Architects Working to Make up Lost Time on New PCHS Building

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The unexpected death of District Architect David Mevert resulted in some delays on the architectural drawings of the new Pinckneyville Community High School that is currently under construction.

The contract with the new architectural firm FGM was approved two weeks ago. The firm has 11 people working to catch up on the drawings for the new school.

Superintendent Jon Green said that Mevert's untimely death has put the new school project two-and-a-half to three months behind schedule on the drawings.

The masonry and remaining bid packages which were set to be awarded in June will not be awarded until September.

August and September are prime construction months.

The necessary drawings must be completed and FGM will coordinate with Holland Construction to get the bid packages put together as quickly as possible.

Green is hoping that the target date for completion of the new school will remain the same.

"We might be delayed a little," Green said. "We can only hope for good weather."

So far, even with weather delays, the construction is on target. Steel work will begin the first of August.

Green said that long-lead items will be stock-piled so that there are no delays waiting for materials as each phase begins on the new school.

In other business, the board:

approved the amended budget. The budget was amended to reflect the construction funds the district has received. A?transfer of $90,000 from the working cash fund to the transportation fund was removed from the amended budget before it was approved.

approved changing the 2011-2012 schedule to switch the Response to Intervention class time with the miniblock class time. RTI will now be held at the end of the day and the miniblock will be second hour.

accepted the resignations of Guidance Counselor Roxie Palmer, Assistant Football Coach Nolan Kellerman, part-time Spanish Teacher Jorge Arevalo and Head Wrestling Coach Troy Griffith

hired Emily Best as an EOC Aide

approved a $.50 per hour raise for all non-certified staff

agreed to post job openings for Guidance Counselor, Assistant Football Coach and Head Wrestling Coach

decided not to renew their membership in the North Central Association. Membership costs money and the main benefits were help with the school improvement process which is now overseen by the state. The board did not rule out joining again at a later date.

heard from Principal Keith Hagene that the incoming Senior Class had a combined composite score of 19.9 on the ACT. The class of 2012 took the Practice ACT in their sophomore year and had a composite score of 17.9. They were tested again in the fall of last year and had a composite score of 19.4. "They are improving and we are pleased with that," Superintendent Green said. "We would like to see bigger gains."

heard from Perry County Soccer Association that they would like to work with Pinckneyville and Du Quoin High School to put together both boys and girls teams to begin competing in the 2012-2013 school year. The board agreed to speak with Association members and representatives from Du Quoin at a later date.

passed the prevailing wage resolution