Teutopolis School Board Continues to Discuss High School

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Published on May 16 2017 11:38 am
Last Updated on May 16 2017 12:00 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Teutopolis school board members Monday continued to discuss the options concerning their high school building.

The middle portion of the structure was built in 1929 and there are accessibility concerns to address. The Board has discussed renovation vs. new construction.

At Monday's meeting, the Board directed Upchurch and Associates Architects to prepare drawings of what an addition to the building, and demolition of the oldest portion of the structure, would look like. The Board has discussed holding public meetings in the fall to gain input regarding the project. Nothing has been decided, but discussions have involved building an addition to the west end of the building, and a walkway that would connect the remaining existing portions of the structure.

When the county facilities tax was considered in the spring election, it was defeated countywide, but a majority of Teutopolis school district residents voted in favor of the proposal. Funding the project would be a key ingredient in deciding how to proceed.

Speaking of funding, Luke Eastin of South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission was in attendance. Eastin discussed the Tax Increment Financing District being proposed for the Village of Teutopolis. The TIF district is being proposed to pay for infrastructure improvements for a new residential development on the southeast side of the village, as well as improvements along Route 40, and to pay for sewage treatment improvements. The projects could benefit the school district if an agreement can be reached with the Village on revenue sharing from TIF projects.

In personnel moves, the Teutopolis board approved resignations from Marita Weber as junior high school secretary effective May 31, from Tom Bauserman as high school Scholar Bowl coach, Beth Einhorn as elementary teacher effective at the end of the year, Brian Haskenherm as high school JV soccer coach, Angie Kroeger as bus driver at the end of the year, and Rich Niebrugge as junior high boys basketball assistant coach.

Those hired are Cindy Konkel as junior high school secretary, Kyla Hall as high school counselor/teacher for the coming school year, Maggie Bosgraaf as junior high cheer sponsor, and Maria Tegeler as 7th grade girls basketball coach. It was also agreed to advertise remaining open positions.

The Board hired Glass and Shuffett for audit work, purchased a timeclock system since the current system cannot be maintained, approved a change order for security work at the junior high building to include work for a new alarm system pad, and set a public hearing on the proposed budget for June 19.