The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen
Courtesy of Hancock County Journal-Pilot
After a budget hearing with no community comments, the Illini West High School board approved the 2018-2019 budget at their meeting Sept. 19.
The four main funds -- education, operations/maintenance, transportation and retirement -- call for spending of $4,754,458 for the coming year.
The education fund has a $348,692 loss for the year, with an estimated $3,269,194 in income and $3,617,886 in spending. The carry-over balance of $1,828,919 in the education fund leaves the district with an estimated balance of $1,480,227 in that fund at the end of the year.
Principal Scott Schneider proposed some changes to the policies for the Illini West learning center. The center is designed to help students who are behind make up the credits through the Edunuity self-paced, computer learning programs. Students use the center if they are behind in credits or if they are removed from a regular classroom for behavior problems.
Most of the students are in the center to make up credits. Schneider and dean of students Jim Short both agreed that after students have been at the center for about a year, they become "comfortable", lose some urgency in making up credits, and actually get further behind.
Students are usually self-motivated when they begin in the learning center.
"The peak performance is about a year, then it drops off," Schneider said. "It is a matter of how bad do they want to graduate."
If they do not push to make up the credits, they are also missing out on more credits they should be earning in the regular classroom.
He proposed three changes to the learning center system. 1) Students will not be allowed to be a full time student in the learning center for more than two semesters, without approval. 2) Former full-time students in the learning center will be allowed to continue part-time in the center up to two class periods a day. 3) Fifth year senior students will be placed back into regular classes, with up to two hours in the learning center.
The success of each student is assessed individually. Schneider said if students are not successful in the learning center, not catching up on credits, they should go back to their regular classes, that will give them more structure.
Short said they had tried incentives, such as stressing if the students catch up on credits they can have drivers education or fit into the co-op work program.
The board will review the proposal and act in October.
Schneider mentioned three new clubs that were in the works this year. Students have expressed interest in a chess club to meet regularly for games.
Mr. Willis had a meeting for a video gaming club with 34 students. It is an emerging sport for IHSA with competitions similar to Scholastic Bowl.
They are getting information to gauge interest in a Future Teachers of America (FTA) chapter at the school.
Superintendent Kim Schilson said the board building committee had met with Carthage Elementary representatives. They are interested in proceeding with the keyless entry system for next year.
There was discussion of improving the exhaust system for the gym or adding air-conditioning.
They will try to renovate another five to six classrooms with district staff next summer and then look at improvements to the halls, lockers and bleachers the following year.
Schilson said she is going to a meeting of western Illinois area legislators Oct. 26, where she can meet at the same time with Norene Hammond, Jil Tracy and Randy Freese, to discuss possiblities for capital funding for school building projects.
The board approved amendments to the Title I plan, that reflects things the district is doing with tutoring, the learning center and Grant Surprenant. They approved fundraising requests for class of 2020 to sell Krispy Kreme donuts, the class of 2022 to hold a haunted house during the Nauvoo Pumpkin Parade, and the class of 2021 to hold movie nights in the fall and spring. An early graduation for Emma Roth was approved.
Overnight trip requests were approved for the volleyball team, the Drama Club, Scholastic Bowl, FBLA, and the dance team.
Following executive session the board approved Ryan Bliss and LaShay Ramirez as sponsors for National Honor Society.