Dr. Mark Friedman and Dr. Anne Noland, consultants with BWP and Associates, an educational leadership search firm, were introduced during the Jan. 28 Amboy board of education meeting. BWP was hired by the board to assist in the search for a new superintendent, which was necessitated by the resignation of superintendent Quintin Shepherd effective July 1, 2010.

Friedman and Noland, both retired superintendents, were scheduled to meet with board members in executive session and report on the status of the search for a new superintendent. “We have lots of good news to share with the board because there’s a lot of positive interest in your community and your schools,” Noland told the audience. “We’ve been gathering applications for about a month. It’s going well.”

PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS

Central School principal Jessica McCormick reported that Response to Intervention benchmarking was completed Jan. 13-15 and that new intervention groups were formed.

She said that chapters nine and 10 of the book On Common Ground were discussed by teachers. They also discussed their writing curriculum and created an outline for writing.

The literacy night team met to discuss plans for Central School’s literacy night to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 5-6:30 p.m. McCormick said the event will include activities, incentives and food. “Every student at Central School is invited and they can bring any family members they want,” she told the board. “We’ve had a really, really good response so we’re looking forward to it.”

Central’s spelling bee will take place on Thursday, Feb. 4. Two finalists from each fourth grade classroom will participate and one person from that group of six will represent the school at the regional spelling bee.

A preschool screening will take place on Friday, Feb. 5 and students will have their Valentine exchange on Thursday, Feb. 11.

McCormick also announced that Central School was selected as a winner for “AeroGrow Growing Kids Award” through a grant application submitted by Carol Schnaiter. She said the school will receive an AeroGarden kit and an AeroGrow salad greens seed kit, which will provide students the opportunity to complete planting activities and then give reports on the project.

Board member Mark Becker noted that this was the fourth grant Schnaiter had received. “Every one of them gives these kids a new opportunity to discuss something and learn something,” he said. “It’s great and it’s appreciated. Thank you very much.”

Amboy High School principal Jeff Thake reported that the recently implemented resource incentive plan has been successful so far. Thake said he will continue to analyze the results on a weekly and monthly basis. “Our belief is that number is going to get smaller and smaller as the year goes on,” he said.

A suicide awareness presentation will be given by Cheryl Robinson on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., which is open to the public. As a follow up, Robinson will speak to the high school staff on March 9.

Thake said that Pops & Pasta will take place on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 18, the high school will hold a meet and greet orientation at 7 p.m. Thake said there are currently 20 students signed up for the program and he encouraged parents to RSVP the high school office by Feb. 4 to ensure there is enough interest to hold the orientation.

Thake also encouraged all students, staff and community members to participate in the Amboy Education Foundation Bowlathon on Sunday, Feb. 28 at Plum Hollow Lanes.

In conclusion, Thake noted that out of 64 high schools in Illinois comparable in size to AHS (with an enrollment of 300-400) only six made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) last year. “And we are one of the six,” Thake said. “We also were named one of the top 100 schools on a Chicago Sun Times list last year. Onward, upward and we’re still moving in that direction and we’re really excited about the results.”

Amboy Junior High principal Joyce Schamberger reported that the Computer Club got started in January with Mrs. Steinbach as sponsor, the Young Writers Club, co-sponsored by Mrs. McCoy and Mrs. Steinbach, is meeting twice a month, and the Academic Team is beginning with Mr. Bonnell as the sponsor. Schamberger noted that the Amboy Education Foundation gave five scholarships to junior high students to help pay for participation fees.

Schamberger said that Mrs. McCracken organized the junior high spelling bee; students will compete in their language arts classes. Girls basketball and boys wrestling is underway.

The student council will sponsor a Sweet Heart Dance on Friday, Feb. 5.

Schamberger said eighth grade students will be measured for gowns on Monday, Feb. 8. Cost for the gown, which is worn at promotion, is $17.50.

The Lee County Health Department is scheduled to give shots to all 8th grade students on April 27, which will meet the high school requirements for immunizations.

The fifth grade class won the best attendance contest for December with a 97 percent attendance rate and the eighth grade class came in second with a 96 percent attendance. Schamberger said both classes earned breakfast sponsored by the junior high PTC and received a free homework pass for having a monthly attendance of 96 percent or higher.

BUSINESS REPORT

Shepherd told the board that the district’s expenses are right where they should be. “I provided four years of historical analysis, both in terms of dollars and percentages of what has been spent through the budget and we’re right on track. We’re spending exactly what we said we were going to spend.”

But Shepherd cautioned that the uncertainty surrounding revenues continues. “The revenues are going to be the story of the year as far as that goes,” he emphasized, “and they continue to remain questionable not only this year but into the future.

The board gave unanimous approval to a performance contract with CTS (Control Technology & Solutions) Group. Board members Bob Olson and Tony Becker were absent.

The board weighed the decision for several months of whether to enter into another performance contract with Johnson Controls, who the district had worked with for the past 10 years or with CTS. After meeting with representatives of both firms and considering the amount and type of work that will be needed by the district in the coming years, as well as the past relationship with Johnson Controls, Mark Becker said the committee recommendation was to enter into a contract with CTS.

Joe Flessner, who was also on the committee, said he spoke with a friend at Putnam County who works with CTS and reported that they were very happy with the company.

The board also approved IASB policy revisions, District Policy and Amboy High School Handbook provisions.

The next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Amboy High School.