Teutopolis School Board Discusses Variety of Topics

The Teutopolis Board of Education Monday discussed a wide variety of topics and acted on several items.

The Board accepted the resignation of boys varsity basketball coach Jason Hanson and of boys frosh-soph basketball coach Mike Walker. Neither Hanson nor Walker teach in the district, but a teaching position is available due to Troy Bierman's earlier resignation to take a teaching job and boys varsity basketball coaching position of Newton Community High School. See a separate story about Hanson's resignation on the basketball page.

The Board also accepted the resignation of Toni Hawley as high school library aide as of the end of the school year, and approved a one-year leave from coaching junior high softball for Brittany Meyer due to the scheduled birth of her baby this summer.

Board members discussed district goals; discussed recommended class sizes; and discussed school safety measures. Thanks to a donation from local businessman Randy Meyer, Teutopolis Grade School has ordered a camera system and a buzz-in system, and Teutopolis Junior High School and Teutopolis High School have ordered panic buttons. 

Board members also discussed whether or not to join an athletic conference or remain an independent; and discussed the survey results on the Teutopolis High School facility and next steps to take.

The Board hired Heidi Kinkelaar as a grade school teacher for next school year; and approved to advertise for open positions of high school Science teacher, high school Health/Drivers Ed/PE teacher, high school varsity boys basketball coach, high school frosh/soph boys basketball coach, and high school girls track coach.

The Board agreed to participate in IESA activities for next year; approved the dates for summer basketball camps; discussed the possibility of entering into an agreement to sell advertising on the high school scorer's table; and heard a report from some Teutopolis High School teachers and a representative of EIASE, Teutopolis' special education cooperative, about a STEP program that will be tried at the high school next school year. The goal is to give students a better opportunity to prepare for life after high school. The Board also agreed to seek quotes on re-sealing the high school asphalt parking lot and oiling and chipping the high school student parking lot.