The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The La Harpe School Board held a regular meeting on November 15, 2011 in the district library in honor of School Board Members Day.
The board enjoyed seasonal refreshments and a lunch invitation.
Bob Huff of Huff Architectural Group presented information on the construction project and answered questions.
The board received a November Health Life Safety Project update from the project manager, Steve Gross (which may be viewed on the district website) and toured the construction areas viewing the progress.
La Harpe staff plan to hold an Open House in conjunction with Christmas programs in December.
In addition to regular monthly business items, the board considered an Illini West transportation request and La Harpe bus lease recommendation for school years 2013-2015.
The board will continue to move forward with the separation of high school and elementary routes which was begun last spring with action to discontinue the transportation agreement with Illini West at the end of the school year 2011-2012. The main goal is to shorten student ride time.
A cost analysis of the change shows the increase not to be significant, and preliminary routes suggest increased efficiency for both high school and elementary districts.
Currently, many high school students ride an hour and a half each way to school.
The separation will allow all districts to ensure an hour or less ride time for all regular route students.
Next year La Harpe Elementary drivers will begin to pick up students later in the morning and will use small buses for many of the routes which should save on fuel, lease costs, and will help preserve the county roads.
Smaller buses will also encourage more La Harpe preschool parents to utilize the transpiration available to their children.
La Harpe District currently uses 11 buses (leases 9 of these). Next year La Harpe plans to lease only 6 buses, 4 of which are much smaller.
La Harpe and Illini West will continue to share Special Ed transportation with it is cost-effective to do so.
The board approved the preliminary tax levy with plans to finalize the levy in December without the need for a hearing.
The board approved the Risk Management Plan, authorized the purchase of a Christmas turkey or ham for the La Harpe District employees, acted to continue with the current property casualty and workers compensation insurance cooperative, and approved the first reading of policy updates.
To view agendas, news releases and approved minutes, please visit the school board section of the La Harpe Eagles website at:
www.laharpeeagles.org.