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Du Quoin school district getting additional state funding

DU QUOIN - District 300, at long last, is receiving increased state aid as the result of a new evidence-based funding formula, which focuses on what each specific district truly needs to adequately educate its students.

Superintendent Gary Kelly said the district will be paid a little over $694,000 spread out over six payments or about $115,000 per payment. He said Du Quoin has already received its first payment.

"We have been prorated for the past nine years, so the additional amount ($694,000) does help in catching us up to some degree," Kelly said. "And moving forward, it should allow us to bring back some teaching positions that were lost."

Kelly said that the plan is to add three instructors this fall - one each at the elementary, middle and high schools.

"Each of the schools are identifying a position they need filled," the superintendent said. "The elementary school is considering either a general classroom assignment or a special education position. The middle school is looking for a Title 1 math teacher and the high school may be looking at a physical education spot due to the retirement of our athletic director/instructor, John Campbell."

Retiring teachers will also open up some room for the hiring of instructors. In addition to Campbell, retirees include Wendell Wheeler (social studies) at the middle school and Jane Montgomery (fifth grade math) from the middle school. Moving out of the district is Kristin Wilson (sixth-grade language arts) at the middle school.

Kelly said he's been "heavily involved" in the push to get fair state funding for Southern Illinois schools for years. He's relieved progress has finally been made.

"This new funding formula places money where the greatest needs are," he said. "And it fits well into our plan. It is my hope that next school year will result in the infusion of even more dollars."