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May Superintendent Newsletter

 Winchester CUSD #1 Monthly Newsletter

May 1, 2015

Winchester School District is considering a delayed start option to the school day for the 2015-16 school year.  The delayed start would only be used on inclement weather days when we could have school if weather/road conditions improved by mid-morning instead of calling off the full day.  We would like parents and school employees to provide input on the delayed start option by completing a survey on the district website.  Go to the Quicklinks on the right side to find the survey link.  The survey will close May 11th.      

PARCC End-of-Year (EOY) testing is underway.  WGS will be testing 3rd-8th grades from April 27th to May 8th.  WHS will be testing English III & Algebra II on May 4th & 5th.  The testing schedule is on the front page of the district website. 

I am happy to report that the County Schools Sales Tax passed on April 7th.  There were 428 yes votes (56.61%) and 328 no votes (43.39%).  The new tax rate will begin on July 1st and we expect to receive our first monthly revenue within four months.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced major news on April 16th. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Chris Koch, who has served in that role for more than eight years, was replaced at their ISBE board meeting. The board, recently appointed by the new Governor, selected Dr. Tony Smith to replace Koch. Smith had once served as the superintendent of Oakland, California public schools but most recently directed a not-for-profit education-related organization in Chicago.

Public Act 99-0001 (HB 317) which made 2.25% across the board cuts to all state agencies means a loss of $60,862 to our district.  However, the $97 million Hold Harmless amount for us is $44,820 which reduces our loss to $16,042.  We will also have to move $5,516 to special education to ensure maintenance of effort.

Our district does not have to complete a Maintenance of Effort (MOE) worksheet for ISBE this year.  This is due to an expenditure increase of $125,509.00 in special education from FY13 to FY14.  Special education net expenditures for FY13 were $1,112,477.00 and $1,237,986.00 last year.   

Our new leased buses should arrive the week of June 8th or shortly after.

Construction on the Student Council marquee sign should begin in late May.

Cole Parker, WHS junior, will be planting beans on the district farmland this spring.  

The following motions were approved at the April 14th School Board Meeting:

  1. Election Summery Report and declared Joe, Little, Ron Coultas, and Steve Weder elected to the board.

  2. Reviewed closed minutes from July-December 2014.

  3. Memo of Understanding with Teacher’s Union regarding extended contracts.

  4. Conducted 2nd reading of 2015-16 WHS Handbook Committee changes and approved.

  5. Election of board officers for two-year terms:Steve Moore – President, Wayne Brown – Vice-President, and Norine Jefferson – Secretary.

  6. New Board Organization – affirmed district policies/handbooks, meeting schedule for remainder of FY15, Miller, Hall & Triggs as legal counsel, Angie Slagle as Treasurer, and three local banks for district funds.

  7. Moved the June Board Meeting to June 16th.

  8. Art Club Trip to Chicago May 1st-3rd.

  9. Use of district facilities for youth soccer, volleyball clinic, basketball academy, and Emily’s Dance Studio.

  10. 2015-16 School Calendar

  11. Maintained 14 members on the WCC Cheer Squad.

  12. T.J. Plogger as WCC Volleyball Coach and Erin Tighe/Shelby Shelts as WGS Cheer Co-sponsors.

  13. Cameron Kemper as part-time student worker.

  14. Re-employed winter head coaches.

  15. Accepted the resignation of Justin Vinyard as WGS assistant track coach.