June Superintendent Newsletter
Winchester CUSD #1 Monthly Newsletter
June 1, 2018
We have 53 8th grade students promoted to WHS and 50 seniors graduating in the Class of 2018. This marks the first time we have had air conditioning in the gym which makes these celebrations much more enjoyable. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 and the Class of 2018! Also, a big thank you to the many businesses, organizations, families, and individuals that provided over $27,000 in scholarship money for our graduates!
We have four employees retiring this year. Lisa Kimble has taught in our district for her entire 34 years first as a special needs and 6th grade teacher and then for the last 12 years as a 1st grade teacher. Cindy Potter came to us in 1996 has taught JH special needs students in the same classroom for the past 22 years. Sheila Killebrew (15 years) started as a cafeteria supervisor, then a non-certified aide and finally as a certified aide. Mike Brokehouse will retire September 1st and has been with us for 18 years as our grounds supervisor.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a $38.5 billion budget yesterday for FY19 which begins July 1st. K-12 public education will get an additional $350 million on top of our FY18 appropriations. This is great news and very timely for planning for the 2018-19 school year!
Our evidence based funding for FY18 has been adjusted down by about $7,000. Miscalculations were made on two of the 26 elements considered in the formula. So we are now getting around $180,000 for FY18.
We hosted a crisis management meeting this morning. Representatives present included city and county law enforcement, city fire department, city utilities department, and school administrators. Our crisis plan was reviewed and several recommendations/suggestions were noted. I will file a report with ROE #1.
We have submitted a letter of support for an alternative teacher certification program at Western Illinois University. The program will have to go through several approval steps and will not begin until the fall of 2019.
We hope to get $4,200 from our E-rate filing this year.
Our walk-in freezer, which is less than two year old, was down for about a week. We had a Kohl’s freezer trailer here to house our frozen food.
I have completed our ROE1 professional development audit. I had to compile evidence on PD held during the 2016-17 school year and return it to the ROE by May 4th.
I have completed the FY18 REAP Grant. This is federal money tied to our Title I program. We have received over $25,000 each of the past three years and hope to get the same with this grant. We have earmarked this money for technology purchases.
The concrete slab outside the southwest WGS gym door has been completed and looks great. Not only will it be great for moving our tarp cart it will also be a nice place for referees to park for games.
We have received a “meets requirements” designation as determined by ISBE on implementing Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements.
We have received request for tuition waivers from four employees. The request for six students to attend tuition-free for the 2018-19 school year have met our requirements and have been approved.
Major summer projects include: new football bleachers, disposal of old gym bleachers (along with Wood Shop junk), a new greenhouse, new playground ground surface / cement pad or sidewalk, floor tile replacement at WGS, and the LED lighting project at WHS. There are many other smaller projects to be done and several projects we are getting cost estimates. I am getting quotes on replacing the 4 side baskets in the WGS gym. I would like to get the pulley control boxes off the side walls as well as get new side baskets.
The following motions were approved at the May 15th School Board Meeting:
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Marching band considered a co-curricular activity (not extra-curricular)
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2018-19 WHS Handbooks
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WHS LED Lighting Project with General Energy
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NISL Training for L. Barnett, F. Suhre, S. Wigger, K. Daniels, K. Maul, and M. Little
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Modification of easement with City of Winchester for the bleacher project
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Proceeding with WGS playground project
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Accepted resignation of Jennifer Sellars - WHS Business Teacher, accepted resignation of Sam Decker - Bus Driver, accepted retirement notice of Sheila Killebrew - Certified Aide, rescinded contract offer to Clayton Rothe - Special Ed Teacher
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Employed: Krista Kunz, WHS Business Teacher, Kalli Fuhler, Special Ed Teacher, Rusty Monroe, Bus Driver, Cory Suhre, Bus Driver, Norvin Adams, Tech Director / Bus Driver (contingent upon licensure), Melinda Waid, full-time summer custodian, Bruce Williams, summer student worker, Grant DeWitt, part-time summer worker, Basketball coaches - Ryan Sichting, Brian Bettis, Jason Likes, Grant DeWitt
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Retirement package for David Roberts, Superintendent
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Retirement notice of David Roberts, effective June 30, 2019.
