The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Southern Sets Graduation Dates

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

The Southern school board approved Sunday, May 16, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. for High School graduation, with President Jon Corzatt to present the diplomas.

Southern Jr. High Promotion will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2004.

Karen Jack brought the board up to date on the progress of the Consolidation's Committee of Ten. Jens Notestein has been attending meetings and filling in during Robert Scott's vacation.

Scott offered to resign since he would be gone for a couple of months or so, but the committee did not deem this necessary.

The committee has hired lawyers and is now working on tax rates. The lawyers would like the first draft of the petition to be completed by the first of March.

August 16th-23rd will be the dates for anyone wishing to file a petition for a seat on the school board.

The board voted to retain Mike Neff to advertise for bids for the selling of three school lots.

The board also voted to hire Independent Risk Managers at a cost of $2500 to bid school insurance, excluding health, for the 2004-05 school years.

Karen Day, head cook, was given permission to sell ice cream bars and cookies to students who eat school lunch. The charge would be 25 cents per cookie and 75 cents for an ice cream sandwich. Students must purchase a full meal before they would be allowed to purchase extra items. The profit will be used for buying needed items.

The board accepted a state library grant in the amount of $315.66.

It was voted unanimously to approve a Health and Life Safety amendment in the amount of $26,000, which includes a new pump, Millard's total expense and all of Jerry's overtime for the heating system.

The baseball budget in the amount of $6,245.52 was accepted.

The softball budget in the amount of $5493.90 was also accepted.

Jr. High Principal Jeff Nichols:

• Congratulated Alyssa Griepentrog who will have a poem published
• Reported Mrs. Bruch's 5th grade class has written to two soldiers stationed in Iraq and have received answers. Mrs. Bruch is presently working to organize a school wide activity to show support for soldiers overseas.
• Announced the school spelling bee would be held on January 30th. County competition will be February 10th at Union.
• Announced he is scheduling the 8th grade class trip. He is looking at attractions and events in the Chicago area.

High School Principal Dale Buss:

• Reported the PTC would like to hold fund raisers to purchase equipment for the elementary playground. The board's first choice would be for them to hold a PTC carnival. They do not want the students going door to door for fund raisers.
• Requested permission for Coach Scott Dillard to order 95 football jerseys at $35 each. The cost of the jerseys will be split with Union and the PTC has agreed to pay $1500 of the cost. The board granted permission. The board also directed Principal Buss to sell the old jerseys for $20 each.
• He requested permission to put up a temporary green house on the east side of the building. Permission was given.
• He reported the Junior class would hold a prom dress and bake sale on February 1st to raise funds for the Junior Prom.

Following closed session the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Todd Ensminger as assistant high school football coach.
• Accepted the resignation of Jenny Ford as high school track coach.
• Accepted the resignation of Christy Fleece as high school cheerleading sponsor.
• Hired Valarie Haacke as high school track coach
• Hired Jessie Smith as high school cheerleading sponsor.
• Hired Sally Day as spring musical director.
• Granted Jenny Ford's maternity leave.
• Hired Becky Wilhite as sub for Jenny Ford's maternity leave.
• Upheld 3 elementary out of school suspensions.
• Upheld 1 Jr. High out of school suspension
• Approved the track budget in the amount of $3159.
• Approved disclosing the following closed minutes; July 28, Aug. 11, Aug. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 24 and Dec. 15.

Present were: Board members, Jon Corzatt, Doug Brooks, Brendan Schaley, Melissa Livermore, Rod Fox, Dan Bowman and Brad Arnold; Superintendent Charles Barber; Secretary Sharri Richard; Principals Jeff Nichols and Dale Buss; Guests, Karen Jack and Sam Sudhaker.

The next regular board meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 at 7 p.m.