Dieterich, Altamont, and Beecher City School Boards Have Meetings

The Dieterich Unit #30 Board of Education met Monday evening.

Among several agenda items the Board approved plans for the classroom addition and restroom renovation project and anticipate putting the project out for bid in the upcoming months. Plans for the project can be viewed in the unit office during school hours.

The Board also reviewed the fiscal year 2023 Tentative Budget and agreed to place the document on public display until formal adoption at the September 12th regular meeting.

The Board adopted the Hazardous Route Resolution allowing the district to transport students living North of IL Rte. 33, that also live within 1.5 miles of school. The district is allowed to transport students PK-6th grade due to the hazardous condition of them crossing IL Rte. 33. Normally the district does not transport students that live within 1.5 miles of school, per school code.

Principals Scott Kocher and Josh Benefiel updated the board on registration and enrollement figures for the upcoming school year. The current enrollment for the 2022-23 school year is 598, up 28 students at this point compared to last year.

In personnel moves the Board accepted the resignation of aide Lisa Hushaw and hired Alexandra Edwards as an aide for the upcoming year. Rich Westendorf was also hired as High School JV Volleyball Coach for the upcoming school year.

Upcoming construction projects at the ball fields and parking lot next to the future Wright Family Community Center were discussed during the Superintendent’s Report. The district is set to receive $2,897,744.57 in state funds, up $259,711.10 from last year according to Evidence Based Funding estimates for this coming school year. The district is considered to be at 64% funding adequacy per ISBE and is in funding Tier 1. 

The Altamont Board of Education also met Monday evening with a special session at 5:45 as members of the board of education, maintenance director Alan Whit and superintendent Casey Adam, walked through Altamont Grade School and Altamont High School to view summer work projects that had been completed including a new gym floor at the grade school and new HVAC, lighting and ceiling tiles in the Junior High wing of AGS.

Then the regular board meeting began at 7:00 in the unit office.

When the board emerged from closed session a brief presentation was made to show the financial trends in the district. According to auditor reports, the district has improved its financial performance which has led to an increase in their overall financial profile score largely due to the state and federal government providing increased funding to districts statewide.

The board determined that the curriculum committee representative will be Martin Reyes. The Educational Foundation representative will be Alan Kollmann. A Delegate Assembly representative will be determined at the September meeting.

In Personnel moves the resignations of Mandy Probst as AGS Special Education Teacher and Stephanie Hudgens as AGS Paraprofessional were accepted.

The board employed John Verdeyen as a Crossing Guard, Gina Popp as an Elementary Education Teacher for the 6th grade. Tessa Philpot was hired as 7th grade volleyball coach, Eric Heiden as Junior High boys track coach, Stephen Long as the Yearbook sponsor. Ann Nelson was employed as a HS Paraprofessional, while Jenna Funneman was hired as an Elementary Special Education teacher (pending licensure-anticipated to start in January). Klaiton Wolff was also approved as a volunteer coach for baseball.

The regular meeting of the Beecher City Community Unit District No. 20 Board of Education was held Monday evening as well.

Action during the meeting included approval of the tentative budget to be put on display as presented. The Board also approved the six-month review of the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services plans with no changes. Next the Board approved the revised pay rates for retired Beecher City Unit 20 teacher’s substitute pay at $200 per day as presented.

Approval to install programmable thermostats at the grade school was tabled.

The Board went into executive session at 7:39 p.m. and returned to open session at 8:10 and approved hiring to the non-certified staff Shelby Mooney and Brandy Roley as Teacher Aides.