The Nashville Community High School District 99 Board of Education discussed changes to the curriculum that may ultimately lead to the elimination of college dual credit classes. Superintendent Ernie Fowler noted that due to changes in credential requirements mandated by the Kaskaskia College Board, dual credit classes in physics, college algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus. Board member John Hallock had questions about the proposed change.
” As a parent of a student who took advantage of dual credit classes in college algebra, trigonometry, pre-calc and calculus, I don’t consider this a positive,” said Hallock. “What was the major sticking point from KC’s point of view?”
Fowler said it was due to credential requirements for faculty, and he says that dual credit classes might go away at some point.
“We’re seeing a change in college boards and how they’re looking at dual credits, and quite honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if the day doesn’t come when dual credit goes by the wayside,” Fowler said. “I think that’s ultimately what the goal is.
Fowler went on to say that other changes would be a net positive for students, including changes to the English curriculum to potentially include a semester called film as literature, additional social science classes, and other electives in the music and art departments. The changes will be made possible by cutting back on some vocational classes, including possible phasing out family and consumer sciences. The board approved these curriculum changes. Fowler also discussed funding problems from the state requiring a loan from working cash to the transportation fund in the amount of $100,000. The state of Illinois owes the district more than $120,000 in transportation funds, including more than $57,000 from last year. He says the state has only provided general state aid payments, which is not what was promised.
“What they’ll say is that you can take General State Aid money and put it in your transportation fund,” Fowler reported. “That’s the concept of robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The board approved the loan to the transportation fund, and also approved a loan from the working cash fund to the Bond and Interest Fund. That loan will be paid back once the full tax levy comes in. In other business, the board reaffirmed an earlier decision on a grievance, and voted to withdraw from the Prairie State Insurance Co-op in order to shop for rates. At the start of the meeting, Ron Rensing from Orion Energy Systems requested the board’s permission to do a survey on the school’s lighting needs in order to come up with a proposal for replacement of lights. He said that the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provided grants to replace older lighting with more energy-efficient LED lights. That grant would provide 60 cents per watt reduced, which would cover approximately $50 of the $200 cost per fixture in most classrooms. Additionally, the switching out of lights would drop lighting costs by up to 70 percent due to energy reduction. Rensing said that most projects see a return on the investment within a year, and the lights would be good for up to 40 years. These price quotes were for classroom lighting, as the gym lighting and exterior lighting would probably cost a bit more. The board said they would consider the proposal and have an administrator get back to him soon. The board went into closed session to discuss personnel matters and accepted the resignation of Mary Wilke as assistant cheerleading coach. The next meeting will be January 23 due to the Martin Luther King Junior holiday.