Students of Galatia High School and Elementary School will see a few new faces this year.
Galatia's new superintendent and High School Principal is Kirk Abernathy and the district's bookkeeper is Evelyn Potts who kept the books for Hardin County schools for 15 years. Beth Rister remains as Elementary School principal. Former High School Principal Amy Richey returns to the classroom as a Title 1 teacher.
Abernathy hails from Macomb, having taught 24 years in Roseville before becoming principal there. When the district consolidated with a larger district in 2001 and Abernathy was out of a job he became superintendent and high school principal in Astoria. Roseville and Astoria are both small towns and he believes his background will be a good fit with Galatia.
"I had applied to several different places prior to Galatia. I came down and identified with Galatia. It is a small district like where I came from," Abernathy said.
Abernathy did not originally plan to enter a career in education. He returned to the Macomb area from the Vietnam War. He was involved with his friend's veterans club that helped the economy of the west central Illinos region nicknamed Forgotonia. In 1971 and 1972 the club gained many members and did much to aid the area and improve its government funding.
Abernathy worked in various jobs, delivering feed, gas station work and operating a supper club.
"I decided I needed a new direction in my life," Abernathy said.
Abernathy returned to school and earned his master's degree in 1972. He had hoped to become a writer, but found he most enjoyed teaching.
Abernathy obtained his school administration degree in 1981, but waited 20 years before he left teaching. He enjoyed the direct involvement with the children and hopes to develop good relationships with students here, while maintaining the role of disciplinarian.
"I think there are different ways to approach discipline. Everybody has their own unique methods. I believe you can have good discipline and still maintain good relationships with the children, not be an ogre or overbearing," Abernathy said.
"I'm a firm believer in your word identifying who you are. As a person if your word doesn't mean anything you are not much of a person."
Abernathy has used incentive programs in the past to positively influence children's behavior and -- with the cooperation of the teachers -- he hopes to start up the programs in Galatia.
"Instead of saying, 'If I don't do this I'll be punished,' I've often found if we offer rewards they often seem to accomplish more," Abernathy said.
At the elementary level he had a new boys bike and a girls bike in the hallway at the school all year.
Every time pupils did something appropriate or went out of their way to help someone, teachers documented the behavior and the pupil's name went into a drawing for the bike.
There was a similar drawing at the junior high level with something age appropriate like an I-Pod or type of MP3 player.
At the high school students with no detentions, suspensions, unexcused absences, more than three tardies and who are passing all classes might be given a small reward like a milk shake with lunch at the end of the first nine weeks. The incentives get better with each nine weeks as the number of achievers narrows and at the end of the fourth nine weeks they may be able to take a special trip someplace.
"It did make a difference," Abernathy said.
"It took a couple of years to take effect. We stand to see grades go up and increased attendance.
"What I'd like is increased attendance in all schools at all levels, increased performance in state testing and something to really make the kids want to be here."
Abernathy said enrollment seems to remain fairly steady. With families moving in and out of the area due to jobs, enrollment is always unpredictable. Abernathy said the district gained 16 or 17 students last year while 17 students transferred out of the district.
"I'm looking to see a small increase in enrollement over the next couple of years," Abernathy said.
The district has seen more than its share of controversies in the past few years with a lawsuit with American Coal Company, a contentious teachers contract settlement, a superintendent's contract terminated with several infractions made public and board meetings with large groups of parents taking issue with many board decisions. Several parents threatened to transfer their children away from the district unless conditions improved. The police chief was regularly in attendance at school board meetings and at least once warned two women to quieten a shouting match in the school hallway. Police also cited a school board member on a charge of disorderly conduct, a charge that was later dropped.
Police arrested a coach and teacher on drug charges.
Abernathy believes the dust has settled. One of his primary goals is to improve the image of the school district in the eyes of the community, he said.
This year the board is paying for accident insurance for all students and all students are admitted free of charge into home ball games.
"The district went for a long period of time in a lawsuit and the community stood behind them," Abernathy said.
He wants to see the district become an even more important part of the community. Speaking to Galatia residents he knows pride in the school district is strong, despite the various troubles.
"I've had a chance to get around town a little bit and found the people very outgoing. I've been able to strike up a conversation everywhere," Abernathy said.
"I want the community to be involved in the school. The school is where they gather and meet with each other. It should be available to them, if at all possible."
Teachers report to school Aug. 18 and students begin Aug. 19. They will find roofs repaired at the high school and grade school and new windows and bleachers at the high school.
"The custodial staff in both buildings did an extraordinary job getting things into shape," Abernathy said.
A plumbing problem at the high school is fixed as well as several minor health/life/safety issues.
All teaching positions are currently filled with art again offered and Spanish classes available through the distance learning program of Southeastern Illinois College for which students receive both high school and college credit.
-- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.
GALATIA —
