Patoka
EDUCATION
Patoka School Board approves three-year teachers contract; gets ready for student registration
The Patoka School Board Thursday night approved a new three year contract with the teacher’s association. Superintendent Justin Verhines says teachers will get a five percent pay increase the first year, a half-percent in the second year plus the district paying three-percent of the teacher retirement, and another half-percent in the third year with the district paying six-percent of teach retirement.
Piece of history discovered during Sandoval Gym Improvement
Adam Hanks, Principal at Sandoval Jr/Sr High School and the crew were working on improvements to Merkelbach Gymnasium at the high school. While cutting some of the bleachers they found these old programs from the 1948 Regional as well as another program from 1973. This championship regional game must’ve been...
Salem Grade School Board approves new teacher and support contracts
The Salem Grade School Board has approved new contracts with the teacher’s association and support staff. Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says the new two year contract with the teacher’s association includes a 4.5 percent increase in pay each year plus an increased step on the salary scale. She didn’t feel comfortable entering a longer term contract due to dropping corporate income tax revenue and uncertainty over how much state aid the district will be receiving.
South Central School District closes out federal COVID relief funds, sets ribbon cutting for Middle School project
South Central School District Superintendent Kerry Herdes told the school board Wednesday night they are closing the books on ESSER Three funding, the final money made available by the federal government for COVID-19 relief. Herdes says there was a lot of red tape, but the ESSER Three money helped the...
Salem Grade School District getting ready for registration and start of free lunch and breakfast
The Salem Grade School Board was told at Thursday night’s meeting that they have received final approval and will be offering free lunch and breakfast to all students in the coming school year. Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe feels the program will be a benefit to many families. “We could...
Unit 1 Addresses Handbook At Meeting
The Mulberry Grove Unit 1 Board of Education met Monday and took action regarding student handbook changes. Superintendent Casie Bowman and Junior High /High School Principal Adam Haston talked about some of them saying that they added prohibition of students cursing, bullying will also include fighting and or assault, making threats on internet sites or via cell phone messages to teachers or staff will also be prohibited. There has also been an update on the no-hats rule. That will also count for hoods as well. Students who have 10% or more of unexcused absences will not be participating in graduation.
South Central School registration dates set
The South Central School District has announced registration dates for the upcoming school year. South Central Elementary, Middle and High School students will be held on August 1st and 2nd at the Middle School at 503 South Madison Street in Kinmundy. Sign-up will be offered from eleven am to seven pm on Thursday, August 1st, and from nine am to noon on Friday, August 2nd.
Greenville University In Book About Small Colleges
Greenville University is featured in the new book “Cool Stuff at Small Colleges,” written by V. Peter Pitts. This is Pitts’ second book on the benefits of attending small colleges, In the new publication, he examines 240 cool features at 120 colleges in the United States. Greenville...
Kaskaskia College receives excellent report from Higher Learning Commission
Kaskaskia College recently announced that it has received an ‘excellent’ report from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for the quality educational experience it provides for its students. The HLC report highlighted Kaskaskia College’s efforts in strategic planning, student success initiatives, upgrades to physical infrastructure and technology, along with...
Jr High Baseball Camp & Tryout Dates Set
Coach Trevor Stoecklin has announced the dates for the Blue Jays baseball camp and team tryouts. The camp is July 29 through August 2, from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Tryouts for the team are August 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The camp and...
Tools for School has their “Stuff The Bus” this Saturday at Vandalia Wal-Mart
Tools for School has their “Stuff the Bus” this Saturday. The Vandalia Association of Churches will be holding their “Stuff The Bus” program on Saturday at Vandalia Wal-Mart from 10 am to 3 pm. The community is invited to help purchase school supplies and place them inside the bus to be distributed at the Tools for School event.
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