The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by: Shirley Linder,Quill Editor
Supporters of the Ag program at Southern took their concerns for the program to the Monday evening board meeting. While Southern's Ag Instructor, Brandon Tate, (a first year teacher at SHS) has been released for next year, the program at this point has not been cut. Southern's Ag program is finishing its third year having begun in 2000 with Miss Natalie McGrew as Ag Instructor.
Speaking on behalf of the Ag program were: Jerry Keimig, Kevin Kelly, with the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau, Richard Brokaw, farmer, Lee Brokaw SHS FFA President, and Anna Ziegler, La Harpe FFA and Section XI Reporter.
Before public comment was allowed, President of the Board Jon Corzatt told them that each could speak for no more than five minutes and that it would not be a question and answer period.
The board listened to each speaker, saying nothing and asking no questions, except of Anna Ziegler, whom Karen Jack asked if the La Harpe FFA was in place for the coming year. Anna answered "yes" as far as she knew. Anna told of the importance of FFA and Agriculture in the school and encouraged them not to drop the program and suggested "sharing" with another school as an alternative.
Jerry Keimig said his biggest fear was too severe of cut in the Ag program. Kelly said anything they could do to help keep the program, they would be willing to help with. He feels that the Farm Bureau and other farm related businesses would benefit as well as the students at Southern who took ag courses.
Lee Brokaw talked of the benefits in FFA and how much they gained from the experiences, and Richard Brokaw gave his support as well.
All supporters stressed the importance of an Ag program in our Agriculture community and how much our students learn from it.
Ag Instructor Brandon Tate invited the board to the FFA Banquet at 5:00 p.m. on April 6th at the SHS Cafeteria with the Awards Ceremony starting at 6 p.m. The Chapter will be cooking pork chops.
Principal Lyman Schar reported Ashley Dye would be competing at the ROE Spelling Bee state finals. There will also be 30-40 junior high students competing in music contest at Union Saturday, March 29th. The 5th, 7th, and 8th grades will be taking ISAP tests for 4 days next week in the morning only.
Principal Dale Buss reported four students, Hannah Brueck, Shauna Crawford, Brock Heap and Hillary Pence, were named winners in the Community Medical Center Auxiliary Nutrition Poster Contest.
The Scholastic Bowl team took 2nd in the Bi-County (9 schools), highest placement since Scholastic Bowl was started.
21 students are participating in baseball, 21 in softball and 14 in high school track this spring.
There will be 33 students for next year's Kindergarten class.
Alton Luter took 1st in Computer Science and a 2nd in Physic in the Sectional of the Academic Challenge and will now be competing in the State Finals at the University of Illinois.
President Jon Corzatt agreed to pass out diplomas at graduation.
The senior class selected Mrs. Terri Copeland, Southern's High School English and Driver's Ed teacher, to be guest speaker at graduation in May. The board approved.
The board gave approval for the Building Trades class to pour a sidewalk from the elementary parking lot to the circle drive, 110 feet long, 4 inches thick at a cost of $385.
Mr. Buss also reported the Fresh/Soph would not be going to the Kewanee/Wethersfield basketball tournament next year because of the driving distant and expense. They will try to schedule one closer to home.
The board entered closed session at 8:07 p.m. for the purpose of student discipline and personnel action.
Following the closed session the board:
Those in attendance included: Board members-Monty Waddell, Melissa Livermore, Jon Corzatt, Doug Brooks, Karen Jack, Mike Bundy and Barry Bigger; Superintendent Charles Barber; Secretary Sharri Richard; Principals Lyman Schar and Dale Buss; Guests: Jay Blender, Ben Borries, Richard Brokaw, Rod Fox, Bryan Heap, Terri Copeland, Brandon Tate, Jerry Keimig, Kevin Kelly, Lee Brokaw, Anna Ziegler, Sara Lefler, Mrs. Bride and other ag student supporters.
The board adjourned at 9:24 p.m. until Monday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m.