Chester school board debates future of industrial arts class
In its final meeting of 2017 on Dec. 21, the Chester District 139 Board of Education discussed a topic that could have an impact in years to come.
Chester High School industrial arts teacher Dallas Redeker is retiring at the end of the academic year and the board discussed what to do with the class moving forward.
Noting the district's issue with deficit spending, District Superintendent Brian Pasero floated options of a part-time instructor or replacing industrial arts with agricultural education. He suggested the district offer both classes at registration and see what response school officials get from students.
Board member Debi Caraway expressed concern about cutting another program when the district has cut so many already.
Pasero said he has "been looking into Ag. more and more" and had reached out to Steeleville Superintendent Stephanie Mulholland about her district's switch from industrial arts to agricultural education.
Noting that agricultural education is not only coursework, but also involves extracurricular activities, Pasero said it was possible to get grants for supplies - including grants up to $10,000 for the first two years.
"After that, you're kinda on your own," he said.
Pasero stated that, traditionally, industrial arts attracts mainly male students, while agricultural education draws a mix of male and female students.
"There are some other opportunities with Ag.," he said, noting he wasn't intending to push the discussion one way or the other.
No action was taken during the meeting and Pasero said he wants to see how many students are interested in agricultural education.
"I think it's fair to look at our options there," he said.
In other news, board member Dan Colvis asked the possibility of doing away with townships for board elections. Currently, a board member has to be from a specific section of the district to run for a specific seat.
Pasero said he would investigate that request.
"There are cases where great people could have ran, but there were no positions open," Colvis said.
Principals' Reports
Chester Grade School Principal Tim Lochhead gave his monthly report to the board, which included an active shooter drill on Nov. 15, a visit from dental safari and the school's faculty Christmas program that occurred earlier that day.
Lochhead also highlighted the work of local author Mike McClure, who is an authority on Sherlock Holmes. He said McClure recently visited the school and gave a free copy of his book, "Sherlock Holmes and the Cryptic Clues," to all seventh graders.
Upcoming events include school-wide active shooter refresher training on Jan. 3 and school picture day on Jan. 10.
CHS Principal Missy Meyer highlighted the school's eight Illinois State Scholars - Lance Bohnert, Mitchell Colonel, Taylor Dunning, Elizabeth Eubanks, Tayler Howie, Brady Kelkhoff, Lawrence Soellner and Zachary Zappa.
"These eight are well-recognized and they deserve it," Meyer said.
Meyer noted Howie, along with Steeleville High School student Ashleigh Stegmann recently participated in a radio program about the dangers of student drinking.
On another topic, Meyer said she had been approached by Karen Stallman about collaborating with SIU-Carbondale's Morris Library on a research project for junior and senior students in CHS's English classes.
Meyer noted the only cost to the district would be busing, but that would be paid through funds received from CHS alumnus Prof. James Franklin Sharp, who donated $50,000 to the school last summer.
"For some kids, that might be the only time they're on a college campus," Meyer said.
Meyer noted she was working on cleaning up some of the regulatory language in the student handbook, which she said was "muddled" in some areas, particularly regarding the exemption policy of final exams.
Superintendent's Report
In his report to the board, Pasero noted he is examining adding four exterior security cameras to CHS after seeing how much the shool's back parking lot is used, even on days when classes are not in session.
Cost would be $3,000 and the cameras would be installed by Sonitrol.
Roundup
Prior to the meeting, the board held a separate truth in taxation hearing, during which it announced it would levy $3,682,002, payable in 2018. The board approved a 6.75 property tax increase, but since Randolph County is a tax-capped county, the tax increase will be closer to 2.1 percent due to the Consumer Price Index.
CHS Athletic Director Jeremy Blechle said he is looking at offering advertising space on 50 chairs for the price of $75 per chair. The chairs are the same ones used by the Yellow Jackets' volleyball and basketball teams.
Preorders are now being accepted and there is the possibility of a discount for purchase of multiple chairs. The board discussed limiting the number of chairs a business or organization could purchase advertising space on, but no decision was made during the meeting.
Blechle noted he is looking at purchasing a mobile batting cage for Juergen's Gym and inquired about forming a committing to update the extracurricular code of conduct in the student handbook.
The board approved the following agenda items:
- Bills and payroll
- School-wide Title plan for CHS
- A request from Brenda Coop for a CHS Theatre Camp fundraiser March 5-8
- Extending the $750,000 line of credit from Buena Vista National Bank to September 28, 2018.
- Abatement of 2017 taxes to pay principal and interest on the following bonds: 2009 ($303,945), 2013B ($284,787.50), 2015A ($200,400) and 2015B ($112,531.25).
- Resignation of school nurse Amy Eggemeyer (effective Dec. 21)
- Resignation of Angela Werner as CGS paraprofessional (effective Dec. 21)
- Letter of intent to retire from Jeannie Golding at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
- Maternity leave request of Amanda Jordan
- CHS volunteer baseball coaches Boyd Miles and Chris Wingerter
- Employing Ronald Craig Brockhouse as 8-hour evening custodian at $9.25 per hour
- Employing Nikki Maue as 7 1/2-hour school nurse at $22 per hour beginning Jan. 3