The Carmi-White County School Board met Monday night in a short meeting, which was long for them. Scott Mareing was there and has this report…
It only took the board 37 minutes to get together and discuss things, but considering how the meetings have been recently going, each only lasting about less than ten minutes, it seemed like a long one.
The board approved the 2025-2026 School Improvement Plans for each building. These data driven documents are the blueprints that guide the teaching learning process throughout the year.
The State Test Scores and School Report Cards were reviewed. The state felt they had too strict efficiency scores, so they lowered them for math and English, and as a result, student’s scores went up in grades three through eight. But the scores were raised for science. For the High School, the tests switched over from the SAT to ACT, so those results can’t be compared. In English and math, White County’s students in grades three through eight are above the state average in every grade level. In science, grade five is above the state average and grade eight is just a little bit below. School Report Cards show improvements in some areas with work needing to be done in some others, as things such as chronic absenteeism and lower scores by some students with disabilities.
A resolution was approved authorizing the abatement of $377,024 of the General Obligation School Bonds Series 2011 out of a total of $1,131,071 that was received from the 1% sales tax for the past twelve months, to pay down the existing bonds.
A tax levy hearing will be held at 5:45 PM on Thursday, December 18th, with the regularly scheduled meeting for December be moved to the 18th at 6 PM in order to fulfill the 30 day notice requirement. Also a truth in Taxation meeting will need to be held.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Jarrod Newell said there was a great turnout for October’s parent/teacher conferences and he appreciated the extra efforts by staff to conduct the conferences and allow parents and guardians to talk with their child’s teachers. November 15th was School Board Members Day in Illinois, recognizing public servants for their commitment and contributions. The annual audit by Dart & Company LLC will be at the December meeting to review the 2024-2025 audit. Newell congratulated all the fall athletic teams and coaches for their efforts and positive representation of our district at the junior and high school levels. The fall play “Alice in Wonderland” will be performed by the CWCHS Fine Arts Department November 21 to 23.And students and staff will not be in attendance on November 26th to the 28th for Thanksgiving break.
And the Consent Agenda was approved, which included approval of leaves of absence for Sarah Lasher, Kaylea Stubblefield and Kelsey Weems, ands requests for 20 days at substitute pay deduction; the preliminary approval of proposed changes in 36 board policies with final action set for the December board meeting; approval of one board policy with no changes; and acceptance of $5,400 in donations to Brownsville School in support of its programs.
The board went into Closed Session at 6:37 PM to discuss personnel, an individual school matter, and a review of closed session minutes.
Following executive session, the Carmi school board approved hires of Lauren Whetstone as District School Nurse assigned to Washington Attendance Center and Kalynn Service as a District School Nurse at Brownsville. Both hires are pending background screenings and certification.