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Tri-City Register
Tri-City to host own girls basketball teams
By Byron Painter
Editor
One of Superintendent Dave Bruno’s goals was for Tri-City to host its own girls basketball
program.
That goal has been achieved.
Thursday night at the monthly meeting, the school board voted unanimously to end the co-op
with Sangamon Valley High School and host its own team.
The vote was 6-0, though absent member Rachel Bennett-Paul called in with her support as
well.
Tri-City will also host a junior high girls basketball program; plans are to hire coaches at next
month’s board meeting.
Bruno originally asked Sangamon Valley to host the co-op, which was declined, and he said
that Sangamon Valley students would be welcome to play at T-C if that school district accepts.
There are commitments from 14 high school students (just one incoming senior) and 23
junior high girls, according to Bruno.
Scheduling now takes precedence, and Bruno does not think that there will be any major
issues trying to cull together a full schedule.
Any MSM school that has an opening will place T-C in that slot, since T-C is a member of that
conference.
“We are not concerned” about getting a full schedule in the first year, said Bruno; just this week
Riverton sent T-C a contract to participate in the county tournament.
Bruno said that the Sangamon Valley superintendent did not react strongly to his call.
“They knew it was coming,” said Bruno, saying that his fellow superintendent’s tone sounded
“disappointed.”
But adding girls basketball was not the only point of action at the board meeting.
During the technology report, a representative from the Skyward company “presented the
capability of the program,” in Bruno’s words.
Parts of the program will be ready to go by the start of school, and as the year progresses, “we
will slowly develop into the full realm of the program,” Bruno said.
GradeBook will not be ready for parents to use until the second semester, but there will be
Parent Nights to help the parents with the new program, according to Bruno.
Elementary principal Kara Cummins reported that there will be new playground equipment
purchased, and she also reported on the results of a recent survey.
An overwhelming majority of respondents are pleased with how things are going, though one
major concern is the dropoff-pickup area, which often leads to traffic congestion.
“We have been looking at alternate ways to stop the blocking of cars,” said Bruno.
During middle school/high school principal Duane Schupp’s report, he presented the most
recent numbers for ACT test scores for T-C students; the average is 19.5 (on a 36 scale),
though there are a handful of test scores not back yet. Science has the highest average score
(20.7), with reading around a 20, English at 19.9 and math at 18.6.
More discussion about bond issues ensued. The company chosen last month, Griffin, Kubik,
Stephens and Thompson, discussed various types of refinancing.
The board chose to “level off” the payments, according to Bruno. The bond and interest tax rates
will never exceed next year’s bond levy.
The board plans to bump up the level “a little” next year, which then guarantees that rate for the
life of the bonds, which currently is set for 2018.
The board is now considering, because of low rates, extending that to 2020, noted Bruno.
Even if the time is extended, the rate will be topped off and not increase, he continued.
There will be a public meeting June 26 at the high school starting at 7 p.m. to further discuss
this issue.
“We will have to sell bonds to make this happen,” said Bruno.
In new business, Tri-City is part of the Prairie State Insurance Cooperative based in Springfield
(out of O’Keefe Insurance). It is a group of roughly 50 schools that have joined together to try to
lower insurance rates for liability, auto and school insurance (not health insurance).
English Brothers has been hired for tuck-pointing work and E.L. Pruitt has been hired for
plumbing work related to a problem with an elementary restroom.
At the last meeting, Bruno was asked to prepare for the June meeting a report on non-certified
employees’ salaries.
Overall, there will be an average 3 percent increase for non-certified employees, noted Bruno.
The board also hired Rachel Ventress as chorus teacher and Harold Schumaker as a
summer worker for mowing and maintenance.
The board is considering a retreat with teachers at some point, according to Bruno, though no
dates have been finalized.
By Byron Painter
Editor
One of Superintendent Dave Bruno’s goals was for Tri-City to host its own girls basketball
program.
That goal has been achieved.
Thursday night at the monthly meeting, the school board voted unanimously to end the co-op
with Sangamon Valley High School and host its own team.
The vote was 6-0, though absent member Rachel Bennett-Paul called in with her support as
well.
Tri-City will also host a junior high girls basketball program; plans are to hire coaches at next
month’s board meeting.
Bruno originally asked Sangamon Valley to host the co-op, which was declined, and he said
that Sangamon Valley students would be welcome to play at T-C if that school district accepts.
There are commitments from 14 high school students (just one incoming senior) and 23
junior high girls, according to Bruno.
Scheduling now takes precedence, and Bruno does not think that there will be any major
issues trying to cull together a full schedule.
Any MSM school that has an opening will place T-C in that slot, since T-C is a member of that
conference.
“We are not concerned” about getting a full schedule in the first year, said Bruno; just this week
Riverton sent T-C a contract to participate in the county tournament.
Bruno said that the Sangamon Valley superintendent did not react strongly to his call.
“They knew it was coming,” said Bruno, saying that his fellow superintendent’s tone sounded
“disappointed.”
But adding girls basketball was not the only point of action at the board meeting.
During the technology report, a representative from the Skyward company “presented the
capability of the program,” in Bruno’s words.
Parts of the program will be ready to go by the start of school, and as the year progresses, “we
will slowly develop into the full realm of the program,” Bruno said.
GradeBook will not be ready for parents to use until the second semester, but there will be
Parent Nights to help the parents with the new program, according to Bruno.
Elementary principal Kara Cummins reported that there will be new playground equipment
purchased, and she also reported on the results of a recent survey.
An overwhelming majority of respondents are pleased with how things are going, though one
major concern is the dropoff-pickup area, which often leads to traffic congestion.
“We have been looking at alternate ways to stop the blocking of cars,” said Bruno.
During middle school/high school principal Duane Schupp’s report, he presented the most
recent numbers for ACT test scores for T-C students; the average is 19.5 (on a 36 scale),
though there are a handful of test scores not back yet. Science has the highest average score
(20.7), with reading around a 20, English at 19.9 and math at 18.6.
More discussion about bond issues ensued. The company chosen last month, Griffin, Kubik,
Stephens and Thompson, discussed various types of refinancing.
The board chose to “level off” the payments, according to Bruno. The bond and interest tax rates
will never exceed next year’s bond levy.
The board plans to bump up the level “a little” next year, which then guarantees that rate for the
life of the bonds, which currently is set for 2018.
The board is now considering, because of low rates, extending that to 2020, noted Bruno.
Even if the time is extended, the rate will be topped off and not increase, he continued.
There will be a public meeting June 26 at the high school starting at 7 p.m. to further discuss
this issue.
“We will have to sell bonds to make this happen,” said Bruno.
In new business, Tri-City is part of the Prairie State Insurance Cooperative based in Springfield
(out of O’Keefe Insurance). It is a group of roughly 50 schools that have joined together to try to
lower insurance rates for liability, auto and school insurance (not health insurance).
English Brothers has been hired for tuck-pointing work and E.L. Pruitt has been hired for
plumbing work related to a problem with an elementary restroom.
At the last meeting, Bruno was asked to prepare for the June meeting a report on non-certified
employees’ salaries.
Overall, there will be an average 3 percent increase for non-certified employees, noted Bruno.
The board also hired Rachel Ventress as chorus teacher and Harold Schumaker as a
summer worker for mowing and maintenance.
The board is considering a retreat with teachers at some point, according to Bruno, though no
dates have been finalized.
Issue Date: June 19, 2008