The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, J-P correspondent
The Illini West High School Board looked ahead to the end of school and the start of summer activities, at their meeting April 17, held at the Dallas City Elementary School.
In planning for summer, the board discussed shuttles for sports practices and open work-out sessions. In past summers, Illini West has provided a morning and sometimes an afternoon shuttle, picking up and returning students to the elementary schools at Dallas City and LaHarpe.
A proposal was made by the Dallas City Elementary District to use their buses and drivers to pick up IW student-athletes from outlying areas of the DCE district before summer practices, taking them to the Dallas City Elementary School to meet the IW shuttle bus to Carthage.
Dallas City buses would return students to the outlying areas when they return. DCE asked for reimbursement of $52 per trip for transporting the students. Dallas City proposed pick up sites at Pontoosuc and Lomax.
“This is an offer from Dallas City to use their buses to pick up their kids and bring them to the shuttle site,” explained Superintendent Jay Harnack.
Harnack said in the past years, the shuttle times have been set, and the coaches work those times.
The idea appealed to board member, Beth Webster of Lomax, who is a social worker in Burlington.
“I took off work three to four mornings a week last summer to take (my son) to Carthage and back, because it wasn’t worth my time to take off work to bring him to Dallas City, and then take off work to come get him,” Webster said. “The shuttle is great to get from IW back to Dallas City, but my kid has no way to get home.”
Board president Beth Newton said, “This is worth looking in to, but it has to be for everybody. We would need to offer this opportunity to LaHarpe and Carthage.”
It was noted that students from the out lying areas of the Carthage Elementary district, (Basco, Burnside, Denver) drive 10 to 15 miles to the high school with no shuttle. There were questions on how many stops should be included, or should it be house-to-house, and how many buses are needed if all three elementary districts are included in the extra routes?
In answer to questions about the summer work being required, Director of Student Services Grant Surprenant, who coaches girls basketball, said weight-lifting is “not required, but strongly encouraged.”
Surprenant noted that the incoming freshman class is large which could mean more non-driving student-athletes to ride the shuttle.
The board asked Harnack to provide more information before any decision is made.
“I am supportive because everyone knows the value of extracurricular activities,” Harnack said, while acknowledging there are many things for the board to consider.
He estimated the cost of the DCE proposal to be around $4,000. It could triple if LaHarpe and Carthage routes are added.
He said 15 to 20 students from Dallas City and LaHarpe regularly use the summer activity shuttles on about 40 days. This is not a reimbursable transportation cost.
No action was taken, and the board will return to the shuttle question at their May meeting with more information provided by Harnack.
The final year end calendar was set, and graduation was officially approved for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19. The last student attendance day is a half day on Thursday, May 23. Other changes to the calendar adjusted proposed E-learning days that were not needed into regular student attendance days.
In other business, Harnack reported that Hancock County has been classified as high risk for property insurance, and the district’s insurance carrier declined property insurance for next year. All other insurance will remain with the same carrier. Harnack said he has no concern for getting property insurance, but it will be with a different carrier.
Most of the window replacement work has been completed.
Vince Parker was hired as custodian effective April 18. Resignations of Dakota Lafferty as head volleyball coach and Stephanie Bryan as assistant volleyball coach were approved.
The 2024-2025 student handbook was approved on its second reading.
Two overnight student trips were approved. FFA members will attend the State FFA Convention in Springfield June 11 to 13. The boys basketball team will attend summer team camp at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston June 24 and 25.
First reading of board policy updates was approved.