 The most serious of the
agenda items related to a law enacted on
Aug. 1 addressing concussions in sports. Gov. Pat Quinn signed
House Bill 200 into law to protect young athletes from repeated
concussions by requiring treatment and release from medical care
prior to returning to the athletic field. Approval to return to the
playing field must be given by a licensed health care professional
acknowledged by the school district, and only after an examination
and application of the concussion test known as
ImPACT."This
eliminates someone's uncle from coming out of the bleachers and
declaring that Johnny can play, after he was hit on the head by the
ball," said LCHS activity director Sam Knox. "It must be a
school-approved medical professional who makes the determination."
The Illinois High School Association has created a parental
signature form that lists symptoms of a concussion, the physical
damage that can be experienced and instructions on what procedures
to follow if a concussion is suspected. A form is to be on file for
every student athlete in elementary, junior high and high school
across the state.
Knox told the board he has made changes to the IHSA form, which
the statewide organization suggests that schools do, in order to
incorporate specific requirements.
He also said that helmets past 10 years old will have to be
discarded and the procedure repeated each year as equipment ages.
Since some athletes own their helmets, students will leave the sport
or outgrow the helmet before it reaches its expiration, but
discarding it will prevent someone else from using it after it has
been damaged or no longer meets standards.
The board approved inclusion of the parental form and information
in the extracurricular handbook. Superintendent Robert Bagby
suggested in-service training for coaches to help them recognize the
symptoms and learn procedures.
Other business
Purchase of another minivan was tabled until September to allow
for conversation with auto tech instructor Jonathon Graber, whose
classes work on the district's vehicles.
Discussion on how to name the weight room was given to the
extracurricular committee. Recommendations will be received at the
September meeting.
Knox presented information concerning the resurfacing of the
track. Estimates and information were included in board packet for
consideration.
Knox informed board members they will receive one season pass and
a guest pass for conference sporting events in 2011-2012. Conference
schools have raised their ticket prices to $5 for adults and $3 for
students -- except for Taylorville, with prices of $4 for adults and
$2 for students, but he expects that school to also raise prices by
the end of the first semester.
Reatha Owen, board member and technology committee
representative, noted the move to install wireless equipment and
implement electronic textbooks in order to cut costs and allow for
updated material. The superintendent and principal noted the annual
losses of books by students and the length of time a textbook is
used -- seven to eight years -- which does not give students current
data.
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Report by Principal Todd Poelker
Freshman orientation went well last week. Conducting the session
immediately prior to school instead of in March made more sense for
students. He expressed satisfaction that students were better
prepared to arrive on the first day of school with a better
understanding of where to go and how to maneuver the halls and
follow their schedules.
Eleven students graduated from the alternative classroom setting
last year and three during the summer after completing required
classes. Since a large number of students will be eligible for
midterm graduation, Poelker is planning a small graduation ceremony
for them. Students completing their studies in the alternative
classroom setting will receive an alternative education diploma, not
a traditional diploma, but are not hampered by the difference when
applying to college, tech school or employers.
Report by Assistant Principal Rhonda Hyde
Enrollment is 856 for the 2011-2012 school year, with 263
freshmen. Approximately 210 freshmen are new, and 50-plus students
are being retained at freshmen level.
Report by LTEC director Bret Hitchings
Excavation on the housing lot on Sherman Street will begin this
week. The building trades classes will receive classroom instruction
about safety and preliminary activity prior to beginning
construction at the site.
The federal grant for the adult learning program has been
renewed.
Enrollment is up for classes in health occupations, welding and
others. Students continue to ask for HVAC and cosmetology. If
instructors and local sites can be found for those trainings,
Hitchings would like to add them to the curriculum.
Report by Superintendent Bagby
Bagby reported that because general state aid will be prorated,
the district will receive one payment next June. Due to decreased
enrollment, the district will lose $188,143.43.
Bagby will attend upcoming seminars on collective bargaining and
other personnel issues. He will report to the board in September.
The boiler must be retrofitted to allow for lowering the
temperature in the summer. Currently, the boiler is producing hot
water at the same temperature as during the school year, which is
wasting energy. The issue was referred to the building and grounds
committee for consideration.
Other sessions
The board entered closed session at 8:45 p.m., to discuss
personnel issues.
The next regular board meeting is at 7 p.m., Sept. 19. A budget
hearing at 6:45 p.m. will precede the meeting.
[By MARLA BLAIR]
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