The Carmi-White County School Board met last night instead of February 16th as previously scheduled due to the bad weather.
Superintendent Brad Lee discussed the curriculum process as the Illinois State Board of Education adopted new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standards. He stressed that there are no curriculum mandates associated with these rules and standards. Lee said they will always strive to reflect the values of our community.
Lee also ran down the guidelines for the return to athletics for the students in grades five through 12 set by the Illinois Department of Public Health, IHSA and SIJISSA. They also worked with their conference schools at both the high school and junior high levels to establish guidelines.
Details on the curriculum process and sports updates are available at www.carmischools.org.
The board members gave the go-ahead for Lee to work with Justin Dartt, representing the family of John Pat Dartt, to donate Lots Nine and Ten in Block Four of the Fackney Street Addition to the district. A deed donating the land will be prepared and voted on at a future board meeting.
In the superintendent’s report, Lee noted that the first round of the Moderna vaccine was administered to Unit 5 employees and volunteers and Grayville Unit 1 staff on Saturday, January 30th in the high school gym. The Egyptian Health Department administered them to those employees who registered for it. The second dose is scheduled to be given on Saturday, February 27th from 9 to 11 AM in the high school gym.
Due to the weather all face-to-face instruction for students was cancelled from February 9-12 and remote instruction was utilized for K-12 students.
As of February 8th, 87% of all Unit 5 students received face-to-face learning and 13% received remote learning.
Total revenues for January were $1,275,517, including $55,172 from the one percent sales tax. Local tax monies should be received by the end of February.
Brad Lee thanked Doug Meier for his many years of service as White County Sheriff. He said Meier was always helpful to the district and was available anytime they needed him.
In other business, a high school senior who was inadvertently left off the Board Scholar list for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year was put on it. The junior high completion ceremony and high school graduation and baccalaureate dates were announced. And they accepted the resignations of Drake Patton as 7th grade boys’ basketball coach effective immediately and Daniel Bugera as a building custodian at the junior-senior high school effective February 9th.
The board went into closed session at 7:37 PM to discuss personnel.
During the Closed Session, Amy Whitley was reassigned from 4th Grade Elementary Teacher to 6th Grade Elementary Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Kendra Winter.
Laurissa Pesavento was reassigned from 1st Grade Teacher to a 6th Grade Science Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year to fill the vacancy created by the reassignment of Amber Ochs.
Andy Acord was employed as the 5th Grade Girls’ Basketball Coach for the 2021-2022 school year to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mike Zaranti.
Marcus Lynn was employed as the Junior High School Assistant Boys’ Track Coach the 2020-2021 school year to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Tomas Brandt.
Kaylea Chappelle was employed as the High School Assistant Softball Coach the 2020-2021 school year to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Bailey Winters.
The following were approved as High School Volunteer Assistant Coach for the 2020-2021 school year:
Football: “Spud” Egbert (equipment) and Andy Hannaford
Baseball: John Choate
Softball: Kelsi Rankin and Mike Zaranti
Boys’ Track: Thys Bax
