Al Martin to Resign as Track Coach

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Du Quoin head track coach Al Martin has submitted his resignation to the Du Quoin Board of Education, which the board is expected to accept at a special 6:30 p.m. meeting of the board tonight. The resignation does not affect his position as special education instructor nor as head coach of the football Indians.

The newspaper understands that Martin is interested in focusing on the district's football program and his work in the classroom. Martin became head track coach as the retirement of Bob Karnes and in recent years has coached four state champions. He took the Du Quoin track team to second in the state in 2007.

Sports editor Jeff Profitt will chronicle Martin's great career as track coach in an upcoming edition.

The special meeting of the board will follow a budget hearing to move line items in the 2008-2009 spending plan from state funding sources to federal funding sources. Superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly will update the board on expected revenue streams during the coming year and funding for special education and transportation. He will also discuss targeted cuts. The district's 2009-2010 Perry County real estate tax levy has already been approved. That was done last December it will reflect a 3 percent increase. Dr. Kelly said he hopes the natural growth in assessed valuation will cover the increase.

The board will also discuss any utility rate opportunities, status of the state's capital construction bill and will approve continued use of a Perry County Sheriff's Department resource office as well as the dual credit agreement with John A. Logan College.