The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Joy Swearingen - Quill Correspondent
Students from the Git "R Done Club made a presentation to the Illini West High School board, Nov. 20, showing results of their project to provide school safety items packed into five-gallon buckets.
The emergency buckets project puts items that could be useful for student safety in the classroom, in the event of a live shooter incident, or other emergency situation.
"I am extremely proud of these kids," said Greg Hoener, advisor for the club. He said the project had taken several years to complete, with some setbacks.
"They hung on and have done more than we imagined in the beginning."
The plan initially was to have buckets for Illini West and the Carthage, LaHarpe and Dallas City grade schools. So far the group has gathered items and packed 120 classroom buckets and 30 more medical supply buckets. They hope to place five to 15 classroom buckets in each school in the county and give each two to four buckets with medical supplies to each school.
Laura Pence was president of the Git "R Done club before she graduated in 2018.
"The idea of the buckets started when Maddie Finch was president of the Git "R Done," Pence said. The first two buckets will go to the classrooms of Maddie's parents, Jason and Carrie Finch, who both teach at LaHarpe Elementary District.
Pence explained how the students met with representatives from law enforcement and the Sheriff Reserves, who helped them decide what items would be important to include in the buckets.
Inside are things like a flashlight, duct tape, hammer and large nails, paper towels, plastic ties, medical supplies. Some unusual items were silly string and a toy horn that could be used as a distraction.
Pence thanked Hoener, former Git "R Done club members, the sheriff's office, and sponsors who donated money or items for the buckets.
Several law enforcement officers were present for the presentation, as well as Ryan Johnson, representing Country Financial, who provided buckets for the project.
Hoener said the value of the buckets and items was well over $30,000, however many of the items were donated.
Board president, John Huston, thanked the students.
"This is a great project. I am proud it started with Illini West, and now it will be going to all schools in the county," Huston said.
The board approved the tax levy resolution for the coming year.
The levy request of $2,975,329 is a 4.35 percent increase over last year, based on an assumed increase of 5 percent in the assessed value of district property.
A Truth in Taxation hearing for the levy will be held at the start of the Dec. 18 school board meeting. A hearing is only required if the levy increases by 5 percent or more. However, Superintendent Kim Schilson said the hearing would be held to give any resident a chance to make a comment.
The board set a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 to finalize details and wording of a new building referendum, and to vote whether to place the question on the spring election ballot.
Schilson said she met with Randy Frese to discuss property tax relief, pension reform and school construction.
In other business, the board:
Get 'R Done Club displays buckets they've stocked with safety items for the Illini West school in case of an emergency, and La Harpe and Dallas City.