Vandalia Board of Education Holds Meeting

By Editor | May 22, 2024

Deborah Simcox
Correspondent
Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garrison expressed her appreciation of the hard work done for “making this a fantastic year,” at Thursday’s Vandalia Community Unit District #203 Board meeting. Board member Therese Tate read a letter from Avery Isringhausen, a former student who highly praised her Agriculture teacher, Mandy Totten at VCHS as well as her farmer father for encouraging her career path. She is continuing her education to be an Agriculture Educator at Western Illinois University and an FFA Advisor. Avery emphasized the importance of teachers as role models for students and expressed a desire that she would be an encouraging example to her students.
In other reports it was noted that the activities busses issue needed to be amended in the budget. In the building and grounds report, the VHS kitchen, which is the original one in the high school, is gearing up to begin its renovation when the school year ends.
In Reports by Building, VCHS Principal reported that the new sound system and video system were outstanding. Other VCHS items include:
• Graduation on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the HS gym,
• Freshman Orientation Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m. in the gym,
• Finals May 21 & 22, and
• Handbook information to be sent to the printer by May 31, for August delivery.
VJHS Principal Brian Kern expressed his delight in the Band Concert and the obvious transition he saw in the progress between the 5th and 6th grade members. VJHS End-of-year and events include:
• Eighth grade visit to HS for lunch and orientation
• Senior walk-through on May 15,
• VIP end-of-the year celebration (dodge ball versus teachers) on May 20,
• Awards Day for 6th, 7th, & 8th grades’ awards on May 22 at 8:15 a.m. and 4th & 5th grade awards at 9:30 a.m., and
• Congratulations to those qualifying for the state track meet – Jackson Wimberly (pole vault), Paddy McDowell (long jump, 200m, 4X100 relay), Maverick Manser, Kobe Lux, Izaiah Lindsay (4X100 relay).
Vandalia Elementary School End-of-year events include:
• Reading Counts Program – 16 students were rewarded for their reading accomplishments with a field trip to a trampoline park,
• The one fundraiser, Cookie Dough, arrived and was distributed. Different options are being considered for next year,
• 3rd grade Musical & Dance will present singing for their families and then dancing with their glowing dark shirts and glow sticks, and
• Celebrating Reading, Math, Music, and other awards on May 21 in the morning.
Special Education Report included;
• Students scheduled to go to the various schools for next term and met their teachers and visited the classrooms. This includes 3rd Graders who will visit the Junior High School, 8th Graders in the Emotional Disability Program, and HS TLC students,
• In the book study of “Effects of Poverty,” 22 participants began the study, 16 finished the study, with 72% participation,
• The book studies for next year have been chosen – For teachers I Wish My Teacher Knew, and for paraprofessionals, The Paraprofessional’s Handbook for Effective Support in Inclusive Classrooms, Julie Causton-Theoharis,
• Greenville University-Adapted Olympics has 23 students attend with nine adult chaperones,
• A special thanks from Keri Buscher for all the Special Education Staff and the Principals and Assistants for their help and ideas to improve the Special Education Programs.
OKAW Area Vocational Center news:
• Completion of the Building Trades House and the start of the paperwork for its deed transfer,
• Seniors are done and their grades have been submitted, and
• Grant allocations for 2025 have not been disclosed.
In Board Action Business the following personnel items were approved:
• District Resignations – Dana Givens, VES Principal, effective June 30, 2024; Jenna Lett, VES Teacher Aide, effective end of 2023/2024 school year; Matt Steele, VES Custodian, effective April 19, 2024; Jason Clay, Head Wrestling Coach, effective March 3, 2025; Karen Black, VJHS Clerk, effective June 7, 2024; Brook Thull, VES Teacher Aide, effective end of 2023/2024 school year, Jaci Reavis, VJHS Teacher Aide, effective end of 2023/2024 school year,
• District Dismissal – Shayla Washburn, VES Cook,
• District Transfers – Greta Krueger to VES Principal; Jamie Keck to Athletic Secretary,
• District Employment – Jordan Horst as VCHS Secretary; Cary Miller as 2nd Shift VES Custodian
Also approved were a) for the Superintendent to amend the FY24 budget for approval at the next regular Board of Education meeting on June 20, 2024, and b) bid packets for Athletic Facilities, also at the next Board meeting.
The Public is welcome to attend the next BOE meeting June 20, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Administrative Board Room.