Dist. 300 board grants tenure to four teachers; Jan Weinberg to retire

The Du Quoin Board of Education Thursday night granted tenure to four district teachers following an executive session. Personnel action included: The board re-employed all first, second, and third year certified staff as probationary continued contractual staff for the 2014-2015 school year and granted tenure to teachers Anthony Baker, Eric Kirkpatrick, Rebekah Reyling and Bethany Valier.

The board re-employed all tenured certified staff for the 2014-2015 school year.

The board accepted with regret a letter of intent to retire from Jan Weinberg effective at the end of the current school year.

The board approved the annual reduction-in-force notices 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.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the annual renewal of IHSA membership for Du Quoin High School.

• Approved an agreement for use of ball fields with Du Quoin Baseball Incorporated.

• Adopted the 2014-2015 school year calendar. The next school year will start with two teacher institute days on Aug. 11 and 12, 2014 with the first day of student attendance on Aug. 13, 2014.

• The district business manager presented the summer maintenance work items for the board's consideration. After a discussion of items, the board approved the summer maintenance work. It was noted the district was recently awarded two $50,000 school maintenance grants and a $247,500 energy efficiency grant by the Illinois State Board of Education which will be used to fund several items on the maintenance list.

• Agreed to amend the 2013-2014 school calendar to make application to the Illinois State Board of Education for "Act of God" days on March 3 and March 4, 2014.