Chester students to make up Brockmeyer funeral after all
Chester students will have to make up the school day they missed for fallen Chester Police officer and volunteer firefighter James Brockmeyer's funeral services after all.
As part of a special meeting to reorganize its ranks to welcome new member Chuck Fricke - who ran unopposed in the April 4 consolidated election - the Chester District 139 Board of Education grudgingly voted last Friday to amend the 2016-17 school calendar to have the last day of student attendance at May 19 with a 1:40 p.m. dismissal.
Previously, the board voted to make up a snow day on April 13 and noted that the state budget mess in Springfield factored into their decision to make up the day for Brockmeyer's funeral.
"There's nothing good happening in Springfield," said Tom Welge, who was re-elected as the board's vice president. "I would not count on anything being passed."
The district - with the support of the Illinois State Board of Education - has been pursuing a waiver that could ultimately reimburse the district for the general state aid it lost for the time students were out of class honoring Brockmeyer, who was fatally injured in the line of duty during a police chase on Oct. 28.
But the district won't know the outcome of its quest until the fall legislative session.
"I know we want to roll the dice, but financially, we're not able to roll the dice," said District Superintendent Rick Goodman.
State Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) and State Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) have since sponsored House Bill 1254, which expands the list of what partial days of attendance can be used for - including the utilization of a school district's facilities by local or county authorities for a memorial or funeral services.
"That bill, even if it was passed, would not cover us on the full day," said Mitch Hammel, who was re-elected as board president.
Board Member Dan Colvis, who also ran unopposed in the April 4 election, was complimentary of the work Costello and Patsie Hopkins, who is a member of Costello's staff, have done on HB1254.
"I want to commend Jerry Costello on the fine job he's done supporting Chester," Colvis said.
The day and a half in missed instructional time could cost the district between $19,000 and $20,000 in state aid, depending on student attendance.
Hammel stated that while the district has been told that passage of the bill is a likely possibility, it isn't guaranteed.
"No one has ever guaranteed we would get the money," he said. "Not to this day are we guaranteed to get the money for the half day either."
In other news, the board approved the resignation of Franciene Sabens as student counselor at the conclusion of the current school year, as well as regular board meeting dates and times for 2017.