Parents show support for PE waivers at Mendota HS

Bonnie Morris
Posted 3/22/18

MENDOTA – About 30 parents and students showed up at the Mendota High School Board of Education meeting on March 19 in support of PE waivers.

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Parents show support for PE waivers at Mendota HS

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MENDOTA – About 30 parents and students showed up at the Mendota High School Board of Education meeting on March 19 in support of PE waivers. Their message was loud and clear: give freshmen and sophomore athletes the option of waiving PE during their sports seasons, the same option that is currently provided to juniors and seniors. With passage a recent state law, school boards may also now offer this choice to students in grades 7 through 10.

The PE waiver means student athletes have the option of substituting PE for a study hall when they are participating in a school sport. The option only applies during that sport’s season. Students have the choice to remain in PE or to take a study hall instead.

Speaking as the parent of an incoming freshman, Mitch Landgraf gave a short presentation in favor of allowing the option. He gave various ways in which he felt the PE waiver would benefit students including extra study time, better grades to maintain eligibility for sports, avoiding loss of sleep, stress reduction, and potentially helping to improve the teams at MHS among others.

Several parents and students also spoke in favor of granting the option, stating that kids who participate in sports often have to stay up late doing homework and studying during their sports season.

A very different opinion was expressed by MHS athletic director Steve Hanson, who felt the PE waiver would not improve sports at MHS. Hanson said he did not support giving students that option and explained that speaking strictly as the athletic director, student athletes need the PE time for weight training. “The one thing we’re missing that other schools have is lifting in their PE programs,” he said. “I believe all of our athletes need that.”

Hanson noted that he understood the importance of study time, but his job is to build the athletic program. “To compete at the highest levels, yes, it might take away a little more time in school but if we’re going to build a good program, we need to get in the weight room and that’s going to take extra time,” he said. “That’s the piece we’re missing.”

When asked if the board had already made a decision, board president Jim Lauer said they had not and he explained that the board would wait for a recommendation from the Curriculum Committee and administration before doing so. “There are always pros and cons, but we are listening,” he said.

When asked who is on the Curriculum Committee, principal Denise Aughenbaugh said it includes one board member, parents, students and department chairs. She also noted that parents could speak with her about the issue.

Lauer explained that the Curriculum Committee serves as an advisory group only to make a recommendation. After hearing their recommendation, along with any other public input, the board then makes the final decision.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

MHS Principal Denise Aughenbaugh commended 81 students who took part in the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competition this year. Overall, MHS placed 11/25 schools with 282 points in Class B. She also congratulated the Fine Arts Department and the cast and crew of “The Little Mermaid,” which was co-directed by Lori Schrock and Courtney Jonnson.

The board approved 14 early graduation requests. Aughenbaugh said to graduate early, students must demonstrate a family need, such as being parents; college path, such as starting college full-time in January 2019; military sign-up; and family or medical/mental health concerns.

Aughenbaugh thanked the board for their continued support in co-hosting the 59th Annual Academic Honors Banquet, which recognized 202 students for earning 1, 3, 5, or 7 semesters of cumulative honor roll. Students received a framed certificate, chenille academic letter, or pin to place on the chenille letter courtesy of the Board of Education at the assembly on March 21. Parents and students were invited to a breakfast prior to the 8:05 a.m. all-school assembly.

EVENTS

* The MASS Jazz Concert - March 28 at the Civic Center, 7 p.m. This is a free concert coupled with the MASS Porkchop Dinner fundraiser.

* Spring break will be Friday, March 30 through Friday, April 6. School resumes Monday, April 9.

* Early dismissal for testing on Tuesday, April 10. Freshman will test on the PSAT 9, sophomores take the PSAT 10, and juniors have the SAT. Seniors may take a college visit day or take practice AP calculus or AP Spanish exams.

* Final parent workshop on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. on Mental Health topics provided by Danielle Stoddard, LCPC.

* MHS will host the Big Northern Conference Art Festival on Thursday, April 12 from 2-8 p.m. The 6th Annual BNC Art & Design Competition Show is open to the public from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the gym.

OTHER BUSINESS

Superintendent Jeff Prusator discussed the Summer School Bridge Program for incoming freshmen, which has been a collaboration between the high school and District 289 since last fall. The program is for incoming freshmen who have struggled with math, which Prustator said is generally the most problematic subject for freshmen.

This will be a two-tier program. For tier one, Northbrook will select students who did not perform well enough to be promoted to high school and they will be required to take 30 hours of summer school as soon as their school year is over to get caught up. Those students must also attend classes for two weeks in July at MHS, which is tier two. That class will also include some additional students who will be able to get started with the high school pre-algebra curriculum along with some study skills.

“We think that will really be beneficial to those students, and get them off to a better start,” Prusator said. “We are pleased with this program and I thank District 289 for working with us.”

OTHER BUSINESS

Attorney Walt Zukowski made his annual visit and discussed several new laws that took effect in January, including dual credit, cursive writing, DCFS investigations, AP, public notice, no forced employee genetic testing, gender modification on school records and lottery funds.

The board approved selling the school’s old wrestling mats and storage system to the Mendota Wrestling Club for $1,500.

PERSONNEL

Following closed session, the board rehired assistant principal Joe Masini with a 2 percent raise.

A 2 percent raise was approved for athletic director/freshman dean Steve Hanson and to non-certified staff for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

A five-year contract for Superintendent Prusator was approved. The contract begins on July 1, 2018 with 2 percent raises for three years and 3 percent raises the next two years. Prusator intends to retire at the conclusion of the five-year contract.

The next regular board of education meeting will be held at the high school on Monday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m.