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Board finds room for another room
With a critical need for at least one new classroom at the high school, the board of education Monday, after hearing of nine
possible options, decided on remodeling a former locker room at the high school.
Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett said while the locker room remodeling would take care of the need for the 09-10 school year, she
will also seek additional space. At present one teacher is on a cart for science and two teachers share another room.
"We can always use extra space and 3-4 more rooms would really help at the high school," said Garrett. She also noted that the
remodeling of the locker room can be done by school district personnel as they did when an adjacent locker room was made into
the classroom several years ago. The heating and ventilation will have to be jobbed out.
Garrett added that the one time room decision for next year was either the locker room or the board room in the administrative
office.
She also noted that future expansion could include finding space for the district office off campus but nearby, maybe in a home
which would free the present district office area for possibly four classrooms.
Also discussed were mobile classrooms which are costly, two modular buildings would cost about $120,000 because of
building regulations. Another way to allow more classrooms would be re-configure the grade levels which could be used only if
the district gets into a financial bind.
One reconfiguration could have grades K-2 at Auburn, grades 3-5 at the middle school in Auburn, grades 6-8 at Divernon Junior
High, and 9-12 at Auburn. This would even out class sizes and also allow cutting staff.
Garrett reported that the state is terribly behind in categorical fund payments. While general state aid is okay and on time, the
categoricals, such as transportation, special education, aren't. In fact, the district recently transferred $250,000 to the
transportation fund out of education. It will be paid back within three years, sooner if the state takes care of its obligations.
The board had no interest in two other options. One would eliminate the computer lab at the middle school to be replaced with
mobile labs that are not only costly, $25,000 each, but time consuming in opening and closing time.
The other would allow mainstreaming all high school special education students which would gain 2-3 classrooms but at a
cost of up to $300,000 because of the need for more teachers.
Lastly, concerning the future, the board briefly discussed another building probably a middle school if the high school grows too
much. There are 20 classrooms at the middle school which is attached to the high school. Naturally, a new building would
require a bond referendum.
The board approved the reemployment of non-tenured teachers, those in the district for one, two or three years plus nine
others who will gain tenure after completing their fourth year in May.
The latter consists of Denise Sample, Amy Morrison, Bridget Armstrong, Melinda Marques, Angela Ramsey, Lynne Monahan,
Jodi Powell, Jennifer Workman and Carrie Matthews.
Third year teachers reemployed are Jeff Smith, Rebekah Philbrick, Michelle Dowson, Heather Bedolli, Kim Ladage, Paulette
Copple and Laura Eaker; second year teachers, Denise Blaney, Dawn McFarland, Ashley Taylor, Brenda Ostermeier, Shanna
Dickey, Courtney Murphy, Chelby Sullivan, Gayle Staggemeyer and Teri Colyer; first year teachers, Heide Traughber, Jennifer
Voltz, Adam Cisne, Sarah Jakowsky, Stacy Zuber and Preston Snarr.
The first draft of next year's school calendar was presented and is awaiting a state waiver that would allow the district to use
Lincoln's Birthday for a halfday teacher's workshop with school in session a half day.
The board approved the eighth grade class trip to St. Louis plus employed two coaches and a student aide plus re-employed
Lauren Davis as a school social worker. Hired as coaches were Tayna Landers, junior high track coach; Shannon Lay, assistant
junior high track coach and Cassandra Taylor as an individual student aide.
With a critical need for at least one new classroom at the high school, the board of education Monday, after hearing of nine
possible options, decided on remodeling a former locker room at the high school.
Supt. of Schools Kathy Garrett said while the locker room remodeling would take care of the need for the 09-10 school year, she
will also seek additional space. At present one teacher is on a cart for science and two teachers share another room.
"We can always use extra space and 3-4 more rooms would really help at the high school," said Garrett. She also noted that the
remodeling of the locker room can be done by school district personnel as they did when an adjacent locker room was made into
the classroom several years ago. The heating and ventilation will have to be jobbed out.
Garrett added that the one time room decision for next year was either the locker room or the board room in the administrative
office.
She also noted that future expansion could include finding space for the district office off campus but nearby, maybe in a home
which would free the present district office area for possibly four classrooms.
Also discussed were mobile classrooms which are costly, two modular buildings would cost about $120,000 because of
building regulations. Another way to allow more classrooms would be re-configure the grade levels which could be used only if
the district gets into a financial bind.
One reconfiguration could have grades K-2 at Auburn, grades 3-5 at the middle school in Auburn, grades 6-8 at Divernon Junior
High, and 9-12 at Auburn. This would even out class sizes and also allow cutting staff.
Garrett reported that the state is terribly behind in categorical fund payments. While general state aid is okay and on time, the
categoricals, such as transportation, special education, aren't. In fact, the district recently transferred $250,000 to the
transportation fund out of education. It will be paid back within three years, sooner if the state takes care of its obligations.
The board had no interest in two other options. One would eliminate the computer lab at the middle school to be replaced with
mobile labs that are not only costly, $25,000 each, but time consuming in opening and closing time.
The other would allow mainstreaming all high school special education students which would gain 2-3 classrooms but at a
cost of up to $300,000 because of the need for more teachers.
Lastly, concerning the future, the board briefly discussed another building probably a middle school if the high school grows too
much. There are 20 classrooms at the middle school which is attached to the high school. Naturally, a new building would
require a bond referendum.
The board approved the reemployment of non-tenured teachers, those in the district for one, two or three years plus nine
others who will gain tenure after completing their fourth year in May.
The latter consists of Denise Sample, Amy Morrison, Bridget Armstrong, Melinda Marques, Angela Ramsey, Lynne Monahan,
Jodi Powell, Jennifer Workman and Carrie Matthews.
Third year teachers reemployed are Jeff Smith, Rebekah Philbrick, Michelle Dowson, Heather Bedolli, Kim Ladage, Paulette
Copple and Laura Eaker; second year teachers, Denise Blaney, Dawn McFarland, Ashley Taylor, Brenda Ostermeier, Shanna
Dickey, Courtney Murphy, Chelby Sullivan, Gayle Staggemeyer and Teri Colyer; first year teachers, Heide Traughber, Jennifer
Voltz, Adam Cisne, Sarah Jakowsky, Stacy Zuber and Preston Snarr.
The first draft of next year's school calendar was presented and is awaiting a state waiver that would allow the district to use
Lincoln's Birthday for a halfday teacher's workshop with school in session a half day.
The board approved the eighth grade class trip to St. Louis plus employed two coaches and a student aide plus re-employed
Lauren Davis as a school social worker. Hired as coaches were Tayna Landers, junior high track coach; Shannon Lay, assistant
junior high track coach and Cassandra Taylor as an individual student aide.
Issue Date: March 12, 2009
