Washington MathCounts Team
The Board of Education started the March 27 meeting with student recognitions. The Washington Jr. High MathCounts Team of Sabrina Alt, Jake Aunan, Alex Axup, Matt Benson, Maggie Flowers, Melissa Hagerty, Logan Haskill, Elizabeth Moore, Will Pohl and Kylie Wymer along with teacher Kirk Humphreys were presented certificates for their success at the competition in February. Read more >>
The board also congratulated the Rock Island High School Girls Basketball team members for being named to the All-State Metro Teams in the Dispatch/Argus and Quad City Times: Shavonne Brewer, Sarita Goldsmith, Shamell Mangrum and Rayven Morrow. Teammates Katie Thompson and Jaqueline Twing were also recognized for being IHSA and WB6 Academic Athletes and for being Three Point Shootout finalists after the game season.
Principal Phil Ambrose of Thurgood Marshall Learning Center also received special recognition for receiving the Middle School Principal of the Year award from the Illinois Principal’s Association. Read more >>
In a special ceremony, the Board of Education presented 89 year old Junior McAdams with a diploma. McAdams was a student at Rock Island High School and left before graduating in 1941 to join the National Guard and serve overseas in World War II. Board President Bill Cleaver presented Junior with an official Rock Island High School diploma, dated 1942, and dubbed him as the “oldest living graduate of Rock Island High School.” Read about McAdams in the Dispatch Argus and Quad City Times
Girls Basketball All-Metro Team members
Board Member Reports
Dave Rockwell expressed his thanks to the board and RIMSD staff for their thoughts and prayers after the loss of his father. He appreciated the support and kind notes. On Thursday night, the Neighborhood Partners organization is hosting their annual Neighborhood Rendezvous, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the new Jackson Square in downtown Rock Island. The Rock Island High School Speech team did very well at the IHSA state competition over the weekend. The team placed 6th for their production, Agnes of God. They will be performing a special showing of their production his Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at the Rock Island High School Auditorium.
Kim Armstrong presented a flyer from a conference in which Rock Island High School students were featured on the front. She also congratulated the Rock Island Girls Track Team for their 6-0 record. They will be running in Moline this Saturday, March 31, 9:00 a.m. at Browning Field.
Linda Dothard is planning to attend the upcoming school board member-training event on the Open Meetings Act.
Bill Cleaver congratulated Mr. McAdams on his diploma and was glad to be able to celebrate the occasion with him.
Student board member Paris Roberts acknowledged the Rock Island High School Environmental Action Club – over break they volunteered at the Expo Center and helped clean up the facility after the Garden Show.
Student Board member Sam Ferry announced upcoming events: next week the high school will have a band event to help recruit grade school students. On April 16 the Jazz Band will also host the 9th Annual Jazz Night in cafeteria. He also congratulated the Jr. ROTC unit at high school. The team traveled to Bolingbrook last weekend for drill competition and they were very successful. The also have another competition coming up in April.
Superintendent Update
Dr. Oberhaus welcomed back everyone for the 4th quarter and encouraged board members to go out and visit the schools. He congratulated the Boys Basketball Team members who were presented on the All Metro Team in the Dispatch Argus – Denzel McCauley, Marquel Beasley and Brian Richardson. Also, congratulations to Rocky swimmer Charles Holliday who was named Swimmer of the Year by the Dispatch/Argus. Several other swim team members also made the list to the All-Metro Swim Team: The School District is eligible for a $50,000 maintenance program grant and Operations Supervisor Mr. Eastman and CFO Bob Beckwith are planning use of the grant funds. The Certified staff received training on the Charlotte Danielson Teacher Evaluation model at the Monday In-Service. The Danielson framework is default model used by the State Board of Education.
2012-2013 Budget
Dr. Oberhaus reviewed the proposed 2012-2013 budget and financial circumstances that the school district is currently experiencing. The administration received feedback regarding the Tier I and Tier II reduction lists over the last couple of weeks, and Dr. Oberhaus also discussed the items with board members. Several staff and community members approached the board and spoke in favor of keeping Jr. High Counselor and Dean positions at the current structure, keeping school district library staff and the Minority Teacher Incentive Program (MTIP). After some discussion, the board voted to direct administration to build the 2012-2013 budget with a deficit no larger than $2.2 million. Two major items moved from the Tier I to the Tier II reductions at the meeting were the Minority Teacher Incentive Program ($20,000) and the Junior High Dean/Counselor position ($110,000). Those two programs will be maintained in the school district for the 2012-2013 budget year. View the presentation from the board meeting >>
Other Items:
- The board approved two overnight trip applications: Washington Jr. High School Student Council to attend the 53rd annual Illinois Association of Junior High Student Council State Convention in Springfield, IL, April 20-21, 2012; Washington Jr. High School Student Council to attend the 2013 Leadership, Education And Development (LEAD) Conference February 14-18, 2013.
- The board reviewed revisions to Board policies 2:120, 2:190, 2:200, 4:110, 4:170, 5:10, 5:30, 5:125, 5:190, 5:220, 5:260, 5:285, 6:50, 6:110, 6:280, 7:100, 7:190 and 7:270.
- The membership renewal to the IHSA for the 2012-13 school year was approved.
- Board approved the purchase of 30 MacBook Air computers from Apple Computer for a cost of $33,540.00. Title I funds will be used for this purchase.
- The board acknowledged a list of donations from Knights of Columbus of $1,800.00 Teachers classroom/building use at Horace Mann E.L.C.; Cub Scout Pack 250 of $100.00 for School marquee at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science; HHC Brokerage of $100.00 for purchase a microwave for the Washington Jr. High cafeteria; Mighty Fortress Community of $400.00 for Winning Warrionr Breakfast Washington Jr. High School
- The board approved Personnel requests: resignation and retirement of Jack Weese (Rock Island High School); resignation of Emily Jackson; and the appointment of Banderembako and Terri Watson.
- The board approved the hiring of Dr. Jeffrey Zoul as the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the school district. He will start on July 1, 2012.
