Jerry Lindsey wrote this report.
The Morrison High School media center served as the appropriate location to enable all parties to be socially distant and join virtually the Wednesday, September 23, 2020, Board of Education meeting. Board members and interested listeners used the virtual option to participate. The evening opened with a public hearing that invited comments and questions related to the 2020-2021 District budget, which was later approved in general session. Superintendent Scott Vance reminded the attendees that the revenues of the upcoming year are “a guess, and the upcoming election could cause the situation to improve or worsen.”
Principals complimented the students’ acceptance of the mask wearing protocol and offered positive activities that have transpired in their respective buildings.
- Northside: a local entrepreneur’s profits making and marketing masks was donated to the Northside milk account.
- Southside: class safety drills to accommodate for social distancing were completed.
- Junior High: Wild Rose Casino donated an ID card printer to aid the school in taking student photographs, because Persona will not be performing the service this year.
- High School: The 2019-2020 MHS Yearbook received recognition by “The National Yearbook Program of Excellence,” which placed their publication within the top 3% of 15,000 yearbooks printed Nationally by Jostens.
Duane Schaffer, Director of Technology, noted a recent test of an expanded bandwidth reassured his confidence that the system would easily be able to perform, if the need to switch to all remote learning became necessary. A second test will be performed in the upcoming weeks. The board approved the resale of 25 Lenovo N22 Chromebooks, and details will be announced soon.
For the first time in the last four decades the enrollment was reported to be under 1000 students. The uncertainty caused by COVID-19 caused some fluctuation within the reporting of on-line, home-schooled, and in-school participation. Securing accurate numbers should stabilize, as the school year progresses and students’ preferences are stabilized.
“The Board of Education believes that all students across the achievement spectrum should be challenged and supported to develop their potential.” This statement is pulled from the accepted District Accelerated Plan. It provides an avenue for advancement for students excelling at a higher level of academic performance. The Accelerated Placement Plan (Public Act 100-0421) was approved by a unanimous vote of approval.
Several personnel changes were announced.
- Hires: a) Jeanne Adams-Cafeteria Substitute b) Keegan Shank-Custodian at Morrison High School c) Karen Wiebenga-Nurse at Morrison High School
- Resignations: a) Grant Stiles-Custodian Morrison High School
- Leaves of Absence: a) Laura Gatz-Cafeteria b) Jessica Baldwin-Cafeteria c) Pat Zuidema-Cafeteria.
Extended discussion followed as details of the Conference switch by Fulton High School to the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference (NUIC) was announced. The opening excited Monmouth-Roseville’s interest to replace Fulton. Travel considerations and school sizes were a concern, as several options were considered. Athletic Director Gregg Dolan and Principal Cory Bielema were asked to further research the school’s options: 1) remain in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference 2) join the Northwest Upper Illini Conference 3) form a new conference with smaller schools featuring eight-man football.
Final discussions of the evening focused on plans to implement a return to a five-day week in the second quarter, which [increases] the time students spend in school, with face-to-face instruction. Current COVID-19 risk levels and guidelines could allow for a classroom return beginning the second quarter, but a recent survey of teachers regarding returning to a five-day week met with mixed results: (Yes – 36% No – 25.3% Undecided – 38.7,) Emphasizing the importance of the teachers’ acceptance, the Administration was instructed to actively continue discussions on returning to a five-day week, attempting to develop a plan of maximizing the students’ learning environment, while affording the teachers a comfortable solution to their concerns.