Dieterich School Board Hears About Graduation Plans

Dieterich school board members heard Monday about plans for high school graduation ceremonies.

High school principal Scott Kocher said the plan will be presented to the Effingham County Health Department for feedback. Graduation at Dieterich is set for Saturday, May 15 at 2pm.

Kocher also shared information on an expansion of elective course offerings at the junior high level for the coming school year. The major addition will be a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) course and a Life Skills course. Additional junior high elective courses include Ag Exploration, Band, Chorus and Music Appreciation.

The Board approved the fee schedule for the coming school year. Lunch and breakfast prices were raised 10 cents to maintain lunch price equity per State guidelines. They also increased the dual credit fee for Statistics from $70 to $85 to reflect an increase in book fees from Lake Land College. The Board also renewed the District's agreement with Opaa! Food Management for another year, and agreed to become the USDA Distance Learning Grant fiscal agent. Dieterich schools will oversee the flow-through of funds to other school districs involved in the grant program. The grant will provide the schools with equipment and access to distance learning which, in turn, provide unlimited opportunities to students for courses not normally offered at their home school.

The Dieterich board accepted the resignation of Jessica Marshall as custodian, retroactive to March 23, accepted the resignation of Brant Nohren as head high school girls basketball coach, accepted the resignation of Ashley Simmons as cafeteria worker, hired Brent Bohnhoff as head junior high baseball coach, and hired Veronica Miramontes and Gabe Jackson as part-time student workers.

The Board heard from Superintendent Cary Jackson that Dieterich is set to receive $354,000 in grant dollars, with another round of grant funds yet to come; discussed options for more secure entryways, bathroom remodeling and classoom expansion with no formal action taken, heard the latest on progress on the Community Center, and heard that Dieterich schools will be a pilot program for the Safe to Help Illinois intiative. Safe to Help Illinois is a program that educates students on abuse, bullying, depression, self-injury and suicide, and provides a portal for safe and anonymous reporting.