The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Illini West High School students will have the option of attending classes in-person or receiving remote learning when school starts this fall.
Whether at home or in person, classes will be held five days a week. Each student will take four classes first quarter and four different classes second quarter. Each class completed will result in a ½ credit (semester's worth). The exception is for math classes, which will continue for the complete semester.
The four 55-minute classes will run from 8 to 11:55 a.m. Students who wish to participate in the school lunch program will be given a sack lunch. Carthage students can eat these lunches in the cafeteria. Students on buses to Dallas City or La Harpe can eat on the bus ride home.
The half-day play is designed to shorten the time students are required to wear masks. Teachers will be available in the afternoon for remote tutoring and homework assistance.
The entire school reopening plan, approved by the Illini West board at their July 15 board meeting, is posted on the district website, illiniwest.org.
Superintendent Kim Schilson held a remote public meeting for parents on July 21 to review details of the plan and answer questions. In the plan, as much as possible, students will remain in the same classroom and must wear masks.
"Nobody likes masks", stated Schilson, but we have been told by Illinois State Board of Education, the Center for Disease Control, Hancock County Health Department, our insurance carrier and our attorneys that we have to follow the guidelines that have been established. Students and staff must wear the masks, I'm sorry to say.
If the school does not follow these guidelines, the school will not be accredited and will not receive state funding.
An aide will ride on buses, and will screen students before they enter the bus. There will be assigned bus seating. Students arriving to school on their own will be screened as they enter the building. The board approved accepting a health department intern to help with student health screenings.
Misty Mitchell, a parent from Dallas City, asked the board about use of masks for students with asthma or other breathing issues who can't wear the masks for a long period of time without shortness of breath. If they have asthma or they have lung issues, they can get a doctor's slip that says a face shield will be okay, Schilson noted.
At the beginning of the meeting, the board held a hearing on a three-year e-learning plan. Schilson stressed that the e-learning plan is not the same as the system quickly put into place at the end of the last school year. It is a plan to cover varied situations when remote learning is needed. Remember a couple of years ago, when we missed 14 days of school. This would enable us to do some remote learning on those days, Schilson said.
E-learning days would not be called into play on the morning of a sudden winter weather event, but could be used when there is advanced warning of storms to let students know to take home computers and hotspots, if needed, and be prepared for e-learning the next day.
The plan was approved. Two retiring teachers were honored for their long years of service to the district. Connie Flesner, biology teacher, and Linda Hartweg, vocal music, band and drama, were thanked with recognition and gifts from the board as they retire.
Following closed session, the board accepted the resignation of Roger Duffy as custodian. They approved a three-year contract for dean of students, Jim Short. The fee schedule for the 2020-2021 school year was approved with one change, a 50 cent increase in lunch prices, recommended by their auditor. A budget hearing for the FY2021 budget was set for 7 p.m. Sept. 16, at the beginning of the monthly board meeting. The Illini West Bird Busters trapshooting program was discussed. The program is run by volunteers and is supported with donations and fundraising. Board member Shannon Pence spoke in praise of the student activity, and suggested the board look into providing some funding for the group. Schilson will talk with the school attorney to assess any liability in giving funding to the group. The board waived the second reading and approved several board policy updates.
Two retiring teachers honored for their long years of service to the district by Illini West board president, John Huston (center) are Linda Hartweg, left, and Connie Flesner, right.