The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Shirley Linder, Quill Editor
Mrs. Karen Rima, current Union High School principal, has been selected as the new "West Central" high school principal for the 2005-2006 school year, at a salary to be determined.
According to the C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education website, Rima was selected following a series of in depth interviews with a strong pool of candidates.
"Mrs. Rima has had a long and distinguished career in education. She began her career as an elementary teacher in the Union Community School District #115 in 1977. From 1988 through 1994, Mrs. Rima taught in other school districts in the surrounding areas including Cedar Rapids, IA and Monmouth, IL. From 1994 to 2003, Mrs. Rima was a middle school science teacher in the Union school district. In July of 2003, Mrs. Rima became the High School Principal for Union and has been serving in that role since 2003.
"Mrs. Rima comes with high recommendations from the Union Community School District #115 school board and faculty. Mrs. Rima has clearly demonstrated a vision for our new school district which outlines a short term and long term strategic plan for our high school.
"The C.U.S.D. Board of Education looks forward to working closely with Mrs. Rima.
"Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Rima on her 2005-2006 position with the C.U.S.D. #235 School District."
Mrs. Rima will be starting her new position as first Principal of "West Central" on July 1, 2005.
Six interviews for a superintendent will be held on January 22 and 23. Four to be interviewed on Saturday and two on Sunday at the Biggsville Superintendent's office.
The suspense is now over as the newly consolidated district of Southern and Union has been named West Central Unit School District #235 and their mascot chosen as "Heat' for the high school and "Sparks' for the junior high with colors of scarlet red, navy blue and white.
All selections are pending legal approval.
Students and community members are encouraged to design graphics for the "Heat Logo" using the chosen colors. The designs are to turned into the high school offices by January 26th.
Paul Anderson, of the transportation committee, told the board the committee has met with Senator John Sullivan and discussed an access road into the school. The board would like to have an access road so students would not have to pull out onto the busy Highway 34.
A draft of a modified block schedule will be prepared and presented to the board at the next meeting.
A motion was passed to proceed with providing dual credit courses through Carl Sandburg College, which will be offered to seniors only.
The architect gave a lengthy presentation of the state of the school buildings for the consideration of Junior High School placement, but no recommendations were made at this time.
The web site is up and going at <www.district.235.k12.il.us>
The extra curricular programs in the Lincoln Trails Conference for the high school are pretty well completed with the exception of baseball and softball.
A complete seniority list of all certified and non certified staff will be presented to the board on January 26th.
The board requested principals of the existing schools to prepare a school improvement and report card presentation for the January 26th meeting. The presentation is not to exceed 30 minutes.
A public hearing has been set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2005, concerning a school holiday waiver.
The board entered closed session at 8:20 p.m. and came back into open session at 9:08 p.m. No motions were made following closed session but the members discussed salaries of the area high school principals. They also discussed the architect's report.
The meeting adjourned at 9:42 p.m. until January 26th.