Mendota High issuing bonds

MENDOTA — Mendota High School Board of Education completed a final step in the process of issuing up to $1.5 million in working cash bonds during Monday night’s meeting. The board unanimously approved a resolution to issue the bonds and for the levy of direct annual taxes sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.

“We paid off the building last year and are now in the process of doing some major general maintenance upgrades,” superintendent Jeff Prusator said. “This past summer, we spent about $1.1 million on replacing the chiller and controls. The next big decision for the board is to either replace the shingles or connecting the vocational building to the main building. That decision on which project to use the bond money for will probably be made sometime this school year.”

Several school board members recently traveled to a school in Naperville. At the school, they met with a contractor to discuss options for replacing the shingles on the roof.

School board president Jim Lauer said, “I feel we are looking at metal or asphalt at this time. It’s more money but we are looking at longevity.”

The school is getting great interest rates due to an A+ credit rating.

Other news:

ä Students from LaMoille will co-op with Mendota for both baseball and softball for at least two years. MHS head coaches will remain, and all games and practices will be at MHS. Prusator says that’s a win-win situation for both schools.

ä Parent-teacher conferences have been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Parents are asked to pick up student progress reports in the gym foyer. Teachers will be seated in the gym for conferences.

ä Representatives from Illinois Student Assistance Commission and Illinois Valley Community College will be available in the library during conferences to help with completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in both English and Spanish. The state of Illinois now requires students to complete the FAFSA during the senior year, or submit a guardian signed state waiver in order to graduate.

ä The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the library. Ferney Ramirez Hernandez will present the workshop and each attendee will receive a book called “Padres Exitosos.” All BPAC members and bilingual community members are invited to join. “He is very funny and knowledgeable. Everyone will enjoy him,” principal Denise Aughenbaugh said of Hernandez.

ä The School Improvement Team and staff have been reviewing the assessment needs of students. The SAT Suite of Assessments will be expanded to best serve the students. On Dec. 19, MHS will be testing the eighth grade students at Northbrook and Holy Cross on the PSAT 8. This test will be the first baseline measure of the SAT Suite. Freshman will take the PSAT 9, Sophomores the PSAT 10, and Juniors the PSAT 11 on April 14, 2020.

ä Mary Koretke was approved as volunteer junior class sponsor and Austin O’Sadnick was approved as volunteer basketball coach.

ä The following were approved as fine arts volunteers: Courtney Jonsson, Brady Hughes, Shinae Lee Kim, Jill Jones, Delle Vercimak, James Younger, Eric Masini, Dell May, Michaela DeLong, Holly Inman, Payton Gehm, Niki Perrin Wujek, Emily Gallagher, This includes accompanists for solo competition, Show Choir and Madrigal volunteers.

ä The board approved the creation of a new Gay and Straight Alliance Club effective the 2020-21 school year.

ä The ILMEA district held auditions on Oct. 5, and 30 students were honored in Junior Mixed Chorus, Senior Chorus, Senior Band, Senior Jazz Band, and Senior Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

ä MHS will hold a parent night, “Youth Mental Health First Aid,” on Nov. 6 in the MHS Media Center. This is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent age 12-18 who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenges or is in crisis.