New MHS teachers, Rob Nunn, health/PE/volleyball/volunteer baseball, left, and Ashley Shanel, PE/health, freshman sponsor, were introduced during the District 280 Board of Education meeting on Aug. 20. A third new teacher, Keegan Hill, special education E.B.D. program/football, was not available for the picture. (Reporter photo by Bonnie Morris)

MENDOTA – A final list of outcomes for Mendota High School’s student athletes will be discussed during a presentation on Sunday, Aug. 26. Reporting at the Aug. 20 board of education meeting, Superintendent Jeff Prusator said consultants, Randy Oberembt and Bob Prusator, gave presentations on July 23 and 24 at MHS and they will return again on Sunday.

“We had a total of 53 participants attend those meetings, which focused on what parents, community members, coaches and most importantly, student athletes want out of their athletic experience,” Prusator said. “It was a good process to go through and we came up with 25-30 different outcomes. The coaches also came up with attributes they would like from their athletic director.”

A final list of 12 outcomes will be determined when the consultants return to MHS on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. Prusator said he encourages any parent or community member that has an interest in athletics to come to the high school at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The session will include a presentation to summarize what has already been done followed by a light dinner about 5 p.m. After dinner, students will go to one room and everyone else will go to another room to discuss outcomes. Finally, everyone will get back together for the final activity.

“It should be very powerful and interesting,” Prusator commented. “The list will include the experiences MHS athletes should have when a season is over. These will all be very positive experiences and something we can achieve.”

Board president Jim Lauer said he was impressed with the previous sessions. “I think the student athletes did outstanding, not only with participation but they had some good ideas,” he noted. “Being able to help develop this, it has to be a good outcome. I’m enthused.”

PAW PAW DEACTIVATION

With Paw Paw High School in the midst of discussions about deactivating their school, MHS is throwing out the welcome mat. Although much of the discussion in Paw Paw has involved a merger with Indian Creek, Lauer said the Paw Paw board and community members are welcome to meet with Mendota board members and/or administration any time. “Whoever they want to meet with, we’re certainly interested,” he emphasized.

Prusator explained that there will be a binding vote on the Nov. 6 ballot for voters in the Paw Paw School District. If 51 percent of people vote to go to Indian Creek, that will be a two-year agreement.

Prusator pointed out that Paw Paw’s negotiations with Indian Creek had stalled because they could not agree on the cost per student. Indian Creek was asking for $10,500 per student and after multiplying that by 60 students, some Paw Paw board members felt they could not afford it. In addition, transportation would be approximately $150,000 extra.

Paw Paw then met with Prusator, who estimated a cost of $6,000 per student mainly because MHS would not have to increase its staff. MHS would also cover transportation from the Paw Paw School to Mendota. “I felt $6,000 per student for 60 students was a fair price,” he explained. “It would be additional revenue for us and we have a lot to offer Paw Paw students with curriculum and extra curriculars.”

Although Paw Paw seemed interested, Prusator said at a recent board meeting four Paw Paw board members voted to pursue the Indian Creek offer. “As it is now, the choice in November will be to spend $10,500 per student to go to Indian Creek or maybe take a look at Mendota - possibly for $6,000 - and see where they want to send their students,” he said.

Board members Jim Strouss and Jim Sundberg emphasized that voters should be made aware of the offer from Mendota, which would be a huge cost savings to taxpayers.  “They deserve an option,” Strouss said.

Sundberg agreed and suggested mailing Mendota’s proposal to every voter in the Paw Paw District. Before that can be done, the MHS board will have to approve its final proposal at the September board meeting.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Principal Denise Aughenbaugh said they had a great turnout for Freshman and New Student Orientation on Aug. 15. Students received a welcome bag with their planner, schedule, first day bell schedule, and hall and PE locks. Tours of the building were given and a presentation was given and Chromebooks were distributed. There was also time to meet teachers, make schedule changes and find classrooms.

The enrollment as of Aug. 16 was 579, although that constantly fluctuates, Aughenbaugh said. In addition, 24 Holy Cross and Northbrook 8th graders are at the high school during period 1 for Honors Algebra I.

Teacher Institute

The entire faculty returned on Aug. 15 for a faculty institute day with training on updated Frontline/Aesop Attendance Management and Evaluation software. Aughenbaugh said the high school is now basically “paperless” on all attendance and evaluations.

She thanked the Mendota Police Department for providing active shooter training to 60 staff members. Sgt. John Meyers provided the training assisted by Sgt. Jason Stewart and Mr. Bruno.

Summer School Update

MHS granted approximately 177 new or retrieved credits during summer school this year. The Summer Bridges Program had 11 students, who worked on Pre-Algebra, Study Skills and SEL lessons.

In Honors Geometry, 14 full-year credits were earned; in Driver’s Education, 55 students earned credit in the classroom plus behind the wheel drivers; and in IVCC Speech, 60 dual-credits were earned. Summer band had 75 students attend.

Parent Connect On-Line Grades

Aughenbaugh said the high school uses Parent Connect for online grading, attendance and communication software so they need current e-mail addresses from parents. She noted that they use e-mail for the majority of correspondence home. At registration, families were asked to return the contact form with accurate e-mails and/or the request to still receive paper mailings.

The date of the next regular board of education meeting has been changed to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at the high school. The meeting will include a budget hearing.