The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen - Quill Correspondent
Summer work for Illini West High School includes relocating the superintendent’s office out of the high school building, and moving students from some portable classrooms into the main building.
The new district office will be moved to the former Ameren building at the corner of Marion and Walnut streets across from County Market.
At their regular meeting July 19, Superintendent Jay Harnack told the board he hoped to get access to the new office space in early July. The July board meeting will likely be held at that location, 403 Walnut Street.
The district is actively working to rearrange classrooms to bring students in from portable buildings to improve safety and security. Classroom relocation from the north portables is underway.
After the district office move, part of that space will be used as dressing rooms for athletic teams.
“We are working with Venergy to redesign the space,” Harnack said.
“I initially thought the time line would be longer, but if we can get a crew here in July, conservatively, we might be looking to have that done in September.”
Another summer project is full replacement of security cameras inside and outside the building. Working with Security Specialist Systems, the building will have 24 cameras installed, with a 30-day recording cycle and five-year software license.
The cost of the cameras, mounting hardware, installation and licensing is $34,533.66. The system will be hard wired into the building.
“One issue we have had in the past is poor motion sensitivity,” said Harnack. “These cameras should have a greater level of clarity.”
The board learned that the audit process this year will cost much less. The audit was around $33,000 last year.
The district had received larger amounts of federal Covid assistance funding which requires a more detailed audit. The district will pay Galleros Robinson $22,500 for the audit of 2023-2024 school year finances.
The board approved a renewal of auto, property and liability insurance. Most of the coverage is through Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for $71,111, with cyber response insurance from CFC for $3,323.
Stipends were approved for the following positions in school year 2024-25:
Boys track coach, Michael Lafferty; girls track coach, Dakota Lafferty; freshman class sponsors, Jessica Knicl and Ashtyn St.Clair Miller; and assistant football coach, Thomas Chandler.
The district compensation plan for non-certified personnel was approved.
First readings of the Student Behavior and Discipline Code and board policy updates were approved. Second readings of the transportation and coaching handbooks were approved. Several items, mainly books, were declared as surplus.
Overnight trips were approved for a band major workshop at Frankfort in June, and for the marching band to perform in a bowl game at Orlando, Fla., over Christmas break.
Principal Amanda Congdon reported that registration for the 2024-25 school year will be the week of July 29 to August 2. There will be two days of in person registration on July 29 and 30 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. each day.
Director of Student Services, Grant Surprenant reported that student attendance in May was 93 percent.