PCHS hosts five class reunions during Mardi Gras weekend

The Pinckneyville Community High School Board of Education heard that the new school hosted five class reunions over Mardi Gras weekend. Approximately 150 people toured the new building.

Work continues on the facility. The press box stair design issues are being resolved. However, there is no timeline for completion yet.

New doors for Thomas Gym and the classrooms in that area have been delivered. An installation schedule will be finalized on Wednesday.

The district will apply for a matching maintenance grant from the state to re-roof portions of the Thomas Gym classroom areas which were not done during the recent renovation.

The board approved the 179D Energy Tax Allocation application that will allow the district to have an energy audit conducted which would secure a 20 percent reduction in energy bills for the lifetime of the building, if benchmarks defined in the Federal Energy Grant are met.

In other business, the board:

•heard a review of the group coverage open-market bidding process and the transition to Blue Cross Blue Shield from Superintendent Keith Hagene. The district was able to secure coverage for the employees with a $90,000 savings under proposed renewal rates for SY13-14.

•approved the PCHS boys basketball team's overnight trip to the Lawrenceville Tournament on Nov. 28 - 29.

• hired Hayden Hicks, Brad Walker and Kyle Heckert as volunteer boys' basketball coaches for the 2013-14 season.

• hired Mathew McLoughlin as volunteer wrestling coach for the 2013-14 season.

• hired Dan Blazier as head baseball coach.

• hired Rob Kirk as head wrestling coach.

• directed Superintendent Hagene to create and post the position of newspaper advisor.

• reluctantly accepted the resignation of Larry Wilks as head custodian due to retirement, effective May 30, 2014.

• conducted the first reading of the Facilities Naming Policy. No changes were presented.