Du Quoin Board of Education Fills Craig Garner Vacancy

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Du Quoin Board of Education Thursday filled a key vacancy in the social studies department at the Du Quoin High School and voted on other hirings following the executive session on personnel.

The Board employed Sarah Metcalf as a High School social studies teacher for the 2008- 2009 school year. She fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Craig Garner, who returned to his native Sesser to take a position.

The Board transferred Jan Weinberg to an elementary school reading teacher position for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Board employed Josh Downs as an elementary school supervisory aide for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Board employed Amy Juhl as an elementary school in-school suspension supervisor for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Board employed Kristin Mercil as a Middle School EOC aide for the 2008-2009 school year.

The board approved an extension of the current transportation agreement with MV Student Transportation. The extension reflects a 2.5% increase in the current agreement for regular, special education, and extra-curricular transportation.

District business manager Cory Robbins presented an analysis of the driver's education vehicles and van proposals submitted to the district. The board approved the purchase of two driver's education vehicles (mid-size) from Vogler Ford of Carbondale (low bid presented) and for a van from Vogler Ford of Carbondale (low bid presented). The driver's education vehicles would be purchased through a three-year loan with DuQuoin State Bank and the van would be purchased through the transportation fund budget for the coming school year.

The board approved the updated intergovernmental agreement between school district and city pertaining to use of local sales tax revenue if state funding for a new high school facility becomes available.

The superintendent reviewed with the Board year-end budget figures for the 2007-2008 school year. The final figures for the past year will come available after the district audit which is currently underway. The district continues to improve its financial profile as designated by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Superintendent also shared preliminary cost considerations for 2008-2009 school year budget. The 2008-09 budget will be placed on display August 18, 2008 with final adoption at the September 18, 2008 regular Board of Education meeting. The budget will be the subject of a separate story in one of next week's editions. 2009 school year.