The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Two new members were sworn in to the Illini West High School board at their regular meeting April 26. The meeting was delayed one week to assure the April 4 election results were finalized from all the counties of the district.
Shannon Kissinger of Carthage is the at-large member for a four-year term. Shaun Lohmeyer is a member from the Carthage Elementary District taking a four-year term. Darcy Stonger of La Harpe was re-elected to fill a two-year term.
Two seats remain unfilled. Shawn Kane of La Harpe, who died March 10, was on the ballot for a seat from La Harpe. The board approved long-time board member, Tracey Anders of La Harpe to serve as a holdover incumbent until a permanent replacement is approved.
There was no candidate in the election for a seat from Dallas City. Other members continuing on the board are Beth Newton and Wyatt Green.
The board approved notifying the Regional Superintendent of the vacancies. Anyone interested in serving can submit a request and resume by May 10 to the board president, 600 Miller Street, Carthage, IL 62321, or by email to boardmembers@illiniwest.org.
Susan Brown of La Harpe and Elizabeth Webster of Dallas City were present at the meeting, introduced as residents open to being appointed to the board.
New board officers are Beth Newton as president, Wyatt Green as vice president, Darcy Stonger as secretary and Shannon Kissinger as treasurer. Kissinger was appointed district treasurer.
Regular meetings will continue at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month except for a meeting on Dec. 13. Meetings are at the superintendent’s office, except for the October 2023 meeting in La Harpe Elementary library and the April 2024 meeting in Dallas Elementary cafeteria.
Committee appointments were Stonger to policy; Green and Lohmeyer to building; Anders and Newton to transportation; and Stonger and Kissinger to finance.
During public comments, Karl Schaefer of Lomax expressed concern for the lack of security at the school, because of students coming and going from portable classrooms.
His second concern was the small cafeteria for the number students in the school, and the expenses of students who choose to buy their lunches elsewhere. He asked if there was an overflow room or if multiple lunch times can be considered.
Superintendent Jay Harnack answered that card-key entry is being installed on all outside doors so they remain locked. They cannot put these locks on the rented portable building doors, however, each classroom door inside can be locked.
Harnack and the board discussed issues related to adding more eating space or lunch periods. All food for Illini West and for both Carthage Elementary schools is prepared at the cafeteria in the high school. Scheduling the time and kitchen use must be considered. The board will continue to look for answers.
Shasta Heidbreder, a member of the Dallas Elementary School board, said they are interested in coordinating curriculum so their students are prepared when they enter Illini West High School.
“We have identified that there is a gap as students shift from Dallas into Illini West,” Heidbreder said. “We started replacing our curriculum at Dallas eight years ago. We have been replacing one subject a year and will continue to do that.
“We are asking to get some kind of collaboration with teachers at Illini West to work with our teachers to identify the curriculum they are using so we can close that gap to help our kids.”
She shared a list of the goals for future curriculum changes.
Heidbreder then addressed problems in transportation, particularly for extracurricular activities of students living in Dallas City, La Harpe and Lomax areas.
When an after school baseball game was canceled, students from her area missed their regular bus home, and had to wait for the late shuttle. Other situations included not having transportation to activities such as golf or shooting where practices are not held at school facilities.
“I would request that the board look at the fact that Dallas City and La Harpe are at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to transporting our kids.
“I don’t think you realize it because you don’t live it. It’s stopping kids from being able to participate in things they would like to.”
Renato Sturlic was hired as special education teacher. Molly Edwards was approved as a volunteer chaperone for FFA.
Resignations were accepted from Alexis Cousins as English teacher and head softball coach, and from Peyton Porter as math teacher.
In his report, Supt. Harnack noted that Illini West was one of 16 schools that received a state grant to add certified school counselors to serve students.
The board discussed the high cost of improvements to the building’s water system, and possible lower-cost steps.
A hearing was set for 7 p.m. May 17 to approve the district e-learning plan. A hearing was set for 7 p.m. June 21 to amend the 2022-2023 budget.
Mr. Shaun Lohmeyer–member from the Carthage Elementary District and Ms. Shannon Kissinger of Carthage–at-large, both to serve four-year terms, were sworn in at the beginning of the Illini West School Board meeting April 26th after consolidated election results were finalizied in Hancock County.