The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Five meetings in the Illini West High School district will explain the county school facilities sales tax that will be on the March 19 Primary election ballot.
Upcoming meetings are at 6 p.m. on March 6, at the Eagles Club in Carthage; at 6 p.m. on March 11 at the Eagles Club in Carthage; at 7 p.m. on March 12, at the La Harpe Community Clubhouse in La Harpe, and at a yet to be determined date in Dallas City.
The Illini West High board has joined other school districts in Hancock County, seeking a 1% sales tax for schools in the county.
If approved by voters, the retailers’ occupation and service occupation tax would be used exclusively for school facilities, resource officers, and mental health professionals. A similar sales tax for schools was part of the April 2023 election, and failed by just a few votes.
The tax would be imposed on all items now affected by Illinois sales tax, It would not cover unprepared food for home consumption; drugs including vitamins and over the counter meds; farm equipment, parts and inputs like fertilizer and seed; and licensed and titled vehicles, boats and RVs.
The tax funds can be spent for Life/Safety work and other approved facility expenses on a pay-as-you-go basis or accumulated for future building needs, and for school resource officers and mental health professionals.
The sales tax funds cannot be used for salaries, utilities, and other operational costs.
Following an executive session, the board rescinded an action taken in January for dismissal and nonrenewal of contract for drivers education teacher, David Kasper. The board accepted a separation agreement with Kasper, and acknowledged and accepted his letter of resignation, effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
The board approved hiring Jacob Calvin as assistant track coach, and approved Travis Wilson and Nick Leon as bass fishing coaches, effective upon completion of paperwork.
Resignations were accepted from Stephanie Beaird, science teacher, at the end of the school year, and from Dave Rogers as custodian effective Feb. 16. Rogers will finish a bus license endorsement and help with extracurricular routes when his schedule allows. Resignations were accepted from assistant track coach, David Kasper; from Amanda Lewis, cheerleading coach, effective at the end of boys basketball season; and Zack Burling, assistant football coach. Burling would like to remain as a volunteer coach.
The proposed calendar for the 2024-2025 school year was amended, primarily coordinating School Improvement Days with the three elementary districts that feed into Illini West.
The first day of student attendance will be Wednesday, Aug. 21. The last student day, if no emergency days are added, would be a half day on Wednesday, May 22, 2025. Superintendent Jay Harnack said the schedule starts somewhat later than is normal, but is set to coordinate with IHSA schedules.
Overnight trip requests were approved for a “Women Changing the Face of Agriculture” workshop Feb. 29 to March 1; and for FBLA state leadership conference April 5 and 6.
Harnack said windows have been ordered for the window installation project.
He is working on a wellness program with Kara Andrew from Memorial Hospital to meet with staff to cover a variety of topics.
Principal Amanda Congdon said the 5Essentials Survey has begun. As of Feb. 12, 56 percent of teachers have responded, 7 percent of parents have responded, and 70 percent of students have responded.