Teutopolis School Board Asks for Reduction in COVID Restrictions

Teutopolis school board members Monday adopted a resolution calling on the State of Illinois to modify its COVID-19 restrictions to more accurately reflect current levels of COVID transmission.

The Board has already approved a return to full-day instruction, and considered then rejected an increase in attendance for sporting events. This latest measure requests that "Illinois modify COVID-19 mitigations and protocols to more accurately reflect current levels of COVID-19 transmission, or to minimally allow for greater flexibility and increased local control."

A modification was recently approved by the State that raised the number of fans at outdoor sporting events from 50 people to 20% of capacity, but no changes were approved for indoor events.

Teutopolis board members also approved the calendar for the coming school year. A Teacher Institute is set for August 16 with a half-day of student attendance on August 17. The last day for students is set for May 17, 2022 with the closing Teacher Institute on May 18, 2022.

The Board also reviewed the proposition on the April 6 election ballot that, if passed, would allow for at-large election of school board members in Teutopolis Unit 50, rather than keeping a limit on the number of members per district.

Board members heard from Teutopolis High School student Elizabeth Weidner about an ongoing grant project for the high school and a request for matching funds from the District. The project is for an outdoor student seating area that would be maintained by several student groups. Board members also renewed an agreement for the coming school year with Weis Insurance to provide optional student accident and catastrophic insurance offered to parents at registration; approved the purchase of eight Promethean Boards with $25,000 of the expense to be reimbursed by the Teutopolis Education Association; and agreed to participate for another year in the SEPCO purchasing co-op for food supplies in the coming school year.

Also, consistent with the collective bargaining agreement with the Teutopolis Education Association, the Board approved holidays for full-time 12-month employees for the coming school year, and approved a contract extension of eight days to be split between the two THS guidance counselors for the summer of 2021

The Board approved resignations from Monica Kremer as high school secretary, Jann Rhodes as high school RTI coordinator, Jake Burrell as volunteer junior high baseball coach, and Heather Worman as fresh-soph girls basketball coach.

Those approved for summer positions for 2021 include fulltime custodians Cheryl McLeod and Darlene Unkraut and part-time custodian Tess Borries; Melinda Bloemer as transportation custodian; Josh Cotrill for maintenance; Dan Blankenship and Tess Borries as part-time for technology; Chet Reeder for driver's ed for classroom; Chet Reeder and Craig Toler for driver's ed for behind-the-wheel; Karen Smith at the junior high and Cassidy Lowry and Jamie Herboth at the grade school for Summer School; and Angie Hotze and Crystal Tipton for the Library Program.