The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Board Meeting
The La Harpe Community Unit School District #335 and La Harpe Community School District #347 held a regular meeting Tuesday night, April 17th in the school district library.
School board members in attendance were Dan Horton, Barbara Cox, Mark Irish, Cindy Wear, Nancy Butler, Ricky Johnson, Rex Huston, Pam Campbell, and Deanna Stambaugh.
Also present were Jo Campbell, Lila McKeown, Pat Deitrich, and Elaine Long from Carl Sandburg College. Ms. Long passed out the April Edition of the Envoy and mentioned several articles of interest to the board.
The board voted to establish the number of elementary class sections at two per grade for the 2007-08 school year. They also accepted with regret the resignations of the teachers who have signed a letter of commitment/resignation and will teach at Illini West next year. The list of high school teachers includes: Ann Logan, Colleen Enderlin, Patrick Raftis, Susan Holtsclaw, Samantha McGaughey, Melissa Sturlic, Barbara Ramsey, Vicki Black, Jason Finch, Tim Lafferty, Judy Stevenson, and Melvin Roth.
Those teachers not committing to Illini West or La Harpe Elementary are Michael Carson, Charles Apt, and Kevin O'Flaherty.
The board also accepted with regret the resignations of Cindy Bruns who was granted a leave of absence for the year 2007 and of Brandon Gooding as junior high boys basketball coach.
In other business, the board approved a request from Cindy Pollock to hold a volleyball camp in the high school gym for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade girls June 4th through the 8th, approved the SY08 school calendar, approved membership to the IESA for SY08, approved an inter-fund loan from Working Cash to the Transportation Fund for $24,660, voted to extend Jack McKinnon's employment contract for the school year, 2006-07 through May 31, 2007 for purposes of insurance, and adopted the athletic officials' pay scale as presented by Rodney Norris and Laurena Hunter.
Mr. Campbell gave a district reorganization update to the board.
High school/junior high Principal Lila McKeown, reported that parent/teacher conferences were held on March 21 and 23. The high school teachers had approximately 100 conferences.
The West Central Conference Band Festival was held at La Harpe High School gym on March 22. Mrs. Mencel did an excellent job of organizing the event.
The 9th grade students took the Illinois Learning Standards Battery on April 3 and 4. This test assesses their knowledge on the Illinois Learning Standards.
The West Central Conference Art Show was held at Nauvoo High School on April 13. Several La Harpe students received ribbons for the event.
The final Leadership Academy was held on April 22. Jennifer Siegworth, Alyssa Swanson, Mackenzie Ourth, and Lindsey Pollock were the juniors selected to participate this year.
Congratulations to senior Tyler Sharp for having his "Charger" design selected as the new mascot symbol for Illini West.
Jim Dedera spoke to high school students April 17 and junior high students on the 16 and 17th. His visits are paid through the Drug Prevention Grant through the Regional Office of Education.
Ninth graders enjoyed their student mixers at La Moine Christian Camp on March 18 and March 25th.
Junior high teachers had approximately 62 conferences during parent/ teacher conferences. Clay Huston joins a select group of La Harpe junior high students as a winner in the 19th Annual Illinois Coal Calendar Art and Essay Contest. He will be honored at a reception at the Governor's Mansion on May 4th.
The junior high had their spring pictures taken on March 30th.
Junior high students enjoyed their ISAT party on April 4th. After a very chilly Easter Egg Hunt, they received pop, candy bars, and suckers in exchange for tickets they earned during the ISAT tests.
Jack McKinnon and Ellen Fark were recognized by the Illinois Education Association at their annual spring banquet. Jack was honored for his many years of service to the youth of our community as a 4th grade and junior high science teacher, and Ellen was honored for her outstanding service as a classroom aide to our students. Ellen is well loved by the students and is a very dedicated employee.
There are 35 junior high students out for track.
The 8th grade students participated in their first student mixer at La Moine Christian Camp on April 15. Their next meeting is April 29th. Linda Tobias, from Carthage, has done an excellent job organizing the student mixers at the camp.
Mrs. Holtsclaw, Mrs. Sholl, and Mrs.McKeown have completed the District Technology Plan which had to be submitted by April 15th. Mrs. McKeown, Dr. Kelly, Mrs. Bartlett, and the RTI team applied for the ASPIRE grant. This grant would allow our teachers to receive intense training in the RTI (Response to Intervention) model.
The junior high after school tutoring was discontinued March 26 due to low attendance.