IW works on multi-year principal contracts

A committee from the Illini West High School board will begin negotiating multi-year contracts with principal, Ray Driskell, and with associate principal and transportation director, Dr. Christine Lewis.

The board met with both principals during a special meeting Feb. 27, and agreed to rehire both administrators for the 2008-09 school year when contract negotiations are finalized.

District Superintendent Mike Mauzy said the board will probably continue having a second meeting each month, usually on the fourth Wednesday, at least until they are sure everything is set for the start of school next fall.

“We accomplished an awful lot this year,” Mauzy said. “But some things were pushed to the back burner.” The board's regular meeting date is the second Wednesday of each month.

The board approved payment of around $95,000 to the LaHarpe Elementary School District for transportation during the first semester of the school year.

“That includes regular bus routes for Illini West kids, shuttles, special education trips, extra-curricular, all the transportation provided through December,” Mauzy said. A statement has been received from the Carthage Elementary District, and payments will be made after review to Carthage and to the Dallas City Elementary district.

The question of whether Illini West should buy a bus was referred to the transportation committee, to get comparison information and make a recommendation at the March 12 meeting. The committee will look into whether the district should buy or lease an activity bus, which does not require a CDL driver, or a small yellow school bus, which may have some costs that are reimburseable.

A bus owned by the high school district would ease some of the conflict of having a bus available for high school extra-curricular trips as well as covering regular student routes.

Illini West is part of a collaborative HELP grant which has now been submitted to create a CNA program for high school students, displaced workers and current workers in the health care field. If successful, the grant would bring in $100,000 a year for two years to set up the program.

“Students could get the CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) and if they were ambitious the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) while they are still in high school. That would cut down the time needed to complete nursing school,” Mauzy said. Mauzy worked with representatives from Memorial Hospital, Hancock County Nursing Home, Montibello Health Care, LaHarpe-Davier Health Care, Carl Sandburg College and the Department of Aging in drawing up the grant.

Three items on the agenda were tabled until the March 12 regular board meeting: 2008-09 staffing needs, uniforms for band and chorus, and a freshman academy.

Referring to comments made to the board at an earlier meeting by Carthage Police Chief Gary Waddell, Mauzy told the board he had checked with the school attorney concerning the school's role in checking out discipline matters that might result in criminal prosecution.

“It is his opinion that we not only have a responsibility, it is our obligation to investigate incidents occurring on school grounds. If we have an incident, we are going to investigate. We are going to question students,” Mauzy said, based on school policy.

“If it turns out to involve a criminal act, we will turn it over to the state's attorney. When police are investigating, then it is out of our hands, and we then act ‘in loco parentis' - as an advocate for the student to be sure the student's rights are protected.”

In other informational items, it was clarified that if the district at some time needs to use the former Dallas City High School gym, for graduation for example, it is within code and could be used. Mauzy also checked on using the LaHarpe Park District baseball fields for Illini West games. If used for more than hosting a regional or sectional post season tournament, there would be a fee to use the ball diamonds.