Steeleville District 138 decides against RIFs
<span>While the Chester District 139 Board of Education was hearing public comment on Thursday regarding proposed cuts to art and music, the Steeleville District 138 BOE was meeting 15 miles away.</span>
<span>District Superintendent Stephanie Mulholland told the Herald Tribune that the board discussed its certified and noncertified personnel in closed session.</span>
<span>"We're re-hiring everybody, so there were no (Reduction in Force)," she said. "Thankfully, we don't have to do that this year."</span>
<span>Mulholland said every year the district releases its non-certified personnel, including individual aides. The district has 10 individual student aides whose position is dependent on their particular student returning.</span>
<span>"It depends on need," Mulholland said. "If (the student) graduates or moves out of district, we no longer need the aide."</span>
<span>Mulholland said a Friday meeting was held with area school superintendents and the amount of general state aid districts will be getting in the future continues to be a mystery.</span>
<span>"It depends on who you talk to," she said. "You really just don't know until the end of the school year rolls around."</span>
<span>Budget-wise, Mulholland said her district is cutting into its reserves to make ends meet.</span>
<span>"We're at a position where we don't have much left to cut and, unfortunately, we have to cut into our reserves and hopefully the state can get (finances) turned back around," she said.</span>
<span>In other board action, the resignation of Agriculture Education teacher Blake Colclasure was approved, effective at the end of the current school year. Mulholland said Colclasure is pursuing his Ph.D. The board also renewed its IHSA membership and set the district's last day of full student attendance as May 28.</span>
Roundup
<span>The BOE set Steeleville High School graduation for May 16, with eighth grade promotion on May 21.</span>
<span>The BOE approved a leave of absence for Latchkey Coordinator Debbie Betts, who works on before and after-school programs. Two substitutes, Katie Cole and Linda Mulholland, were approved to fill in.</span>
<span>Linda Mulholland is the mother of Stephanie Mulholland.</span>
<span>The BOE approved a trip to the Hoyleton Children's Home for the Steeleville FFA Chapter. According to its website, the residential treatment facility "</span><span>provides a caring environment for children ages nine through 21 as they address developmental disabilities, severe emotional problems, or profound behavioral issues.</span>
<span>"Therapy is focused on helping children positively change their behavior, achieve educational goals, and learn to live productive lives in the community."</span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7edc7ca2-420c-de35-f48b-d5d4481c5e24"><span>"They go over once a year and do repairs around the facility and anything they may need in construction or maintenance," Mulholland said.</span></span>