor for next year.
Several members are planning to attend the Illinois State FFA Convention at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield on June 11-13 where April Horton will receive her State FFA Degree and the new State FFA officers will be elected.