East Peoria School Board passes ballot resolution

The East Peoria School Board met Nov. 19 and approved a resolution for a facilities tax to be put on the ballot of the April 13 election.

"This has been a long, drawn out process for us," Superintendent Dr. Chuck Nagel said. "What it means is that 51 percent of the students have to be accounted for through the districts passing the resolution in order for it to go on the ballot."

In other words, enough school boards that represent 51 percent or more of the students in the county have to pass the resolution for it to be included on the ballot.

The proposed tax would raise money that would help pay for the school's building projects and the school's taxes.

"A percentage of county sales tax will be set aside for the schools for the use of capital improvements, tax avoidance or tax abatement," Nagel said. "It will absolutely help on all three levels. We have parts of our building that are over 100 years old and parts that aren't quite ready for the 21st century. Those funds would help us accomplish updating those parts of the building."

The proposed tax was read by the board and determined to be a chance for the school to raise revenue in the face of continuous state funding cuts.

A winter sports season ticket package was also approved by the board.

The tickets are $20 for boys' basketball and $25 for the girls' basketball and wrestling seasons and would include admission to every home game during the 2012-13 season.

To start the meeting, the board presented student Russell Newport with a plaque for pulling the fire alarm and alerting a teacher of a fire in the bathroom Oct. 18.

"We would categorize Russell as a true hero," Nagel said. "Being a young man, he handled himself as well as any adult and maybe better than some. He responded perfectly and very likely saved some folks from possible injury and the building from damage."

The board also:

• Honored the first-team All-Mid-Illini Conference team members for the fall 2012 season.

"We are so proud of those kids," Nagel said. "They are great representations of our students. They are the type of kids who are not only great athletes but great in the classroom."

• Approved the resignation of Masal Ono as a second shift custodian and Scott Peterson as the head boys' cross country coach.

• Approved the hire of William Hayes as a custodian and Jeff Millard as the volunteer baseball coach.

• Heard the progress report on the remodeling of A-building. The demolition for the project is 60 percent complete and expected to be finished by Dec. 7.

"We are doing a lot of demolition at this stage and are starting to put it back together," Nagel said. "It's all inside work so it's not really weather dependent so we are hoping it stays on schedule."

• Heard a proposal to add an advanced drawing class, which will be voted on in an upcoming meeting.