Basketball Court at Teutopolis High School to be Named for Late Coach Koester

Teutopolis school board members Monday approved the naming of the high school basketball court in J.H. Griffin Gym in memory of longtime girls basketball coach Dennis Koester.

This is the 15th anniversary of Koester's death and there has long been discussion about what could be done to recognize the coach, who led Lady Shoes teams to a number of state championships.

Superintendent Matt Sturgeon said the plan is to put Coach Koester's signature..."Dennis F. Koester"...on the north and south ends of the court. Sturgeon said a celebration has been scheduled for Friday night, November 12, for a formal dedication.

Also Monday, Sturgeon was asked about a Temporary Restraining Order issued by Judge Douglas Jarman directing that three Teutopolis students don't have to wear masks when attending school. Other district students do have to mask up.

Sturgeon said that the order stating that the three students don't have to wear masks and the Governor's Executive Order that everyone else has to mask up "leaves us between a rock and a hard place."

A hearing has been scheduled for September 28 to consider a petition from the attorney for the parents of the unmasked children to certify the case as a class action suit, meaning that all students of the district could be impacted by Judge Jarman's ruling. A hearing to issue a preliminary injunction in the case is set for October 14.

Also Monday, the Teutopolis board approved replacing the phone system for the high school, the unit office and transportation department; and approved a three-year contract with Bushue Human Resources. It was also agreed to formulate bid specs for a school bus, driver education vehicle, tractor and mower. The estimated cost is $185,000. The Board also approved key fob installation at the grade school building.

Board members heard that a plan is in the works with the Teutopolis Sportsbackers to replace the bleachers at the soccer field and track at the junior high building, and heard about plans for a mural to be located at the high school as a remembrance for the original portions of the building.