PCHS passes $1.7 million tax levy for 2013

The Pinckneyville Community High School Board of Education passed the annual tax levy for 2013, payable in 2014 for a total amount of $1,713,006.

A break-down shows the levy asks for:

Education- $890,567

Operations and Maintenance- $231,066

Transportation- $120,337

Working Cash- $47,633

Municipal Retirement- $32,150

Social Security- $75,542

Fire Prevention and Safety- $15,428

Tort Immunity- $282,000

Special Education- $18,283.

In other business, the board:

• hired Kelsey Bigham as Freshman Girls Basketball Coach for the 2013-2014 season, hired Nancy Blechle as WYSE Coach for 2013-2014 school year and approved Megan Pyatt as a volunteer Cheerleading coach for the 2013-2014 season.

• accepted the resignation of custodian Stanley Mathis. Mathis will retire April 15, 2015.

• recognized the PCHS Varsity Volleyball team. The team finished the season 27-11, won the Marion Tournament and competed in the Regional Championship for the first time in school history.

• heard from Superintendent Keith Hagene that the Illinois State Board of Education has approved a No Child Left Behind grant application from the district. PCHS will receive $70,000 to be used to improve academic performance in reading and math.

• heard from Hagene that the district has a sufficient number of students students qualifying for free and reduced meals or as low income to allow PCHS to apply for school-wide status.