Construction is underway on a new greenhouse at West Prairie Jr./Sr. High School, with completion expected by October, Interim Superintendent Paula Markey said Wednesday.
The greenhouse will support hands-on learning in science and agriculture, part of the district’s push to enhance educational opportunities for students.
At the same meeting, the school board discussed plans to launch a golf team in Fall 2026. Interest from students and parents has been strong, Markey said, signaling growing enthusiasm for expanding athletic options.
Academically, the district will broaden its English Language Arts curriculum into seventh and eighth grades. The program, which began in the elementary school, has shown promising results, according to Markey.
West Prairie is also exploring cooperative sports partnerships with Southeastern High School in Augusta, Illinois. “We already co-op football with Southeastern,” Markey said. “We are currently talking with them about a possible co-op for girls basketball and softball.”
West Prairie Board also hired a part-time Spanish teacher which allows Spanish to be taught in-house.
“These initiatives reflect our commitment to providing diverse opportunities for students to grow and succeed,” Markey said.
