December Superintendent Newsletter
Winchester CUSD #1 Monthly Newsletter
December 1, 2017
Through their partnership with Liberty Mutual Insurance, Peak Insurance is eligible for Business Building Dollars from Liberty. Peak Insurance has chosen to donate $3,500 to the Winchester Education Foundation in memory of Ellie Peak. Ellie was a third grade teacher at Winchester Grade School for over 25 years and recently passed away.
WHS now has a computer cart with 30 Chromebooks. This was paid through CTEI vocational funds and the Million Trust. We are looking at purchasing two more of these carts for WGS with REAP Grant and Title I funds.
CTS has completed our Ameren Incentive Grants for both lighting and HVAC energy efficient upgrade at WGS. I have invited Mark and John from CTS to come to our December meeting to answer any questions as we near completion of the project.
Ron Coultas has been approved as a member of the Four Rivers Operating Board of Directors.
Instead of purchasing lock boxes for each building, we plan to place one at the district office that will contain all necessary keys for the district. Fire Chief Paul Rueter suggested this and it will save us from purchasing 7 lock boxes. The lock box allows emergency personnel access to school keys to enter any of our buildings if needed.
Patrick Brown, Winchester parent and CIO at Illinois College, has given us many computer cables including several HDMI cables. IC is in the process of doing some technology upgrades.
Our Scott County School Facility Tax for the past three months were: September - $9,025.64, October - $12,590.76, and November - $17,562.75.
Public Act 100.0029 goes into effect January 1, 2018. This act requires public schools to provide reasonable accommodations for students who are breastfeeding their child. HB 2977 just became law in November. A unit of cursive writing must be taught in public schools by 5th grade, which we already meet in 2nd grade.
ISBE is working on implementing the Evidence Based Funding Model. The first step is verifying our enrollments from FY15, FY16, and FY17. Final calculations and our tier placement will not be available for several months.
I have placed information about our two-hour delayed start on our website. We have had the delayed start option in place for three years but have yet to used it.
The following motions were approved at the November 14th School Board Meeting:
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Adopted revised Policy 208 - Public Participation (at school board meetings)
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First reading on new West Central Co-Op Agreement
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Proposed tax levy is 4.95% increase, levy hearing Dec. 12th
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Adopted resolution to transfer $60,000 from 1% sales tax to WGS bond payment
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Resignations: Jeff Davis - WC Golf Coach, Cathy Post - District Health Aide
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Employed Jacob Schumacher as WGS Vocal Music Teacher for 2nd semester, Adam Little as WGS boys volunteer assistant coach, and Molly Traw as Spelling Bee Coordinator
