 Cosmetology programBret Hitchings, the LTEC director,
presented the board with the second draft of a conditional agreement
concerning the development of a cosmetology program.
Julie Fritzsche, founder and owner of Hair Masters out of
Bloomington, is willing to work with LTEC to provide this program to
students. Due to state regulations, the building in which the
classes would be offered has to be within five miles of the high
school. Fritzsche also has to seek state certification to be part of
the project, and she is currently seeking property in Lincoln to
lease.
The agreement was written to assure her that LTEC would not
partner with someone else while she seeks property and teaching
certifications. A more formal contract will have to be pursued
before the program can begin.
Hitchings is hoping the program can begin next fall, and he
assured the board that there are already a lot of interested
students. Early on, the classes would only offer traditional
hair-styling instruction, with more options available in the future.
The board approved of the agreement as it was written and
presented.
Cross country student and coach recognized
The meeting began with the acknowledgement of the state
qualification of a cross country runner, John Davis. Davis and his
coach, Kaitlin Kwiatkowski, were both present at the meeting to
accept an award from the board. Davis said he has plans to run on
the track team at Lincoln College next year.
Coach Kwiatkowski said she has seen a great improvement from the
track team as a whole this year, which has been her first year as
coach.
IHSA drug test results
Jim Mammen, board president, reported that he had received a
letter from the IHSA. On Oct. 22 the IHSA had visited the school to
conduct drug tests on all of the athletes at LCHS. The letter stated
that none of the athletes tested positive for performance-enhancing
drugs.
Building and grounds report
Board member Marianne Krusz reported that a second oven in the
school has become unusable. The oven had been in use since 1959. A
new oven would cost $22,000.
As a result of this expenditure, Krusz recommended that the
school continue to accumulate funds from the 1 percent sales tax
before taking on any new school improvement projects.
Currently, the next project that the board would like to
undertake would be installation of new cabinets and countertops in
the home economics classrooms. Plans have already been made for the
cabinets, but now they will have to wait until February at the
earliest.
Future baseball clubhouse
Curt Courtwright, his father Todd Courtwright and Marc
Schoonover, booster club president, were all present to speak to the
board on building a clubhouse for the baseball team. Coach
Courtwright presented plans as to what the clubhouse would be like.
The coach wants to provide a place not only for the team to store
gear and watch game footage, but also to encourage a feeling of
camaraderie among the players.
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 The structure would connect to the dugout alongside the baseball
diamond, and it would be unlocked only during baseball season.
The coach provided the best price estimate he had received so far
on the project, which was $14,000. His father said the price would
likely be lower than that, as the designer, Kevin Schanley, is a
graduate of LCHS and is more than willing to work on this project.
"He says he will beat that price, guaranteed," said Todd Courtwright.
The clubhouse would be funded by booster club money that is
already available, plus any money that is raised by upcoming
fundraisers and the membership drive. The coach also expressed an
interest in getting sponsorship from local businesses and past team
members to sponsor lockers.
Board member Mark Aughton said his biggest concern was plumbing.
Todd Courtwright replied, saying that plumbing needs would be very
simple. While the plans did have a small restroom included, it is
not a necessity. Should the clubhouse be large enough, a sprinkler
system would need to be installed.
Due to the requirements of Title IX, the clubhouse would likely
have to be made available to the softball team. Questions were also
brought up as to who would pay for maintenance costs in the future.
Coach Courtwright will return to the board when he has found some
answers to the legal questions concerning Title IX and future
maintenance.
Building usage by the community
Superintendent Robert Bagby wanted to take the opportunity to
make an editorial statement.
"The great thing about Lincoln High School is it's always open.
It's always available to the public. We do not charge organizations
to use our facilities. For example, Chester-East Lincoln is going to
hold their Christmas program here again. I don't think any of us are
against that. It's just that with the usage our facilities get, from
time to time there is wear and tear on our equipment," said Bagby.
Bagby also said he was not suggesting that usage of the building
be limited, only that those costs do start to build a little over
time.
"I'm just reminding the board that there are times we run into
expense," said Bagby.
Those present at the meeting included Jim Mammen, board
president; Reatha Owen; Jim Allen; Mark Aughton; Burgandy Henderson;
Marianne Krusz; Robert Bagby, LCHS superintendent; Todd Poelker,
principal; Rhonda Hyde, vice principal; and Bret Hitchings, LTEC
director.
[By DEREK HURLEY] |
