Steeleville school district lays off one teacher and nine aides

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Steeleville District 138 Board of Education notified one teacher and nine aides they will not be rehired for the next school year.

High school health and physical education teacher Cody Hiller's contract will not be renewed, nor will those of the following aides: Mary Polley, Angela Knapp, Myra Siemers, Inez Fiene, Linda Rieckenberg, David Crowder, Jessica Holloway, Jodi Hornberger, and Amy Asher.

Hiller was, however, appointed as an assistant baseball coach for this spring.

The cuts were made due to funding uncertainty, as well as necessity.

Julie Lewis was hired as a high school math and science teacher.

The board rehired all tenured teachers and the following probationary teachers: Julie Sutton, Matt Martin, Erin Dobson, who was also hired as an assistant softball coach, Julie Pyatt, Lisa Trail, Jamie Petrowske, Carol Mayer, Lucas Quast, Matt Todd, Rebecca Swope, Shiela Grafton, Tessa Menefee, Andrea Reiss, and Kristin Wedemeyer.

Part-time teacher Alice Decker was also rehired.

Curt Jeffers was approved by the board as a volunteer assistant softball coach.

The board approved the purchase of a multifunction bus to replace the district's van, which has been banned by the state due to safety guidelines the 15 passenger van cannot meet.

The district's bus contract with Voges Transportation was renewed, although it calls for a 2.7 percent increase.