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Warsaw adopts '08-09 student handbook with N-C additions
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
WARSAW, Ill. - Plans to blend two student bodies continue smoothly in West Hancock County.
The Warsaw School Board approved the 2008-2009 high school student handbook Thursday with additions incorporated from Nauvoo-Colusa High School's handbook.
In three months, Nauvoo-Colusa High School students will attend classes at Warsaw. And Warsaw's junior high students will be a part of Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High School after the referendum to deactivate a part of each school was approved by voters in both school districts in February.
“I read the Nauvoo-Colusa handbook and added some of the things they had that we didn't address as precisely,” said Principal Tom Bertucci. “There are no big changes.”
An outline of problem solving procedures follows what Warsaw schools have implemented without it being in writing, he said.
He added Nauvoo-Colusa's problem solving procedures to Warsaw's 2008-2009 handbook.
“It tells parents and students to follow the chain of command,” said Bertucci. “You start with talking with the teacher and work your way up. The school board is the last resort.”
Bertucci also adopted Nauvoo-Colusa's definition of weapons.
“We've always had a section about weapons. Now we have a legal definition of what's considered a weapon,” he said.
Another change in the handbook came from a parent's suggestion.
“Some of our reasons to suspend a student for an automatic 10 days is less reasonable than our drug policy,” said Bertucci. “Students suspended 10 days for a drug offense can have the option of taking a drug class and cut the suspension to five days. A parent asked if we could give that type of option for some of the misbehavior offenses.”
Bertucci contacted the district's mental health coordinator who is willing to work with the district to offer behavior modification classes to students facing a 10day suspension.
“It's all at the student's expense to take the class and prove attendance,” said Bertucci. “And it's a one-shot deal. The same student won't get offered this twice. Ten days can be a long time out of school.”
Elementary Principal Brad Froman agrees.
“If some student makes a dumb mistake, we want to offer rehabilitation,” he said. “Repeat offenders aren't even going to be interested in attending a behavior modification class.”
Bertucci also added definitions of honor students, honor societies and honor rolls to the handbook so incoming students would know the parameters.
Pleased with graduation
Bertucci and board members said graduation ceremonies went very well.
“I especially liked that you singled out the four graduates entering the military and they were recognized at graduation,” said Board President Don Roskamp.
Other board members remarked on the student speeches, especially those made by salutatorian Alex Culpepper and valedictorian Alyssa Gerhardt.
Each pointed out the changes in their high school careers from Wildcats to Titans and how the Class of 2008 adapted and thrived.
“The Class of 2008 received nearly $300,000 in scholarships,” said Bertucci.
Dual credit, vo-tech classes are filled
Warsaw is offering new vo-tech classes next year, in the first semester students will study construction math, blueprint reading and other classroom skills. In second semester students can select heavy equipment operations or welding.
“Ninety-five of our 130 juniors and seniors have signed up for this new class,” said Bertucci. “It is full.
“We have 23 dual credit offerings and 70 juniors and seniors have enrolled for a combined 321 dual credit classes next year; some students take more than one dual credit class. That will add up to 963 credit hours. We didn't have to cut any of the 23 dual credit classes for lack of enrollment.”
Board honors Wildcat Sports Boosters
The board recognized the Wildcat Sports Boosters with individual plaques. Maria and Mike Austin, Mel and Rita Thomas, Bard and Rod LaBonte and Frank Bavery attended the meeting briefly at the invitation of the board. Gary Jones was not present.
“The sports boosters have done so much for us,” said Roskamp. “You've raised money to buy the new team chairs, provided the speaker system at the football field and the fencing at the baseball field. In the past, sports boosters reupholstered weight equipment before we got our new weight room and now we have the Wildcat bench outside.”
The sports booster members said they were the small group of people attending meetings but the whole community supports the school and its activities.
“None of us has done as much as sports boosters as Frank and Debbie Bavery,” said Mel Thomas.
Superintendent Kim Schilson and board members agreed that the Baverys have donated countless hours, ideas and energy to the sports boosters program. Debbie Bavery, superintendent's secretary, also was present at the meeting.
In other business:
Deb Beeler of Rocky Township was appointed to fill the vacant school board seat left when Jon Hofmeister resigned in March, about a year after he was elected to the board.
Froman said seven fifth grade students qualified for the gold seal Presidential Award in Academics. The gold award indicates the student earned all As.n Schilson said the state may not make its 23rd and 24th state aid payments to school districts. The final two payments for the fiscal year are due in June. It's about $180,000 total for Warsaw.
“If we don't get the payments on time, we'll get it in July,” said Schilson. “We'll be OK. We did amend the 2007-2008 budget because of the governor's announcement he was increasing funding to schools and now we may not get it.”
The board approved 2008-2009 student fees and meal prices. They stay the same. Student fees are K-6, $35 and high school, $50. Breakfast is $1.25, hot lunch is $1.50 for K-6, $1.75 for high school and $2 for adults.
“I want to commend the cooks and kitchen staff for serving good food and keeping expenses in line,” said Schilson. “We have an ending fund balance of $13,854.”
The board approved advertising for sale by closed bid and declaring surplus the following district vehicles: 1983 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup; 1989 Olds 88; 1998 Chevy Astor van; and 1996 Ford Econoline 350.
A new law will not allow Illinois school districts to transport students in vans. Warsaw has purchased two new Chevy 14-passenger activity buses. The activity buses cannot be used for transporting students to and from school because they lack flashing lights and crossing arms for students loading and unloading along streets.
“This is a parking lot to parking lot bus,” said Schilson. “The driver does not need a commercial driving license. For instance, coaches can take the golf team or the academic challenge team to meets and matches.”
The mini-buses are painted white with red and black Titans logo and Warsaw School District lettering.
The board approved 2008-2009 Titans high school sports passes. The passes will be valid all school year for any high school Titan sports played Hamilton, Ill., and Warsaw. A family pass costs $115, a single pass is $75 and a Golden Senior pass for ages 60 and over is $50.
The Warsaw School Board approved the 2008-2009 high school student handbook Thursday with additions incorporated from Nauvoo-Colusa High School's handbook.
In three months, Nauvoo-Colusa High School students will attend classes at Warsaw. And Warsaw's junior high students will be a part of Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High School after the referendum to deactivate a part of each school was approved by voters in both school districts in February.
“I read the Nauvoo-Colusa handbook and added some of the things they had that we didn't address as precisely,” said Principal Tom Bertucci. “There are no big changes.”
An outline of problem solving procedures follows what Warsaw schools have implemented without it being in writing, he said.
He added Nauvoo-Colusa's problem solving procedures to Warsaw's 2008-2009 handbook.
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Bertucci also adopted Nauvoo-Colusa's definition of weapons.
“We've always had a section about weapons. Now we have a legal definition of what's considered a weapon,” he said.
Another change in the handbook came from a parent's suggestion.
“Some of our reasons to suspend a student for an automatic 10 days is less reasonable than our drug policy,” said Bertucci. “Students suspended 10 days for a drug offense can have the option of taking a drug class and cut the suspension to five days. A parent asked if we could give that type of option for some of the misbehavior offenses.”
Bertucci contacted the district's mental health coordinator who is willing to work with the district to offer behavior modification classes to students facing a 10day suspension.
“It's all at the student's expense to take the class and prove attendance,” said Bertucci. “And it's a one-shot deal. The same student won't get offered this twice. Ten days can be a long time out of school.”
Elementary Principal Brad Froman agrees.
“If some student makes a dumb mistake, we want to offer rehabilitation,” he said. “Repeat offenders aren't even going to be interested in attending a behavior modification class.”
Bertucci also added definitions of honor students, honor societies and honor rolls to the handbook so incoming students would know the parameters.
Pleased with graduation
Bertucci and board members said graduation ceremonies went very well.
“I especially liked that you singled out the four graduates entering the military and they were recognized at graduation,” said Board President Don Roskamp.
Other board members remarked on the student speeches, especially those made by salutatorian Alex Culpepper and valedictorian Alyssa Gerhardt.
Each pointed out the changes in their high school careers from Wildcats to Titans and how the Class of 2008 adapted and thrived.
“The Class of 2008 received nearly $300,000 in scholarships,” said Bertucci.
Dual credit, vo-tech classes are filled
Warsaw is offering new vo-tech classes next year, in the first semester students will study construction math, blueprint reading and other classroom skills. In second semester students can select heavy equipment operations or welding.
“Ninety-five of our 130 juniors and seniors have signed up for this new class,” said Bertucci. “It is full.
“We have 23 dual credit offerings and 70 juniors and seniors have enrolled for a combined 321 dual credit classes next year; some students take more than one dual credit class. That will add up to 963 credit hours. We didn't have to cut any of the 23 dual credit classes for lack of enrollment.”
Board honors Wildcat Sports Boosters
The board recognized the Wildcat Sports Boosters with individual plaques. Maria and Mike Austin, Mel and Rita Thomas, Bard and Rod LaBonte and Frank Bavery attended the meeting briefly at the invitation of the board. Gary Jones was not present.
“The sports boosters have done so much for us,” said Roskamp. “You've raised money to buy the new team chairs, provided the speaker system at the football field and the fencing at the baseball field. In the past, sports boosters reupholstered weight equipment before we got our new weight room and now we have the Wildcat bench outside.”
The sports booster members said they were the small group of people attending meetings but the whole community supports the school and its activities.
“None of us has done as much as sports boosters as Frank and Debbie Bavery,” said Mel Thomas.
Superintendent Kim Schilson and board members agreed that the Baverys have donated countless hours, ideas and energy to the sports boosters program. Debbie Bavery, superintendent's secretary, also was present at the meeting.
In other business:
Deb Beeler of Rocky Township was appointed to fill the vacant school board seat left when Jon Hofmeister resigned in March, about a year after he was elected to the board.
Froman said seven fifth grade students qualified for the gold seal Presidential Award in Academics. The gold award indicates the student earned all As.n Schilson said the state may not make its 23rd and 24th state aid payments to school districts. The final two payments for the fiscal year are due in June. It's about $180,000 total for Warsaw.
“If we don't get the payments on time, we'll get it in July,” said Schilson. “We'll be OK. We did amend the 2007-2008 budget because of the governor's announcement he was increasing funding to schools and now we may not get it.”
The board approved 2008-2009 student fees and meal prices. They stay the same. Student fees are K-6, $35 and high school, $50. Breakfast is $1.25, hot lunch is $1.50 for K-6, $1.75 for high school and $2 for adults.
“I want to commend the cooks and kitchen staff for serving good food and keeping expenses in line,” said Schilson. “We have an ending fund balance of $13,854.”
The board approved advertising for sale by closed bid and declaring surplus the following district vehicles: 1983 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup; 1989 Olds 88; 1998 Chevy Astor van; and 1996 Ford Econoline 350.
A new law will not allow Illinois school districts to transport students in vans. Warsaw has purchased two new Chevy 14-passenger activity buses. The activity buses cannot be used for transporting students to and from school because they lack flashing lights and crossing arms for students loading and unloading along streets.
“This is a parking lot to parking lot bus,” said Schilson. “The driver does not need a commercial driving license. For instance, coaches can take the golf team or the academic challenge team to meets and matches.”
The mini-buses are painted white with red and black Titans logo and Warsaw School District lettering.
The board approved 2008-2009 Titans high school sports passes. The passes will be valid all school year for any high school Titan sports played Hamilton, Ill., and Warsaw. A family pass costs $115, a single pass is $75 and a Golden Senior pass for ages 60 and over is $50.
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