At the Jan. 28 meeting of the West Prairie School District Board of Education, the Board approved the purchase of a van, as well as a two-year co-op agreement with the Southeastern School District.
The Board voted to acquire a 15-passenger 2023 Ford Transit van, not to exceed $40,000, as well as to enter into a two-year partnership with Southeastern for boys baseball. The Board also consented to upgrades and continued maintenance of fire alarms and emergency lights at the North and South Elementary buildings, and okayed repairs and replacements of the South Elementary H-VAC system.
In other business, the West Prairie Board authorized disbursements to Limbaugh Construction for final phases of the greenhouse; approved an agreement with Regional Office of Education #26 for implementation of the Learning, Educating, and Partnering in Schools Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs (LEAP/ALOP); hired Southeastern Athletic Director Cyle Rigg as head coach for the co-op West Prairie/Southeastern high school girls softball program, and discussed proposed remodeling and upgrading of playground facilities at South Elementary.
Assistant Principal Brittany Thompson shared with the Board the significant improvements made by junior students in ACT scores based on comparison with Pre-ACT testing last fall, and junior Tim Todd represented West Prairie High School at the Illinois Music Educators Association event in Peoria, Jan. 29-30.
Thompson also presented certificates to the following students as “Cyclones of the Quarter:” Addilyn Melvin, seventh grade; Jake Wisslead, eighth grade; Tyson Carnes, ninth grade; Meg Carson, 10th grade; Emily Martin, 11th grade; and Austin Nelson, 12th grade.
Superintendent Paula Markey acknowledged the efforts of City of Colchester crews in addressing a water main break late night Jan. 25 in sub-zero weather, and noted that the district received three Freedom of Information Act requests. She also presented data describing the District Financial Snapshot.
