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Tri-City Register
School board hears about website progress
By Byron Painter
Editor
The new Tri-City Schools Web site is coming along, and it should be online by the beginning of
the second semester.
That was one of the main topics of discussion at the school board meeting last week.
Parents will be asked to come to a meeting, set for Jan. 7, to find out more about Skyward; at that
informational meeting, parents will be provided with their login/password so they can check
grades, lunch account information and discipline.
Before the meeting, a public hearing about the levy was held; no one attended, and
Superintendent Dave Bruno noted he received only one phone call.
That call was not critical of the school and in fact dealt more with the proposed 1 percent
countywide sales tax.
The board heard from a representative from the Rel8 company.
The company, sponsored by former Los Angeles Lakers star A.C. Green, promotes abstinence.
Taylorville is among the area schools that use the program, according to Bruno.
The board approved use of the program, but has not determined the grade levels.
Parent meetings are likely to occur at some point.
The earliest T-C students would be exposed to the program would be sixth grade, noted Bruno,
but even that is unlikely.
Math teacher Stan Price has been asked to make a presentation to the Peoria Public Schools
about the Title II and V-Math program, which “has been a very positive and successful program so
far,” in Bruno’s words.
The regional office of education recommended Price, according to Bruno, after Peoria called that
office.
Bruno gave an update on SASED; Rochester will be pulling out, but if a separation agreement is
reached, the process would “go much smoother,” noted Bruno.
The rims that were donated by Dynegy were expected to arrive this week.
There will also be an insert in the upcoming school newsletter about the proposed new T-C
library district (there is also a public notice in the paper this week).
Bruno reported that the 1 percent countywide sales tax has been pushed back because
Springfield District 186 has not fully come on board (it is more likely to be on the ballot in
November or April 2010 instead).
Bruno added that he and other school administrators are continuing to work with county
representatives and schools and also communicate with the City of Springfield Chamber of
Commerce, which has come out against the proposal.
Bruno encouraged everyone to use the Web site schoolmall.com, which is a conglomeration of
many Internet stores. If a person goes to that Web site and makes a purchase, a small percentage
of that purchase will go back to the school of the customer's choice.
The judge in the Gillman annexation case has asked for briefs by Jan. 5; a final decision is
expected to be rendered shortly thereafter, according to Bruno.
A new IASB manual was approved and the first reading occurred at the meeting; it will be
finalized at a future meeting.
Three new student activity accounts were approved: girls basketball, a greenhouse fund and
student assistance (for recycling program).
Caley Fields, the current junior high girls basketball coach, was hired as the new junior high
volleyball coach. She will be assisted by Amber Stephens; both votes, like all others at the
meeting, were 7-0.
Board president Bill Marvin has also voluntarily taken Kay Bedolli’s spot as the T-C Capital Area
Career Center representative.
By Byron Painter
Editor
The new Tri-City Schools Web site is coming along, and it should be online by the beginning of
the second semester.
That was one of the main topics of discussion at the school board meeting last week.
Parents will be asked to come to a meeting, set for Jan. 7, to find out more about Skyward; at that
informational meeting, parents will be provided with their login/password so they can check
grades, lunch account information and discipline.
Before the meeting, a public hearing about the levy was held; no one attended, and
Superintendent Dave Bruno noted he received only one phone call.
That call was not critical of the school and in fact dealt more with the proposed 1 percent
countywide sales tax.
The board heard from a representative from the Rel8 company.
The company, sponsored by former Los Angeles Lakers star A.C. Green, promotes abstinence.
Taylorville is among the area schools that use the program, according to Bruno.
The board approved use of the program, but has not determined the grade levels.
Parent meetings are likely to occur at some point.
The earliest T-C students would be exposed to the program would be sixth grade, noted Bruno,
but even that is unlikely.
Math teacher Stan Price has been asked to make a presentation to the Peoria Public Schools
about the Title II and V-Math program, which “has been a very positive and successful program so
far,” in Bruno’s words.
The regional office of education recommended Price, according to Bruno, after Peoria called that
office.
Bruno gave an update on SASED; Rochester will be pulling out, but if a separation agreement is
reached, the process would “go much smoother,” noted Bruno.
The rims that were donated by Dynegy were expected to arrive this week.
There will also be an insert in the upcoming school newsletter about the proposed new T-C
library district (there is also a public notice in the paper this week).
Bruno reported that the 1 percent countywide sales tax has been pushed back because
Springfield District 186 has not fully come on board (it is more likely to be on the ballot in
November or April 2010 instead).
Bruno added that he and other school administrators are continuing to work with county
representatives and schools and also communicate with the City of Springfield Chamber of
Commerce, which has come out against the proposal.
Bruno encouraged everyone to use the Web site schoolmall.com, which is a conglomeration of
many Internet stores. If a person goes to that Web site and makes a purchase, a small percentage
of that purchase will go back to the school of the customer's choice.
The judge in the Gillman annexation case has asked for briefs by Jan. 5; a final decision is
expected to be rendered shortly thereafter, according to Bruno.
A new IASB manual was approved and the first reading occurred at the meeting; it will be
finalized at a future meeting.
Three new student activity accounts were approved: girls basketball, a greenhouse fund and
student assistance (for recycling program).
Caley Fields, the current junior high girls basketball coach, was hired as the new junior high
volleyball coach. She will be assisted by Amber Stephens; both votes, like all others at the
meeting, were 7-0.
Board president Bill Marvin has also voluntarily taken Kay Bedolli’s spot as the T-C Capital Area
Career Center representative.
Issue Date: Dec. 18, 2008