Steeleville BOE approves budget, class trips

<p class="p1">The Steeleville District 138 Board of Education got some housekeeping items out of the way at its regular meeting on Monday.

<p class="p1">The board approved the district budget for the current school year, while also approving requests from Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and FFA classes to attend conferences out of state.

<p class="p1">The FBLA will be attending a conference in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Nov. 11-12, while FFA will travel to Indianapolis for a conference on Oct. 19-20.

<p class="p1">District Superintendent Stephanie Mulholland noted the total deficit for the fiscal year is $179,406.

<p class="p1">"Much better," she said, when asked for comparison with previous years. "It's still a deficit, but much better."

<p class="p1">Mulholland was also asked if she had heard anything new from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding state aid. Gov. Bruce Rauner has pushed for full funding for school districts as part of the state budget discussion.

<p class="p1">"Not a peep," she said.

<p class="p1">In other news, the board approve administrative salaries for the year. Mulholland said the district's teachers agreed to a "soft freeze."

<p class="p1">"They get (salary) step experience for another year and if they had any education increments, then they would move over a column and result in an increase in pay," Mulholland said, when asked for clarification on what a "soft freeze" meant.

<p class="p1">A salary step is an increase in pay based upon previous experience.

<p class="p1">Mulholland was also asked for an update on the renovations to the Steeleville High School science room.

<p class="p1">"The science room is substantially complete, but it is not completely done," she said. "There's still some punch list items to be done."

<p class="p1">Mulholland noted that the work was expected to be complete next week.

<p class="p1">Lastly, the board approved the annual application for recognition of schools.

<p class="p1">"It's basically you're attesting to the fact you're following administrative regulations, providing equal opportunities for all students," Mulholland said.

<p class="p1">"Basically following the law."

<p class="p1">Roundup

<p class="p1">The board approved Rebecca Phillips as an individual aide

<p class="p1">The board approved Karen Bower as a part-time cook at Steeleville Grade School.

<p class="p1">The board approved junior high volleyball coach Nicole Brokering.

<p class="p1">The board approved junior high cheerleading coach Rachel Schwartzkopf.

<p class="p1">The board approved volunteer Steeleville High School boys basketball coach Kenny Garlit.

<p class="p1">The board heard curriculum presentations from Erin Dobson (Social Studies, History and Sociology), John Antonacci (Algebra I and II) and Shawn Liefer (Steeleville Grade School Reading Room.

<p class="p1">The next meeting of the Steeleville Board of Education is Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. It is open to the public.