Dist. 300 soccer plan gets first nod; May 20 & May 21 graduation dates
Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 parent John Alongi, Jr. Thursday night asked the board of education to revisit the issue of a soccer program in Du Quoin schools.
The issue came up two years ago, but went nowhere, largely out of some worry that the program would take students away from the high school football program. Those fears seemed to unfounded, but still the program went no where.
There is now a highbred idea to make such a program an extracurricular "club" instead of a sport that would give it an IHSA jayvee affiliation.
The Perry County Soccer Association and parents who have children participating would fund the program. The district athletic program would not be responsible for funding it.
The idea is a work in progress and subject to a rules, staffing, academic standards and IHSA review before final approval is given. The DEA union is not an issue.
Alongi imagines up to 40 freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors being involved. Boys soccer will begin in the fall of 2016 and girls soccer in the spring of 2017..
Other business of the evening included the resignation of Jo C. Dill as a high school math teacher and the hiring of aide Amanda Ritter Pursell. The Dill resignation came as the board voted to renew contracts with all other teachers in the district.
The board approved the annual reduction-in-force for certain extra-curricular positions held by non-DEA members in accordance with the contract between the Du Quoin Education Association and Board of Education. Typically, those personnel are called back for the next school year.
The board is also taking a look at amending next year's school budget to better mirror actual revenue expectations rather than estimated revenue predictions.
Graduation Dates,
Next Years Calendar
In other action, the board tentatively set Friday, May 20 as 6:30 p.m. as the date and time for the Du Quoin Middle School promotion ceremony.
The board set Saturday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. as the date and time for the Du Quoin High School commencement. Both ceremonies will be held in the Du Quoin State Fair grandstand.
The board also accepted the DEA's "Option 3" recommendation for next year's school calendar. There will be teachers' workshops August 15 and 16 with the start of classes on Wednesday, August 17. The last day of student attendance will be May 31 followed by a teachers institute on June 1.