The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Southern Accepts Transportation Bid

by: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

The Southern school board accepted the pupil transportation bid from Southern Bus Transportation at the meeting on Monday night. At the March board meeting the board rejected all bids and mailed out the bids again. The same two, Southern Transportation and Laidlaw resubmitted bids, with Southern Transportation the lower of the two.

 

	Regular & Shuttle	Extra Curricular
		Per Miles (Cents)	Minimum	Per Hour Rate
'03-'04 Current	167,500	90	35	0
'04-'05 Southern Transportation	175,000 (183,400)	95 (95)	45 (45)	10 (0)
'04-'05 Laidlaw	192,325 (196,000)	1.11 (1.11)	45 (45)	13.90 (13.90)

SPECIAL EDUCATION

	Union	Macomb	Carthage
'03-'04 Current	56.65	81.20	82.40
'04-'05 Southern Transportation	100 (95)	140 (145)	140 (135)
'04-'05 Laidlaw	100 (100)	100 (100)	100 (100)

Jens Notestein addressed the board during public comment with his concern regarding Superintendent Charles Barber still being in the district after the board had voted not to renew his contract. He said he considered it good business practice to let a person go, after being fired, even though the remaining time on the contract must be paid. He pointed out in most companies when you are fired you leave immediately.

Notestein also spoke in the absence of any Committee of Ten members telling the board there would be a public hearing on May 13th at the Union Elementary gym at 7:00 p.m. regarding the petition for consolidation between Southern and Union. If consolidation is approved for the November 2, 2004 ballot, the Committee of Ten will begin an informational blitz.

The board approved Security Savings as the 2004-05 bank depository for one year.

A decision to sell Riverland FS Stock was tabled until further investigation.

The building committee was instructed to obtain bids for the demolition of the Pre-K building and bring them to the next board meeting. The garage and playground equipment would be left.

As they commence to bring the bleachers up to code it was decided to cut the football bleachers on the visitors side in half and place one of the portable sets on that side.

The high school handbook was approved as presented.

On May 19th there will be a retirement dinner held at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Ox in Macomb.

Principal Jeff Nichol's report:

• Congratulated the music students for their accomplishments at the IESA contest. 44 students competed and received 48 first place awards and 14 second place.
• On April 7th the Jr. High hosted a career night.
• Thanked the chaperones and others for their part in the 8th grade overnight trip to Chicago.
• Stated there is still a technology concern as the systems shuts down for no apparent reason. He requested Mr. Geiser be allowed to be at Media for one afternoon so he would be on hand when this happens. The board agreed to this arrangement.

Principal Dale Buss' report:

• Southern will be hosting the IHSA baseball regional
• Stated Alan Ferguson gave an estimate not to exceed $1000 dollars to chip and oil the elementary parking lot. John Wetterling will talk to the city about doing some elevation work to keep the water away from the building.
• Congratulated Alton Luder who took first in computer competition and fourth in physics in the Academic Bowl Challenge at statewide competition.
• Recommended Amanda Lovett be allowed to take college courses in the afternoon during her senior year. This would be at no cost to the district and would be a dual credit. The board gave approval.

Substitute pay for teachers was raised to $65/day for certified and $6.75/hr for non certified.

The board agreed to sell all 5 lots instead of 3 as previously stated.

Since there will be only one class room used for Kindergarten next year it was agreed the Pre-K could use the other room. If things should change the Pre-K could have their class in the Ag building.

The building committee was directed to solicit bids for demolishing the present building and report at the next board meeting.

The board entered closed session at 8:19 for the purpose of student discipline and personnel considerations

Following closed session the board:

• upheld two Junior High bus suspensions
• accepted Robin Mowen's resignation effective the end of the school year
• hired Heather Bettin as Junior High Special Ed and Literature teacher
• hired Martin Harig as High School Business teacher

Present: Board members Brendan Schaley, Dan Bowman, Jon Corzatt, Doug Brooks, Rod Fox, Melissa Livermore and Brad Arnold; Superintendent Charles Barber; Secretary Sharri Richard; Principals Dale Buss and Jeff Nichols; Jens Notestein, Steve Wisslead, Bryan Arnold, John Livermore and Jessica Gittings.

The next board meeting of the Southern School Board will be held on Monday, May 24, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.