Dist. 300 board may hire new elementary principal on Monday

The Du Quoin Board of Education meets at 6;30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 in regular session and may fill the vacancy of retiring elementary grade school principal Peg Pursell following an executive session.

Mrs. Pursell came to the district in 1989 and served as principal at McKinley School, then assistant principal at the J.B. Ward Middle School and in recent years has served the district well as the head of the elementary school, its staff and curriculum.

District 300 superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly said there are at least three candidates now working in the district.

One applicant being considered is 21st Century program director Diana Rea. The possibility gets some traction because of another employment item labeled the "hiring of Arrow Academy personnel", which is the 21st Century program. Doing so in any form or fashion would help pare the administrative budget.

The board will also consider the district's tax levy for next year. Dr. Kelly says the board's goal is to levy no more than it did one year ago. He said the district's Equalized Assessed Valuation growth has slowed and that local TIF districts are capturing any growth that exists.