New PCHS on Track after Tragic Death of Architect David Mevert
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Pinckneyville Community High School Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting to award bids on the structural portion of the new school for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 9. The sealed bids will be opened May 4.
Superintendent Jon Green said everything is on track with the construction project. The district is working with the estate of architect David W. Mevert, who was killed earlier this month in an ATV accident.
"We're okay for now," Green said. "There won't be any trouble if we get something in place before the next board meeting at the end of May."
In other business, the board:
extended the contract for Green until 2015 and Principal Keith Hagene until 2014. The administrators will receive the same raises as certified staff. Hagene will also receive an additional five vacation days. Green's current contract was not set to expire for two years. Hagene had another year on his current contract.
awarded bids for the 2011-2012 school year. The milk bid went to Prairie Farms and the bread bid to Hostess. HP Products got the custodial contract and Bear's Distributing got the cafeteria bid.
discussed changes for the 2011- 2012 student handbook. Proposed changes include moving away from a Valedictorian and Salutatorian honor system to Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude honors for graduating students. The changes would begin with the incoming freshman class. PCHS may also adopt stricter requirements for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. Currently, students must be passing seven of nine classes. The school would like to see that requirement change to nine of nine classes. The acceptable use policies for the laptop computers to be issued to each student will also be included in the handbook.
heard a request from the PCHS Education Foundation to sell portions of the current building after it is torn down and to sell engraved pavers for a patio or walkway for the new school. Proceeds from both projects would go to scholarship funds. The board agreed the foundation should move forward with those plans.
accepted Jacqueline White's resignation as assistant volleyball coach.
posted job openings for assistant volleyball coach and a teacher's aide.