Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey submitted this report in a timely manner, but the Editor inadvertently neglected to post it earlier.
The environment within today’s School System faces many tough challenges for our youth and expectations for them to navigate the system and to graduate. The Morrison School Board, at a Monday, December 13, 2021, meeting, revealed the issue of staff retention. They noted that the situation has evolved to a serious crisis. They are struggling to define a program that faces the needs and maintains the District’s ability to perform to the standards needed.
Superintendent Vance headed the discussion of the proposed strategy for the next four years for MCUD6. The proposal defined financial incentives that would be added to hourly employees; service credits for time employed; attendance bonuses; tuition assistance for educational advancements; end-of-year bonuses for qualified accomplishments.
This program would add additional costs to the current budget of over $270,000 during the first four years of implementation. These costs only cover current curriculum staffing. [It does not include] any considerations made for additional staffing needs the [District always faces], to prepare the students for the changing work environment they will face upon graduation.
Noting that the proposed incentives will require constant review to keep the classrooms full, Vance reminded all in attendance that this is not [only] a situation existing locally, regionally, or Statewide. It is a National concern. Record numbers of students attending educational institutions, who are majoring in Education, continue to decrease.
In other action, MHS Principal Corey Bielma updated the Board on the Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) Impact Program. It is designed to attract local students in perform Community Service to earn tuition credits from SVCC. Accepted students who are able to complete 25 community service hours per year earn the potential of having their entire tuition funded for their time spent at SVCC.
In closing action, the Board approved the resignations at year’s end for Tom Drosopoulos ( HS Volleyball Coach), Amber Blumhoff (K-5 Math), and Jordan Johnston (HS Math.)