The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
"The main cause for celebration at the recent Illini West board meeting was the success of our first day together as a top-notch learning community," said Jennifer Edholm, Illini West HSD 307 school board secretary.
In her report of the August 22 meeting she said, "A total of 475 students made history as members of the first converged school district in the state."
In other business, the board approved several fund raising requests and granted permission for the FBLA students to travel by school bus to the Cubs/Cardinal game in St. Louis providing an adequate number of chaperones were in attendance.
The board granted permission for students to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
Keith Montgomery was hired as a part time chemistry and physics teacher, Robert McVeigh as a custodian. Illini West will also begin advertising for a full time aide to cover study hall overload. The administration is hoping to find a certified teacher who will be paid the substitute teacher pay of $85 a day.
Ray Driskell proposed extra activities to concur with the September 4th football game against the West Hancock Titans. The Carthage Chamber of Commerce was planning a Wild Wild West theme in conjunction with Tuesday evening's football game.
The first Illini West Homecoming parade will be held Friday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m. with students being dismissed at 2:00 p.m.
The Homecoming dance will be limited to Illini West students only due to the limited capacity of the gym.
Board members also brainstormed ways to secure additional revenues to cover the cash flow problem associated with forming a new school district when the state budget is not finalized.