Unit #20 Board of Education met in regular session Wednesday night, July 19, at 7:00 PM in the LHS library. Each principal from all three buildings presented their board reports Wednesday night, along with the assistant superintendent and superintendent. All building principals reported that the maintenance and custodial staffs have been hard at work preparing the buildings for the upcoming school year. We want to thank each and every one of them for all their hard work! Online registration is open on TeacherEase for the 2023-2024 school year. New student registration for all new students will be held on July 26 and July 27. New Parkside and Parkview students will register at Parkside Elementary School. New LHS students will register at LHS. Please call your child's school for more information.
There are several important events occurring throughout the district within the next month. LHS band camp will be held from July 31-August 4. On August 9, LHS Freshman Orientation will take place at 5:00, as well as the LHS All Sports Informational Meeting at 6:00. On August 10, Parkside Preschool Screenings will take place from 12:00-5:30. Parkside Meet Your Teacher Night will be held on August 14 from 4:30-6:00. Also that night, the CUSD #20 Back to School Carnival will be held at 6:00 in the parking lot by the football field. All students and families are welcome. On August 15, Parkview 6th Grade Orientation Night will be held from 4:30-5:00 followed by Parkview's Meet Your Teacher Night from 5:00-6:00. All students and families are welcome. Last but not least, first day of student attendance is Wednesday, August 16.
The Board of Education considered and approved the 2023-2024 LHS/Parkview/Parkside coaches' list. The Board also considered and approved the Consolidation Grant Application for the Illinois State Board of Education. The Board of Education also considered and approved a bus bid for a new 2024 seventy-two (72) passenger bus. The district previously purchased three buses to replace older buses that needed to be removed from bus routes. The funding for this is being supplied through the ESSER II grant. The Board of Education also approved implementing a new therapy dog program at Parkview Junior High School for the 2023-2024 school year to support students' social/emotional needs.
In other news, LHS Fire Science instructors presented their newly donated fire truck to the Board of Education Wednesday night and shared their upcoming plans for the school year. The Dennison Fire Protection District in St. Francisville has donated this fire engine to the Fire Science Class at LHS. It served as a front line Fire Engine with the Lawrence—Allison Fire Department from 1978 until 2010 when it was donated to St. Francisville. Dennison Fire wanted to show their support to the Fire Science Program by donating the truck to enhance the capabilities of the class. The program has also received several donations from fire departments throughout several states supporting the program and students. CUSD #20 is grateful for the support from so many to help grow this new and exciting program.
Several individuals were hired this month for the upcoming school year. CUSD #20 would like to welcome Tamara Gher to LHS as a special education teacher, Amy Ryan to Parkside as a 4th grade teacher, Shannon Reel as a Parkview social studies teacher, Kyle Shelton as the Parkview girls' head basketball coach, and April Gibbs as a Parkview math teacher. Denise Dickerson and Becky Lyle were also hired Wednesday night as part-time permanent substitute teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.
CUSD #20 has the following vacancies: LHS language arts teacher, LHS social studies teacher, and an In-School Suspension teacher/paraprofessional. All cover letters, resumes, and references may be sent to help@cusd20.net
The next board meeting will be at Lawrenceville High School on August 16 at 7:00 PM in the LHS library.