School board passes intervention policy

Changes to East Peoria Community High School’s drug intervention policy were among topics discussed at the Monday District 309 school board meeting.

The board passed a contract in November that allows first-time drug or alcohol offenders to avoid expulsion if they signed a contract and agreed to conditions, such as passing at least five of their courses.

Prior to that contract, a student was immediately presented to the board for expulsion.
The board passed the intervention contract Monday, which states that a student must keep a passing grade during the first full quarter following the date of the intervention contract.

This means if a student is placed on an intervention contract in the middle of a quarter, that student can finish the quarter without passing the five courses required for the contract to remain. The student must then pass at least five classes the ensuing quarter.

“Students placed on an intervention contract in the middle of a quarter may not have time to bring their grades up,” said Superintendent Cliff Cobert.

School Board president Michael Joseph said summer sessions would not count toward the intervention contract “due to the limited amount of course offerings.”

In other action and discussion, the board:
• heard from junior Joe Warren, who noted his concern with the number of classes that can be taken for honor points. With electives such as foreign language and band being offered as academic classes, he suggested the board decrease the current number of enriched classes from six to four.

“If you have to take six enriched classes to remain in the top 10 percent (of students), you can’t take classes like foreign language or computer classes,” he said.
Warren added that these classes are important for students who wish to continue in such areas in college.

Joseph said that with a good counselor’s office, choices can be made to balance courses and affect all class ranks equally.

“This is not the last time we’ll discuss this topic,” he said.

• recognized teachers Michael Mayer and Jay Bowman, who were accepted into a core teaching program at the University of Illinois.

Principal Paul Whittington said during the three-year program, the two will join a group of teachers who are dedicated to improving their science training.

• heard a construction update from Cobert, who said the high school addition will not be move-in ready until mid-March.

Although he said “work is progressing quickly,” there will be a two-week delay. The tentative plan is to begin serving meals in the new cafeteria March 15. New kitchen equipment has begun to be delivered.

“Teachers occupying new classrooms will be moved in over spring break so the students will return to the new rooms,” he said. 

• approved the 2010-11 school calendar, in which spring break was moved to the week of March 21. The last day of classes for seniors will be May 17, with graduation May 21.

• recognized students Lindsey Semonski and Spencer Strickler for their work in designing the interior of a house for Homeway Homes.

• approved the special education workload plan suggested by special services coordinator Lisa Kendall.

• approved the special education focus monitoring district improvement plan prepared by Kendall, which she said will help to incorporate more students with Individual Education Programs into the general classroom, incorporate co-teaching, make use of “assistive technology” and restructure the special-education classroom.

“I’m always amazed at the changes that have come over the years since specia education came to be in the '70s,” said board member Garth Knobeloch. “I know it’s a lot of work for the staff. I appreciate it.”

• approved the employment of Tim Broe, girls’ track assistant coach; Lisa Mews, cafeteria worker, pending physical and background check; and Lou Ellen Johnson, cafeteria worker.