BOND COUNTY UNIT 2 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS IN SORENTO
The Bond County Unit 2 Board of Education met in Sorento this week. Superintendent Jeff Strieker said ten emergency days remained unused and the last day of school is May 21.
The board approved IESA membership for 2012-2013.Mr. Strieker noted cash and investments within all district banking totaled just over seven million dollars with the fund balances remaining strong. The state is still almost $880,000.00 behind in its payments as of the end of March.
The 2012-2013 school calendar was approved. Mr. Carpenter gave a presentation on the National Blue Ribbon Award that Sorento won. Sorento showed significant increases in Math and Reading in a five year period. Math scores increased from 84.5 % to 96.3 %, while reading scores increased from 81.4% to 90.7%. Three hundred four schools won the award nationally, two hundred fifty-five public schools and forty-nine private schools. In Illinois the other winners were suburban Chicago schools. Sorento was the only rural school in Illinois to be named a Blue Ribbon School.
Congratulation were extended to Mr. Carpenter who will be President of the Kaskaskia Region of the IPA after July 2. Mr. Strieker won Superintendent of the Year for the Kaskaskia Region, and Mr. Brad Turner won the Assistant Principle of the Year award. Greenville Junior High student Ransom Bergen won the National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Two hundred thousand works were submitted for this award with less that 1% accepted for the national competition. This is the third time the junior high has received the award. Ransom will receive his award June 1 at Carnegie Hall.
MULBERRY GROVE SCHOOL BOARD HAS PUBLIC HEARING ON BOND SALE
At a special meeting public hearing Monday night, the Mulberry Grove Board of Education announced their intent to sell $50,000.00 in Life Safety Bonds and $130,000.00 in Working Cash Bonds. Final action is planned at the May meeting.
In the regular meeting, Superintendent Mike Gauch reported cash balances look healthy with the exception of the transportation fund which has borrowed $119,000.00 thus far this year from working cash. Gauch said, according to information from Springfield, the second categorical state aid payment due December 22, is expected by the end of April. The second payment will also be the final payment this year with state funding at 50% of what it should have been.
The spaghetti dinner and auction fund raiser March 30 for Travis Bryan, the sixth grader diagnosed with cancer, raised $6,700.00 for the family.
The board approved the purchase of technology equipment for the elementary school. The purchase includes 23 I-pads with a cart for portable use.
A calendar amendment was passed. None of the five emergency snow days were used this year so the last day of school will be earlier than originally scheduled. Report card day is May 18, teacher in-service is May 19, and the official last day of school is May 21.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m.
CAMPGROUNDS OPEN AT CARLYLE LAKE
The 2012 camping season at Carlyle Lake began with the opening of Dam West and McNair Campgrounds April 1. Boulder Campground opened April 15 and the Coles Creek and Lotus Group area will open May 1. The Dam East Spillway Campground and the Eldon Hazlet State Park are open year-round. For more information about camping and recreational opportunities at Carlyle Lake, call 594-2484.
KASKASKIA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MEET
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Thursday, April 19 in the Clinton Wedekemper Board Room. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:00. The agenda includes a resolution conferring an honorary associate of arts degree, board reorganization including election of officers and designating various representatives of organizations. Other items on the agenda include administrative reports, reappointment of first year probationary faculty and professional / managerial and executive / managerial employees, several resolutions dealing with contractors for construction projects, approvals of retirement and employment, and a closed session.
