School officials in Unit 5 will gather for their monthly meeting Monday evening where Superintendent Brad Lee is expected to give a coronavirus update. The agenda indicates Lee says the district is in a low risk area, but are reviewing e-learning plans and other forms of educational activities in the event school would need to be closed for an extended amount of time. Furthermore, he says administrators are monitoring and looking to information from the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, Egyptian Health Department, Regional Office of Education, and Illinois State Board of Education to help guide them with decisions.
No word yet on whether the pandemic, which has now been classified as a national emergency, will alter plans for the high school prom (currently scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at New Harmony) or the spring musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” scheduled for March 20th – 22nd. Currently, Spring Break is scheduled for April 6th – 10th for Unit 5.
During the Monday meeting, the board is expected to receive formal retirement resignations from Trena Black and Cynthia Francis.
We should get an update Monday night on the potential for repairs or a new school being built in the district. Lee is expected to discuss with the board the state School Construction Task Force has released its final report with recommendations on how the grant program should function. Stage 1 will include the ISBE review which could take place this summer or early fall. Stage 2 would be a Capital Development Board Review. Lee says it should take the CDB 9 months bringing the timeline to early summer of 2021 before the district could be confident state funding would be attainable. If it goes well and Unit 5 receives a conditional grand award, the district would have two years to collect the local match and provide proof. He expects the Building Bulldog Pride Facilities Committee to get together again in April to look at next steps.
Employments and reassignments are also on the agenda for Monday night. Scott Mareing will have the School Board meeting covered for WROY/WRUL News Monday evening. Make sure you tune in Tuesday morning for the full report.
