Cowden-Herrick School Board Fills Board Vacancy

The Cowden-Herrick school board has filled a vacancy on the board.

Consuela Lorton has been named to fill the spot.

The Board also approved the amended fiscal year budget for posting; retained Junior Carlisle as bus mechanic for the coming school year; and approved a calendar for the coming year, calling for a teacher institute on August 14 and the first day of classes on August 15.

The Board approved a LED lighting upgrade for the Herrick Elementary building; signed an agreement with the Regional Office of Education for sales tax for Fayette County; increased officials' pay for the coming year; and named Zach Sarver as the district's representative to the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education board with Rita Prosser as the alternate.

Cowden-Herrick Superintendent Seth Schuler reported a grant written to and received from Consolidated Communications for $1,000 will be used for robotics in the classroom, and it was shared that grants for $1,500 and $2,000 from CF Industries will be used at the Cowden building.

Board members voted to employ Lindsey Kirby as a full-time teacher for the coming school year and to hire Madonna Shellenbarger as part-time summer maintenance help at the Herrick building.