 Present for the board were Darrel Vermeire, vice president; Reatha
Owen, secretary; Jim Allen; Burgandy Henderson; and Marianne Krusz.
School administrators and staff at the meeting were Robert Bagby,
LCHS superintendent; Todd Poelker, principal; Rhonda Hyde, vice
principal; Bret Hitchings, LTEC director; and Sam Knox, activities
director.Benz dismissed
A motion was made and seconded to dismiss Doug Benz from the
school district.
Benz was a teacher at the school until the spring of 2011, when
he was arrested and charged on six counts of criminal sexual
assault. In a plea agreement on April 17, Benz pleaded guilty to one
count of aggravated criminal sexual assault and was sentenced to six
years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Board members present unanimously voted to dismiss Benz.
Board moves on holiday waivers
The board meeting was preceded by a public hearing regarding
school holidays.
The General Assembly formerly was responsible for setting and
waivers of the annual holiday schedule. The state of Illinois is now
giving each school board the authority to determine the holidays it
would use during the school year.
Public school boards are now permitted to decide whether or not
to waive existing government holidays as a day out of class. This
also applies to teacher workshop days or parent-teacher conference
days.
[to top of second column] |
According to an earlier news release, "passage of the 'forever'
holiday waiver by a board of education allows a school district
total flexibility with their annual calendars."
The holidays for consideration include the birthdays of Martin
Luther King Jr., President Abraham Lincoln and Gen. Casimir Pulaski;
Columbus Day; and Veterans Day.
There was no public opinion at the public hearing.
During the board meeting, a motion was made and passed
unanimously that named the school board as the decider of the
holidays.
Vermeire emphasized that this does not mean the board will get
rid of these days, but they have the option for future school years
if it is necessary.
So far, according to Bagby, nobody has made any changes to the
calendar as it stands.
[By DEREK HURLEY and LDN staff]
Related links
 |
