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Fieldcrest Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 Posted 10:00 p.m. Reported by Fieldcrest Administrative Staff
Update on Governor's Education Budget. MAY 15 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Associated Press) - Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he welcomes lawmakers' attempts to add nearly $300 million to his proposed education budget. But the governor is placing the task of finding the extra money on the shoulders of legislators. "We hope that in a constructive way, working with the House and the Senate, they can help us find some of the additional revenues to fund this," Blagojevich said at a Chicago news conference. A House education appropriation committee approved legislation Wednesday that would add $287 million more to education. The additions include money for special education, truancy programs, regional superintendents and laptop computers. Lawmakers did not say where they would find the money for the extra spending when the state faces a budget deficit of roughly $5 billion. But they said the action should send a message to Blagojevich. "Call it a bargaining chip, you can call it a first move, call it whatever you want. The bottom line is we are for education and we will fight for education," said House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego.

Geraldine Cleary and Judy Bennington were recipients of the Teacher Excellence Award, and Skip May was a recipient of the ESP Excellence Award. The Teacher Excellence Award is designed to recognize outstanding accomplishments in the classroom. The ESP Award is to recognize outstanding accomplishments of the support personnel in a school system. Mrs. Cleary has taught for 29 years. She is a reading specialist at Fieldcrest Elementary South in Minonk. Judy Bennington teaches humanities and language arts at Fieldcrest Middle School East in Wenona. She is retiring at the end of the year after 34 years in education. Skip May has been a custodian for 15 years. He is recognized for his dedication to his job and to the children at Fieldcrest Elementary South.

Announcement of Commencement Activities Dates and Times and Other Events


May 17, 2003 Junior-Senior Prom in Bloomington, 8:00 PM
May 21, 2003 Honors Night, 7:00 PM, Fieldcrest High School
May 28, 2003 Last Regular Day of School
May 30, 2003 Report Card Day, 8:15-9:00 AM; and Staff Brunch
May 31, 2003 Middle East Graduation, 1:00 PM
May 31, 2003 Middle West Graduation,4:00 PM
June 01, 2003 High School Graduation, 3:00 PM

Fall Registration Dates and Times.

All buildings will register students beginning on Monday, August 11th @ 12:00 noon until 8:00 PM. Registration will also be held on Tuesday, August 12th beginning @ 9:00 AM and closing @ 3:00 PM

Review of Additional Cost Saving Measures for 2003-2004 School Year

Aside from what the Board has been discussing for some time now, other additional cost-cutting measures will be implemented. The Knight Times will be reduced from nine (9) issues per year to two (2) issues from the 2003 - 2004 school year. In addition, the administrative team has considerably reduced classroom supplies at each building.

Resignations of Extra Duty Personnel

The Board accepted the resignations of the following extra-curricular personnel:


Ken Baker, Head Girls' Softball, MW
Ken Baker, 8th Grade Girls' Basketball, MW
Beth Miller, co-sponsor yearbook, MW
Dawn Rippel, Middle West Cheerleading, MW
Linda Seggerman, Yearbook, Elem. South
Kurt Barth, Assistant Football, High School
John Egleton, Head Boys' Baseball, MW
John Egleton, 8th Grade Boys' Basketball, MW
Cari Schultz, 8th Grade Volleyball, MW
Patti Mullen, 6th-7th Grade Volleyball, MW
Patti Mullen, 6th Grade Volleyball, MW
Patti Mullen, 5th Grade Volleyball, MW
Chuck Modro, 7th-8th Grade Boys'/Girls' Track, MW

Other news

The amended FY '03 Budget will be on display at the Unit Office of Fieldcrest District 6 for a period of thirty (30) days. The Board set a public hearing date for Monday, June 23rd @ 7:00 PM at Fieldcrest West Elementary-Middle School, Toluca.

The online reference service elibrary2 will be purchased for $1295 per the Knight Trust proposal.

The Board agreed to accept the financial offer from the Fieldcrest High School Booster Club and JFL to fund all freshmen athletics for the duration of the 03-04 school year, provided the cost of the program(s), including coaching salaries, transportation, officials, tournament fees, and all other expenses associated with the program(s) are covered by the financial donation. It is the responsibility of the administration, coaches, athletic director (high school), and booster club representatives and board members to develop a complete list of these expenses and an account on which to draw.