It was a night of good news and celebration at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Illinois Valley Central District 321 school board.
The meeting was at Chillicothe Elementary Center so the board could have a ribbon cutting and tour the new vestibule and classrooms at the school.
Former superintendent Dr. Dave Kinney and former CEC principal Diane Pointer, both of whom retired from the district last school year, were invited to take part in the ribbon cutting.
Also armed with scissors at the ceremony were board vice president Steve Nalley, superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak and new CEC principal Todd Dugan.
Remodeling work at CEC totaled more than $900,000 split among two projects.
One project included a new façade and vestibule/entryway to change the face of the building and enrich security.
Classroom work included renovation of the upper level’s science labs to get rid of encapsulated asbestos and new windows on the north side of the building, along with new lighting and flooring in some other classrooms.
“We’re only down to punch list items now. We’re waiting for the ledges to arrive for the windows inside the vestibule. Retired teacher Elaine Snyder is even coming back to put the garden back together,” Polyak said.
Polyak added work at South School is also coming along nicely with most of the walls up for the new addition and crews waiting for steel to arrive to enclose the building for winter.
Curriculum director Jennie Hawkey shared more good news during the meeting.
Hawkey revealed the students’ performance on the Illinois State Achievement Test. The district has met or exceeded standards for adequate yearly progress in grades 3-8.
Reading scores were: third grade — 83.6 percent; fourth grade — 77.6 percent; fifth grade — 75.4 percent; sixth grade — 89 percent; seventh grade — 86.1 percent; and eighth grade — 91.1 percent.
Math scores were: third grade — 93.8 percent; fourth grade — 90.8 percent; fifth grade — 85.8
percent; sixth grade — 92.6 percent; seventh grade — 87.4 percent; and eighth grade — 89.4 percent.
A minimum of 95 percent of students had to be tested for the ISAT and IVC boasted 99.8 percent.
Hawkey said she will use data from the lower reading scores in the next week to help with new literacy coordinator Janean Hansel and her work with instructors on reading programs.
Hawkey added other results will be used to make informal instruction decisions in the building and at classroom levels. Educators then will align curriculum to continue to address all student needs.
“I’m very pleased with the scores overall,” Hawkey said.
