The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The La Harpe Community Unit School District #335 and La Harpe Community School District #347 school boards held a regular meeting Tuesday night, March 20, in the school district library.
School board members in attendance were Dan Horton, Mark Irish, Deanna Stambaugh, Rex Huston, Nancy Butler, and Barb Cox. Also present were Jo Campbell, Pat Deitrich, Laurena Hunter, Rodney Norris, Tim and Monalisa Graves, Jeri Bennett, Wayne and Debbie Corzatt, Molly Porter, Jeff and Tracy McDowell, Randy and Denise Trout, Doug Hobby, David Anderson, Mel Roth, and Elaine Long from Carl Sandburg College.
Several in the audience spoke to the board concerning the junior high sports coop with Dallas School District for next year.
Ms. Long passed out the March edition of the Envoy and mentioned several articles of interest to the board.
The board voted to issue non-renewal notices for the 2007-08 school year to the following high school coop coaches: David Anderson, Jason Finch, Don Luper, and Dru Jefferson and to the following teacher aides: Dee Dee Beachy, Connie Greenig, and Ashley Williams.
Action was also taken to approve for Joan Siegworth, compensation for unused sick days, which due to length of employment, are not applicable toward IMRF retirement benefits.
In other business, the board accepted with regret the resignation of Valeri Dittmer as junior high student council sponsor, approved a request for a family medical leave of absence if needed for Teresa Brown, approved an inter-fund loan for $900 from the Working Cash Fund to the Transportation Fund, and accepted the preliminary school calendar for the 2007-08 school year.
Ag teacher, Mel Roth, attended the meeting and gave his report to the board. He said that six students attended the Made for Excellence conference in Collinsville. They were given the opportunity to learn from past national officers, state officers and national FFA staff.
The leaders presented the students with a curriculum designed to help students make better choices and understand how all the decisions they make determine their destiny.
They placed fourth at the Ag Sales contest.
La Harpe hosted the check-in of record books and foundation awards for Section XI.
At the interviews the following week, La Harpe won three section plaques. Alex Irish-Ag Mech, Kyle Magee-Home and Community Development, and Megan Poulter-Dairy Production.
Several members and Mr. Roth attended the Cattlemen's banquet where they helped serve the meal and clean up.
Jessica Horton presented the FFA Creed at the public speaking contest and Travis Hobby competed in the extemporaneous speech division.
National FFA week was closed out with the petting zoo at the high school Ag shop.
The La Harpe FA members did an excellent job of setting up, displaying and cleanup for the event.
March has been slower with FFA events but the greenhouse has increased tremendously. We have seen lots of growth in the plants and are looking forward to great plant sales this spring.
Two of the three students who won section interviews were taken to Jacksonville for district interviews. Of the three record books, we received two 2nd place finishes and a third.
Joslin Dowell placed first in the Beef Division for the Section XI and second in the Invitational Livestock Judging contest which was hosted by Bushnell-PC FFA.
As a team we placed 5th.