The Chester School Board held its regular meeting on Aug. 15, and heard good reports about the beginning of the school year.
Grade School
Principal Bill Grafton and Assistant Principal David Kaiser reported that the HVAC project at the Grade School is complete and working well. The board approved the third payment to A&W Plumbing for $44,450.10. There will be one more payment of approximately $10,000 for contingency work.
The Open House sponsored by the PTS was well attended and the first day of school ran smoothly. The online registration was a success and they received positive feedback from parents.
• The board was introduced to Kailey Mena, who is a fifth-grade teacher for the 2019-20 school year. She will also be the grade school cheerleading coach.
• Amy Ahlenius was hired as a 7½-hour paraprofessional at $9.34/hour.
• The kindergarten and first grade classes are averaging 14-15 students in each classroom but some kindergarten students are still being screened.
• Baseball and softball games are underway, 19 games and one tournament each will be played by the end of September. There are 14 athletes playing softball and 17 in baseball. All the coaching positions have been filled.
High school
Principal Melissa Meyer said the registration process ran well again this year, adding that the online process is very efficient. The current enrollment is 377.
Assistant Principal Jeremy Blechle reported that 43% of all high school students are involved in athletics this fall. The football teams have more than 60 players and will field a team at each level. Volleyball has 30 athletes and will also field teams at each level. Golf has 15 participants, Cross country has 13, Cheer has nine and Dance has 14.
Blechle added that W.O. Smith Field is in excellent condition and the Colbert Memorial Gym floor looks great after being refinished this past summer.
• Three AC units will be replaced and a fourth one may need to be replaced as well. The new entrance steps have been completed.
• The high school office had a small makeover this summer and is looking great, Meyer said.
• Laverne Misselhorn has joined the staff as a special-education teacher for three hours per day.
• Sarah Norman was reassigned as full-time English teacher for the 2019/20 school year.
• Yondr representatives were present on the first day of school to discuss the pouches with the students.
District-wide news
Superintendent Brian Pasero reported that the Illinois State Board of Education has allocated an additional $436,229 to Chester Unit District 139 for the 2020 fiscal year, based on the Evidence Based Funding model.
• Pasero added that ISBE has approved $393,264 for the district's bond issues, but the district is appealing for more money to cover the cost of the HVAC system.
• The district has an "A" rating from S&P Global Ratings in conjunction with the possible bond sale and refinance.
