Schools
The Rundown: District 231 Aims for Military Training Program, Capital Projects Approved
Building morale. With officer training, they'll march, hoist the flag and take orders, but is that really what EPCHS students want? That story and more from last night's board meeting.
Within the next five years, students at may have the opportunity to substitute their gym class for an air-force officer training class taught by the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC).
During the Tuesday, Principal William Sanderson reported to District 231 board members that EPCHS students from various academic and economic backgrounds were the first to show interest in the training program.
“It does help them with a military career in the future,” Sanderson said of students who go through the program then choose to enlist after high school. “They often start at a higher rank when they enter the military.”
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Check back with Patch for a full story on a possible JROTC program at the high school. For now, here's a round-up of last night's board meeting.
Reports:
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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As part of summer projects for 2011, the EPCHS facilities department finished painting the high school's bleachers. They've also finished cleaning out most of the third floor, which will be used for band instrument storage. Shortly before painting certain classroom walls, white boards were torn down and will soon be replaced by new ones.
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ACT test scores saw an increase after Saturday invitationals, used for test prep and study, last year.
Enrollment for EPCHS is at 832 students for Fall 2011. Twenty-one students withdrew this year, Sanderson said, but enrollment is projected where it should be, because of the high school's strict policy on illegal residency. Meanwhile, the special education department, which makes up 18 percent of the student population, is just above the state average of about 15 percent.
The high school is now made up of roughly 51.7 percent white students, 28 percent black students and 17 percent Hispanic students, with a lower income population of about 21 percent.
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Sanderson noted in his report that the Class of 2011 received $6.5 million in college scholarships for next year, and that 44 percent of graduates will attend a four-year college, 43 percent of graduates will attend a two-year college and 13 percent of graduates will join the armed services, work or learn a trade.
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The board discussed plans to purchase an $85,000 back-up generator after . The generator would connect directly to technology and air conditioners in the school.
Approved Items:
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The board approved its five-year capital projects plan, which includes rehabbing four bathrooms at EPCHS for roughly $300,000, and the installation of air conditioning units throughout the building. The district's budget this year is 90 percent complete, said Supt. M. Elizabeth Hart. Funding for the bathrooms will come from the 2012-13 budget, specifically the Operations and Maintenance fund and Life Safety fund.
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The district approved a resolution to sign the prevailing wage agreement, enforced by Cook County each year. Under the agreement, the district must pay all the workers they hire – from painters, to electricians, to plumbers – the prevailing wage for their trade.
The district approved a new facilities and ground equipment agreement, which now allows them to charge outside groups and organizations a standard rate for field, gym and facilities use. If a group or organization is made up of Evergreen Park residents by more than 50 percent, the standard rate will be lowered.
Corrections: The state percentage for special education students in schools is 15 percent not 5 percent. Based on the school report card, the white population at EPCHS is 51 percent not 28 percent, and the black population is 28 percent not 51 percent. The author sincerely apologizes for the errors.
