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La Harpe School Board Confronts Difficult Decisons At February 16th Meeting

At the La Harpe school board meeting, February 16, in the district library, the board is faced with some difficult decisions but also heard some positive reports from teacher Melissa Johnson.

Johnson presented results of the recently completed Response to Intervention (Rtl) universal screening.

Using a 3-year comparison and a Fall-to-Winter comparison of student scores, Johnson provided evidence of consistent student gains.

Johnson noted new portions of the program which have been added including junior high partner reading and a 6-minute solution.

Rtl is a method of instructional intervention designed to pinpoint educational needs and efficiently provide assistance to students who are having difficulty learning.

On the other hand, Superintendent Campbell gave a synopsis of the financial crisis of the State of Illinois as it impacts La Harpe School District, and stated the impending need for difficult decisions regarding the future of school programs.

The Superintendent's financial overview that he presented may be accessed on the school website through a link on the home page.

The school board directed the superintendent to prepare appropriate reduction-in-force notices for consideration by the board at the March 16, 2010, school board meeting, and scheduled a public hearing regarding the question of reduction-in-force, to be held at 6:30 p.m. prior to the board meeting, March 16,.

In addition to approving January board minutes, the financial report, payment of bills, the board accepted "with regrets" letters of resignation from Carolyn Moore for a kindergarten position and from Anna Rodeffer for bus aide positon, and a letter of retirement submitted by Laurie Myers.

The board approved Heather Soule as bus aide, Deanna Hartrick as girls' junior high track coach, and Lisa Trout and Kathy Akers as substitute for paraprofessionals and support personnel.

The school board accepted a bus communication device bid, approved the second reading of district policy updates as presented, and approved the deletion of closed session recordings made at least 18 months prior to the current meeting as per district policy 2:220.

Principal McKeown gave athletic updates on volleyball and basketball and recounted student council winter activities and school valentine celebrations.

Illini West Principal, Brad Gooding and several high school students visited the La Harpe 8th graders for a question and answer session about. "Life at Illini West".

Sixty-eight students participated in the annual CHIP Program which aids in the identification and recovery of missing children, efficiently presented by area Masons.

McKeown praised teachers Myers and Hitz for their lesson plan books; Myers, Faul and Sholl for school website news; and Palmer for the, "Munch and Read" after-school program.

LCSD #347 board meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month in the school library at 7:00 p.m.

We invite you to view agendas, news releases, and approved minutes on the school board section of the La Harpe Eagles website at www.laharpeeagles.org.

Board members present were: President Cindy Wear, Mark Irish, Pam Campbell, Rex Huston, Deanna Stambaugh, and Darren Spangler. Others were Superintendent Jo Campbell, Principal Lila McKeown, Jeanne Clayton, visitors Melissa Johnson and Tracy Wedell.