The winners of the egg hunt were; Pre-school Jack Ryan, Kindergarten Abbey Fuller, 1st grade Kristen DeMay, 2nd grade Brad Ketchmark, 3rd grade Alec Miller and 4th grade Brianne Sanders.

Bill Butler, the Chief of Police in Minonk, attended the graduation ceremonies. At the graduation Bill pinned Rick's first badge on his Special Security Forces uniform.

April 7

The board decided to reduced the number of class sections at Fieldcrest South in Minonk. The number of sections for the First, Second, and Third class will be reduced from 3 to 2. With current projections that will result in an increase of class size for the First Grade from 16 to 24, and from 17 to 26 for the Second and Third Grades.

The reduction in classes resulted in the elimination of 3 positions from Fieldcrest South. The positions for Sarah Rigsby in the First Grade and Cary Schultz in the Third Grade were eliminated and Marsha Stein was given an honorable dismissal.

Conversely, the number of kindergarten classes at Fieldcrest West was increased from 1 to 2 based on a projected class size of 34 pupils. Classes at Fieldcrest East remained unaffected.

Board members Tom Barth and Kristine Klieber voted no on the staff cuts.

The board heard arguments from concerned parents at the meeting. Jeff Gehringer said that ISAP scores at Fieldcrest South were way above the state average. He felt that this was due in part to the smaller class sizes. He cited statistics that indicated that reducing class size was the most cost-effective way to improve the quality of education next to peer tutoring. He suggested that the school board look into cutting the fat from the school's expense rather than eliminating classes.

Peggy Winters wanted to know why the new classrooms at Fieldcrest South are no longer needed since a referendum was approved by the voters to build the classrooms. She wanted to know what was going into the new classrooms if the school is cutting teachers and classes.

The school board answered that one of the reasons that the new addition was built at Fieldcrest South was because the money was available and the state provided 1/3 of the money for the project. If the board had hesitated, the money may not have been available in the future. He stated that the new classrooms will eventually be needed as Minonk is destined to grow.

Board member Pat Schmillen added that it was not economically feasible to build a smaller addition to Fieldcrest South. Therefore, additional rooms were added to make it more cost effective and to provide for future growth.

In response to why teachers are being cut rather than cutting expenses elsewhere, board chairman Joe Knapp replied that personnel cost are 80% of the school's budget and that is where you have to start if you want to make significant reduction in expenses.

Teacher Celia Fink told the board that class sizes have to be smaller in today's learning environment because years ago learning was passive whereas nowdays schools are involved in engaged learning where the student takes a more active part in the learning process. She conducted a test wherein she added more desks to her classroom and then had the students occupy the new arrangement. She stated that the students said that their "space was being invaded".

Shari Stalter told the school board that she was concerned that the cuts will affect special needs children one of which is her child. She wanted to know if there will be empty class rooms next year. Board chairman Joe Knapp replied that the additional rooms will be used for music and art and to handle the overflow from other classes. He said there will be no empty spaces.

Matt Fink told the board that his main consideration to moving to Minonk was class sizes at the school. He said increasing class sizes will prevent many young couples from moving to Minonk because large class sizes imply a lower quality of education.

Superintendent Michael Stagliano said that the school district has been hit hard with workman's compensation cost this past year. He said that workman's comp cost has increased from $35,000 to $87,000 this past year.

April 14

April 21

Superintendent Michael Stagliano said that the three teachers who lost their jobs due to the consolidation of classes at Fieldcrest South were honorably dismissed. Due to the uncertainty of state funding a decision regarding re-instating these teachers may be put off until late spring or early summer. He also stated that the board is close to hiring a new principal and hopefully a decision will be made soon.

One person asked what percent of state money does the school district currently use, and how much has been saved in other areas. The speaker said that it looks like the district has enough savings before the cuts to offset the "assumed" shortfall in the state funding.

Joe limbaugh asked the school board why it did not consider promoting from within instead of hiring an outside firm to select a new principal. The board replied that it creates a "level playing field" for all people to apply. Limbaugh said that if they would use current staff that were qualified, they wouldn't need to spend the money in the first place, and that morale suffers when they do this. A consulting firm is being paid $2500 to conduct the search for a new principal. The board denied that moral suffers, and said that no one should be offended by this process. Limbaugh replied that other schools of our size do not do this as a rule.

Other business

Board appointed Martha Metz to teach physical education at elementary east and west beginning in the fall of 2002.

Board accepted the resignation of Randy Winters, part-time custodian at the high school .

Board granted 6 week maternity leave to Cindi Koudelka for the fall of 2002; special education teacher at South.

Accepted (with regret and appreciation) the resignation of Bill Seifert, Elementary-Middle East principal effective June 30, 2002.

Kalkwarf urges residents not to give out any information regarding their bank account to strangers. The scam artists are very slick and sound sincere and honest, but their goal is to get the victim's bank account number so that money can be drawn from the account. Kalkwarf said that the scam artist who has been calling Minonk residents is a person with a young sounding voice.