The Taylorville School Board voted in regular session to close South school in Taylorville effective for the 2013 – 2014 school year. The restructuring is designed to help in budgeting for the upcoming school year. Additional restructuring will occur with the elementary schools becoming attendance centers. North school will be K, 1 and 2, Memorial school will be half day Preschool at risk and grades 3 and 4 and Stonington will remain as a K through 4 building, keeping the current boundaries. The expected savings in salaries alone is approximately $650,000.
The board also approved the elimination of French leaving Spanish as the only foreign language offered at THS. It was agreed that students that have already completed French 2 or 3, will have the opportunity to take French 3 or 4.
In other business, the board approved the awarding of a diploma to Quentin Christopher, who has fulfilled all the necessary requirements for graduation.
It was noted that the Taylorville High School journalism class achieved a 2nd place award for best overall yearbook in division III in the state of Illinois. The class has been awarded year after year for their excellence in composing the yearbook.
The board heard a report from Technology Director Chris Kuntzman requesting the consideration of Taylorville High School Technology Bid specifications. It was approved, unanimously, to allow the considerations. The upgrades requested would prepare the school system for the next 5 to 10 years and would possibly pay for itself in 3 to 5 years.
The meeting concluded with Superintendant Fuerstenau’s report in which he invited all to attend the Midwinter Band concert to be held at 7 pm on Tuesday. He also noted that the ISAT testing would begin on March 4th. The spring play, “Beauty and the Beast”, will be presented on March 22nd and 23rd.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:45.
