Urbana City Schools board swore in a new board member Tuesday to replace the late Warren Stevens.
Darrell Thomas was sworn in at the beginning of the meeting. He will serve through the end of December 2017.
The board approved Tim Lacy as vice president; Stevens was vice president previously. The appointment ends at the end of December and the board will select new officers in January.
The school board also heard from resident Bob McConnell, who urged the district not to buy property on U.S. Route 68 near Vintage Drive Thru. The district has been considering the site for the new elementary/middle school building. McConnell’s concerns are traffic, the inability of students to walk to the school and the location of the site next door to a beer and wine store. McConnell also questioned why the district needed such a large piece of property.
The board approved the purchase of the property in May, if it checked out as a suitable building site. The board also approved purchasing a neighboring three-acre parcel for $42,750 Tuesday as a better location for the entrance to the building.
Urbana City Schools Superintendent Charles Thiel said after the meeting with that approval, and with all the documentation on surveys, traffic studies and site investigation completed, the district may move forward with the purchase of both properties soon.
In other action, the board:
•Approved all CIP/Curriculum Work done during the year under federal grants paid at $17.50 per hour, unless otherwise stipulated under grant requirements.
•Approved advances from the general fund to the Quiz Club account of $84.51 to cover a deficit balance.
•Approved donations of $412.50 total to Urbana North Elementary PBIS program from Kristen Miesse, Robyn Hissong, Kelly Glessner, Margie Williams, Jane Martin, Jenn Chapman, Marcia Marsh, April Brisley, Mendie Bowdle, Julie Huber, Sarah Nannarone, Samantha Hiltibran, Melanie Anders, Kay Trout, Kirsten Andreassen, Cris Dorsey and Julie Loudenback; $7 from anonymous donors through a “pass the bucket” collection to Urbana High School athletic department Community Night; $25 from Cyndi Eickhoff to Urbana Junior High HIP Program; $833 from Whitetails Unlimited to Urbana High School; $50 from Phillips Family Trust to the Urbana Lunch Bus Program; $100 from James and Virginia Smith to the Urbana High School FFA; and $250 total from Theresa Knox, Rachel Peterson, Gina Lingrell, Linda Runyan, Diane Deitrick, Matt Bushey, Alana Inskeep, Cindi Kite, Suzanne Bever, Nichole White and Sana Ahmed for the Urbana East Elementary PBIS Program.
•Approved substitute teachers for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved Betsy Bennett as a home instructor for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved junior high intra-subs for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved substitutes for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved the resignation of Junior High Football Cheerleading Advisor Lorissa Haddix, effective immediately.
•Approved hiring Freshman Boys Basketball Coach Andrew Donahoe, Head Junior High Basketball Cheer Coach Amanda Russell, and Assistant High School Basketball Cheer Coach Bailey Allen, all at Step 0, for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved volunteer Wrestling Coach Dan Harris at Level 1, and volunteer Bowling Coaches Jack Russell and Troyal Sweet at Level 2, for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved volunteers at North, South and East elementaries, the junior high and high school for the 2016-17 school year.
•Approved intra-subs at East Elementary for the 2016-17 school year.
