South Fork schools gearing up for next year

KINCAID — The South Fork Board of education held a budget hearing immediately followed by a meeting on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 6:25 p.m. in the high school art room.

Like many schools Board meeting in June, the South Fork Board was focused on preparing for the new school year. Part of that preparation was approve the amended FY20 budget. Superintendent Chris Clark said that there were some funds expected to come in later in the week that he would add to the budget before sending it off to be approved by the state, as long as the Board gave their approval. The Budget was approved.

Clark said that the Board training would be held on August 26 and encouraged the Board to go. He said that the new member who would be coming in to fill Jack Hanlon’s vacant seat would have to attend, as the training is mandated by the state. But Clark encouraged the other members to go, as he felt it was a good resource for the Board members. Clark and new Board President Kelly Dulakis worked on get- ting the new committees set at the meeting as well.

During the meeting, Clark brought up the property and casualty insurance that the district held. While he encouraged the Board to approve the agreement for the upcoming school year, Clark explained he would be looking for a new provider in January. He said that the rates just kept rising and were too expensive anymore. Clark stated there was a new insurance cooperative in the area he was interested in looking at for the future. The Board approved the current IDS Inter-Local Agreement for the insurance.

Normally during a June meeting, the school handbooks revisions would be picked over and looked at for the first time. However, both district principals, Michelle Rogers and Stephen Groll, said that they were waiting on the Illinois Principal Association to release the guidelines for the upcoming school year before making any moves. Groll also said he was going to keep some COVID wording in the handbooks because of concerns about a Delta Variant possible surging later on in the year. He wanted to have the procedures ready and not need them rather than have an emergency without any procedures in place.

Groll also reported that the e-learning RISE classroom in the high school was completed. The classroom will allow for interactive and virtual teaching, allowing the district to offer curriculum that it might not otherwise be able to provide. Clark said many schools in the area were implementing simi- lar systems, so he expected to be able to offer new and excit- ing classes to the students soon. Groll said he was working on building a curriculum for the virtual classroom over the summer.

The offices in the South Fork District have been undergoing a massive renovation. While his office was currently scattered across the hall, Groll said that the work was going smoothly on his office. Clark also said that the administrative offices in the old Media Center were nearly completed. The Board was excited to see the finished offices in the coming months.

Also approved at the meeting: – Treasurer’s report
– Payment of bills
– Minutes

– Resignations
– Board meeting dates for 2020/2021 school year
– Building sign for elementary entrance
The next regular meeting of the South Fork school board will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.