Editor’s note: The following School Board Report was submitted by Lynette Forth.
Members of the Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Monday, December 22, 2014, at Morrison High School, 643 Genesee Avenue, Morrison, IL. Elementary Principal Jennifer Oetting noted that 5th grade students from Mr. Eyrich’s class made ornaments, selling them for $1 each, and donated the money raised to the Morrison Friends Food Pantry. The class will also be participating in a recycling program at Southside. Items collected by the school will be sent to soldiers. Northside students were given books by the High School B.L.I.N.D. program on Thursday, December 18.
Junior High Principal Joe Robbins reported the 7th grade Boys Basketball team won the Tri-County Conference, after defeating Riverdale by one point. This is a great accomplishment, after losing twice to Riverdale earlier in the year. Twenty students have registered for wrestling. Student Council members collected $1 from students wishing to wear pajamas to school on the day before holiday break. Monies raised were given to Happy Tails Animal Shelter. Robbins noted that the school has received another NAEIR order, totaling $28,000 worth of merchandise, and 200 pounds of salt, to be used in the spreader for snow and ice, at a cost of just $10 from NAEIR.
At the High School, Principal Kay Harwood informed the Board that over 20 students from the KEY Club assisted in the Christmas Walk. They helped line up the parade entries, as well as set up and took down barricades. Students also provided babysitting for the PTO meeting and volunteered to help the kindergarten with its Thanksgiving Feast. Members of the KEY Club purchased gifts or individuals 12 or older from the giving tree. Student Council members sponsored 17 kids from Morrison United Methodist Church’s Helping Hands program and bought them warm clothing and a small toy. Gifts were also purchased for another 14 kids, bringing the total to $1400. Three hundred presents were also wrapped by Student Council members. Five High School students have been selected as ALL-State Musicians. Eryn Young, Kyle McCoy, Eric Sipes, Andrew Rinker, and Isabel Vander Bleek will perform at the Peoria, IL, Civic Center on Wednesday, January 28, through Saturday, January 31. Eleven band students have also been selected for the Augustana Band Festival on Sunday, January 18, and Monday, January 19,in Rock Island, IL. Those students are Maya Zinke, Eryn Young, Caleb McCoy, Morgan Stuhlman, Colleen Elfline, Danika Habben, Samantha Makl, Dallas Wagenecht, Derek Bush, Ryan Tillman, and Ashley Hagerman.
The School District gained 12 students in the month of December, bringing the enrollment up to a total of 15 since the beginning of the school year. The District is hopeful that more will be added with the hiring process getting started for the Thomson Prison.
The status of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference is still under review by Morrison Principals. Currently, several schools in the Conference are unhappy with the alignment and are discussing leaving the Conference. The District will continue to monitor the situation, and determine the best course of action for Morrison High School. The 2015-2016 school calendar will be adopted at the January 2015 meeting. A survey was taken among teachers showing their preferences for early outs and holiday observances.
In regard to the County sales tax information, Stifel, Nicolaus, and Company, Inc. recently came to Morrison to discuss the sales tax process. A very informative meeting was held, containing the abatement process. Based on the information gained from the meeting, the Morrison School District should be in a great position to utilize the funds generated by the County sales tax in a few years.
Updating is almost completed on the School Distric’s website. Board members reviewed requests for retirement from two teachers wishing to finish at the end of the year. They have a combined 60 years of teaching at Morrison. Approval was granted for the Whiteside County ROE Alternative School contract. The school would provide opportunities for students to graduate who are currently at risk for dropping out. Students would be instructed at Morrison Junior High School. Morrison will be responsible for the start up costs, which will eventually be offset with attendance and tuition reimbursement. The Board of Education adopted the 2014 tax levy requesting a total amount of $5,577,123 showing an increase of 6.35% over last year. The current tax rate is 5.0035. The purchase of an online learning system PLATO was approved at a three year price of $14,531.25. The current online curriculum being used is outdated. The addition of a strength training class for High School students was approved to the curriculum. Students will receive a PE credit which will incorporate both strength and cardiovascular training.
A release of unused equipment was approved: a lateral pull-down machine, overhead press machine, multi-use machine, neck and shoulder machine, lateral raise machine, a cable cross-over machine, and ellipticals. These items are no longer being used or are broken. Removing them will free up space for students and coaches. The last item approved was participation of all certified staff members to complete the A.L.I.C.E program, as presented by Chief of Police Brian Melton. The program will provide training on intruder response;Melton would like to begin training as soon as possible.
The next meeting of the Morrison Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2015.