North Clay Board Hears About Good Season for Livestock Judging Team

North Clay school board members Wedneday got a rundown on a successful season for the school's livestock judging team.

North Clay finished 5th overall out of 95 teams at a contest hosted by Lincoln Land Community College. Of 574 students, Dalton Koelm placed sixth overall and fourth in sheep and goats, and Alexis Van Dyke was seventh in swine. The team finished second of 50 teams in the District Varsity Contest at SIU Carbondale. Ellie Fleener placed third among those in the Top 20 and Paris Van Dyke placed 19th. The North Clay squad won the Section 23 contest. Those finishing in the Top 20 included Alexis Van Dyke fourth, Sierra Payne 11th, Paris Van Dyke 13th, and Ellie Fleener 16th.

It was also shared that North Clay had its first dairy judging team in 20 years compete at the state judging contest at Kaskaskia College.

Also Wednesday, North Clay board members approved an agreement with Poettker Construction for construction management on upcoming district construction projects. A series of projects are planned to connect district buildings and in the process create additional building space. It was also decided not to renew a contract for food services with OPAA for the coming school year. The decision followed a presentation by North Clay cooks. 

In other business, the North Clay board:

--heard a presentation by Cassie Kohlhaus, the athletic trainer at Wabash General Hospital

--approved registration for the coming school year with online registration from July 11-29

--set fees for the coming school year

--set substitute teacher pay for the coming year

--set officials pay, gate prices and season pass prices for the coming school year

--tabled action on changes to student handbooks

--discussed athletic handbook changes, but took no action

--approved a new Social Studies curriculum for the coming school year

--approved the school calendar for the coming year

--renewed membership in the IESA

--agreed to hire summer school staff as needed and authority for a STEAM program for Grades 1 thru 6

--rehired all non-certified staff members

--purchased an activity bus through the state purchasing program

The Board also acted a number of personnel items. Among them:

--Mike Bailey was hired as boys basketball fresh/soph coach

--hired Kelly Stortzum as head junior high boys basketball coach

--hired Michael Hornerkamp as junior high girls basketball coach

--accepted the resignation of Morgan Bailey as 5th and 6th grade basketball coach, then hired her as junior high girls basketball assistant coach

--hired Denise Phillips as 5th and 6th grade basketball coach

--accepted the resignation of Luis Macias as high school cross country coach

--voted to restore the junior high cross country team and post for a coach

--approved an unpaid leave day on May 4 for Trisha Youngblood

--voted to become the administrative agent for the Clay County Illinois CEO program with Jackie Akers to serve as facilitator

--hired Kelly Stortzum as the CTE Industrial teacher

--hired Kacie Crawford as high school Social Studies and Scene teacher

--released Dee Hronec as full time bus driver

--hired Larry Barbee as full time bus driver

--accepted the resignation of Rendell Flood as 5th and 6th grade boys basketball coach