The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Illini West School Board

Joy Swearingen-Correspondent

It is like walking into a new school. That was how Illini West High School Superintendent Kim Schilson described several newly-renovated classrooms.

The Illini West school board got a look at some of the improvements being made this summer, with a tour of the building during their regular board meeting Wednesday, July 18

"If we had a new building, this is what the classrooms would look like," Schilson said in one of the seven rooms that are receiving a major overhaul this summer.

The classrooms have new ceilings and lighting, carpet tiles on the floors, paint in a gray with white trim, and new student and teacher desks.

Some were equipped with new interactive televisions; others retained the interactive white boards purchased in recent years.

Cords and wires for technology are hidden above the new ceilings or encased behind panels.

Two specialty classrooms updated were the family consumer science (FCS) room and the room for the new broadcast science class and Horsehead Studio. Work on these rooms was funded primarily with grants.

"The floors, the ceilings, the paint and the labor were provided by the district," Schilson said, in the new FCS room. "The cabinets, new appliances, sewing machines and desks came from grants."

It was the same for the Horsehead Studio, where new computers, equipment, cameras, and desks came from grants.

Renovation work was coordinated by maintenance director, Steve Wood, and technology coordinator, Chris Greenhalge.

"We are fortunate to have people on staff who can do this kind of work," Schilson said.

In addition to the renovation, other classrooms were repainted and carpet-tiled, and others were cleaned and waxed. Those are slated for future renovation. Classrooms that have the new carpet tiling are noticeably quieter, she noted.

The board approved the new Risk Management Plan prepared by Schilson and Principal Scott Schneider. The plan outlines measures designed to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors to the district facilities.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the revised employee handbook;
• Approved the first reading of several school policy updates;
• Approved fundraising requests of the volleyball team to sell team banner sponsorships; and the flag team to hold a middle school flag clinic, popcorn sale and bake sale;
• Approved destruction of all closed session tapes prior to Jan. 1, 2017, and keeping all executive session notes closed.

Kim Schilson shows a remodeled English classroom.