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Illini West Names New Superintendent

Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent

All Illini West High School students can attend classes in person Monday through Friday starting Feb. 1.

That was one of two important decisions made by the Illini West High School board at their meeting Jan. 20. After closed session, the board hired Jay Harnack, currently of Pinedale, Wyo., as their new superintendent, beginning July 1.

Illini West students have been attending classes in person in two alternating groups, each at school one full week and then with remote learning the next week. A third group of students has chosen to have only on-line classes.

Starting Feb. 1, all students wanting to attend classes in person can do so every day, with school in session from 8 a.m. to noon. Some will remain with remote learning only.

"I think it is time to bring them back," said board member Shannon Pence.

Tracy Anders added, "I don't see a lot of difference between open gym that they have now and being in the classroom."

The importance of having students attend class in person was countered with questions about bringing a larger number of students together each day.

"Your biggest problem is social distancing," said Superintendent Kim Schilson. "And then the next problem is if you have (students) for more than four hours you have to feed them lunch at school. We can't socially distance in the cafeteria, and that's the most critical time because they take their masks off to eat."

The shortened four-hour day allows the school to send a take-home lunch with students at noon if they want one.

Schilson said some teachers are concerned about returning to class until they are vaccinated. Vaccines are now coming to the Hancock County Health Department, and teachers are part of the next eligible group.

"If we bring everyone back, there are going to be some rooms that cannot be social distanced," said Principal Scott Scneider. "I know as long as they are all wearing masks that is a great precaution, but some classes will be overloaded. It's not that many, maybe four or five."

The district will use this week to prepare the building for the return of all students on Feb. 1.

Jay Harnack New Superintendent

Jay Harnack will come to Illini West High School with 18 years of experience as a superintendent, most recently at Sublet County School District in Pinedale, Wyoming, for the past 11 years.

Earlier, he was superintendent in two Illinois districts, Blue Ridge in Farmer City, and North Clay at Louisville. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Effingham High School.

He has bachelor and masters degrees in botany from Eastern Illinois University. He earned his teacher certification and advanced degrees in educational leadership also at EIU. He completed doctoral studies at the University of Wyoming.

He has served with many boards and associations related to education in Wyoming, and was chairman of the Bloomington (Ill.) Area Superintendents Roundtable.

Among his honors, he was a finalist for Wyoming Superintendent of the Year in 2017, and earned the Educational Leadership Award from Wyoming Association of School Administrators in 2013. His districts placed on the US News and World Report's Best High Schools list in 2010, 2019 and 2020.

Schilson will assist in Harnack's transition this summer and will retire from the district June 30.

"They've got a great person coming, with a lot of experience," Schilson said. "I wish him the best. He is coming into a great school district."

A search committee began in late fall to find candidates for the new superintendent.

"Board, administrators, faculty, students and community members were interviewed," said board president, John Huston. "Representatives from those committees participated in the final deliberations that resulted in the selection of Mr. Harnack."

Other business

The board learned of a possible Federal Covid Relief grant, estimated by Illinois State Board of Education at $275,000. This was part of the most recent federal stimulus act.

"This could cover anything connected with Covid," said Schilson. "It could pay for summer school, catching kids up and credit recovery, extra staff or teachers, and supplies."

It could also be used to upgrade projects in the school to improve air quality. The district just replaced the HVAC system in most classrooms and offices in 2020.

The grant could be used to improve heating and air conditioning in the gym and other rooms not included in the recent upgrade.

In other business, the board: