NewsScience laboratory remodeling among Hamilton's goalsBy Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff WriterHAMILTON, Ill. - The Hamilton School Board and district administration came up with several ambitious short and long term goals during their Aug. 6 planning retreat.
The first goal is to remodel the high school science labs “to provide a more meaningful experience for our students,” according to Superintendent Dr. James Jackson's interpretation of the board's decisions. The anticipated completion date is Sept. 1, 2009. Responsibility for carrying through on the project would be assumed by Jackson and High School Principal Ron Gilbert. Jackson noted the following tasks as necessary to complete the goal: Contact an architect to review current architectural drawings; revise drawings as necessary; bid millwork (cabinetry, etc.) as a separate job; let bids by March 1, 2009; approve bids and select contractor; begin work on millwork by April 1, 2009; begin renovation by June 1, 2009. The project segments - millwork, classroom remodeling and final punch lists - would be complete and integrated by Aug. 15, 2009. Jackson already has met with an architect with Architechnics in Quincy, Ill., and will arrange for the board to meet with him. Darin Prost of Architechnics told Jackson that the millwork and construction could be bid out separately. The construction could be completed while the cabinetry was being assembled off-site and then installed in the completed classrooms. “He said three months is reasonable for a project of that size,” Jackson said. Jackson added that the district would need to decide “where the rest of the money is going to come from.” Later in the meeting, board member Mark Menn said he believes funding should be secured before the project begins. In related construction matters, Jackson said the district will need to resolve 14 life-safety infractions this year. The second goal calls for Jackson and the building principals, Gilbert and Elementary Principal David Snowden, to develop a long range staff development plan for certified staff members. The plan would include the use of technology and improving classroom instruction. A survey of the certified staff would be conducted to pinpoint staff development needs, establish staff development-need priorities, align the endeavor with the Local Professional Development Committee, and coordinate development activities between the elementary and junior high/high school. A follow-up survey then would be administered to see if needs were adequately met. Staff development is ongoing. The third goal relates to development of a plan by Jackson and district principals to pass an education referendum during the 2010 school year. The administration has determined that a $1increase in the tax rate would suffice for 10 years of operation. Securing funding - no district resources can be used - and finding a person to coordinate the referendum and committees will be among the first tasks. Brochure preparation, sample letters and town meetings would be ways to get information about the referendum to taxpayers. The fourth goal is to develop a plan to improve communications with area media and enhance positive facets of the district. An area media list will be put together to facilitate news sharing, principals will be asked to contact at least one media outlet each month, a parent newsletter will be sent home with good-news stories, the district Web page will be updated and a monthly internal newsletter will be circulated to keep the district up-to-date about important events. In other matters during the meeting, the board: Agreed to allow the Titan pom squad to perform at the Outback Bowl in Florida. The girls are raising their own funds which, with airfare, will amount to about $1,500 each. Learned the district has five new buses running bus routes. Learned the toilets in the concession stand are working. Was updated on progress at the baseball field. Dirt is being removed in the infield in order to eliminate rocks that were dumped when fill was moved from a highway construction site to the field. The board ultimately decided to buy a porous barrier to keep deeply buried rocks from coming to the surface. The barrier is estimated to cost $2,100 to $3,000. Decided to study whether the district should opt out of state hold harmless funding. Will review the newly updated board policy book with an eye to adopting it in September. The board also met for about two hours in closed session Wednesday to discuss personnel. The board returned to open session and took the following actions: Accepted the resignation of Krys Eversden-Duesterhaus, elementary resource teacher. Released April Anderson, high school math teacher. Released Robert Gerhardt, bus driver. Hired Angela Huckstep of Mendon, Ill., as high school math teacher. Hired Glenn Fernetti as junior high one-on-one special education aide and named him assistant Titan football coach. Hired Candy Berquam as at-risk pre-school teacher. Hired Brook Dadant as elementary resource teacher. Hired Belinda Cox as elementary one-on-one special education aide. Rehired Linda Brown as one-on-one special education aide. Hired Judy Melton as Titan cross country coach. Hired Stephanie Noble as junior high girls basketball coach. Hired Marty Hall as assistant junior high school girls basketball coach. Hired Bill Knowles as assistant Titan golf coach. Copyright © 2010 - Daily Gate City
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