District 289 hopes for community help in resurfacing track

Jennifer Sommer
Posted 7/26/18

MENDOTA – Mendota Elementary School District 289 held a short meeting on July 19. Superintendent Kristen School is in the process of obtaining quotes to resurface the track on Stroble Avenue.

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District 289 hopes for community help in resurfacing track

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MENDOTA – Mendota Elementary School District 289 held a short meeting on July 19.

Superintendent Kristen School is in the process of obtaining quotes to resurface the track on Stroble Avenue. "I know you knew this day was coming. We have reached that day. We have patched, and patched, and patched," she said to the board.

As they begin to discuss options and cost, School plans to reach out to the community for help. "Since the track is something that is used by everyone, I hope we can partner together to get this done," she said.

The district owned track has always been open to the community to use.

Dr. School provided an update of the budget from FY18 showing the district ending the year $320,582 in the black. This was due to the State paying revenue on time, $32,292 revenue not budgeted but received from Lee County sales tax, $172,545 budgeted in O & M but not spent on projects or needed for repairs, and $107,295 earned in interest for working cash bonds that was not budgeted nor anticipated.

The district is looking at replacing AIMSweb with Fastbridge for curriculum-based measurement assessments. The recommended alternative would cost the district $2,000 with the remainder paid for with a Healthy Community & Family Engagement Grant. In the past, the district has paid $7,300 for AIMSweb.

The other purchase School recommended to the board was Evaluwise, an online teacher evaluation tool. Cost is $25 per certified staff member. District cost would be approximately $2,000 total. Non-certified staff may be added at a later date.

Deteriorating toilet and sink pipes at Lincoln are a cause for concern. Some recent leaks have been fixed, however School noted that they were lucky that the leaks were near the source. She also brought a piece of the corroded pipe to show the board. "Out of all the concerns of issues that our buildings have, this is one of the top ones," stated School.

Northbrook needs a new washing machine. At 10 years old, the washer is leaking and the drum is rusting out, School noted. She is currently getting information on a replacement.

It was also noted that Lincoln School incurred some vandalism.

The board approved employment of Beth Novak as 4th grade teacher and Selena Kweder as special education interventionist for Lincoln School. Kitchen and supervisor positions for the district were filled, as well.

The district is getting ready for the first day of school. Wood chips have been spread at the school playgrounds. Blacktop seal coating has been completed. Blackstone has added fans to the classrooms, and a dead tree west of the gym at Blackstone will be removed before school starts.

The first day of school for students will be Thursday, Aug. 23.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the District 289 Education Center.