The School District 166 board reinstated the public comment period at the beginning of its meetings at the August 4 board meeting. With the reinstatement came a slight change, the school board is asking that anyone wishing to speak sign in at the start of the meeting. Speakers will then be heard in the order in which they signed up.
Athletic Director Pam Taylor gave a report on athletic programs at the school. She said 82 high school and 54 middle school students participated in athletics in 2015- 16.
Taylor responded to the school board’s request to trim $20,000 from the athletics budget. She proposed holding uniform rotation for one year, a savings of $4,000; increasing participation fee by $25, adding $3,350; hiring local basketball coaches, saving $1,100. Taylor noted that only totals $8,450.
Taylor said the only way she could get to that $20,000 is to cut a program. In her report, she asked, “Each sport that is offered at Cook County provides valuable opportunities for our athletes. Without sports, what would some of these athletes have to look forward to?”
Taylor added that if it came down to cutting a program, “…I will not choose, that would have to come from the school board.”
Taylor said an option to increase funding is to seek alumni support of Cook County athletics.
Taylor also told the board that the district is in need of a Nordic ski coach because Teacher/Coach Tim Dennison had moved away. The Nordic ski team is supported by the North Shore Ski and Run Club.
Board hears plans for bond funds
The school board heard a report from ARI about the deficiencies in the school facilities, such as in the science classrooms, culinary arts room, bus garage, roofs, and more that could be addressed by funds from bonding should the levy and bonding referendum pass next November. The plan created by ARI looked at the school facilities and finances out to 2021.
The board also reviewed an “A” and “B” list, detailing how budget reductions could possibly be made if the levy referendum does not pass. Board member Terry Collins asked for more specifics. Collins said the school district needs to be able to say what will be eliminated if the levy referendum doesn’t pass. “We need to push ourselves to provide that,” he said. “We need to list what will disappear.”
Superintendent Bill Crandall agreed. He said the levy referendum committee had also asked for that information.
In other business, the board passed a motion to accept the resignation of art instructor Mary McDonald with heartfelt appreciation for her over 20 years of service.
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