School taxes may not change

    The Cambridge School Board approved a tentative tax rate of $4.784 per $100 assessed valuation, unchanged from last year, during their monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Cambridge Elementary School.

    Properties in the school district had an estimated assessed evaluation of $42,539,225 for 2011, up $949,384 from last year’s assessed evaluation of $41,589,841.

    Before the board gives final approval, a levy hearing will be held at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.

    Shelly Logston, Cambridge Elementary School principal, highlighted activities.

    “Monster Math Night on Oct. 26 was a very exciting night for everyone and tons of fun,” she said. “Students trick or treated around the building, played math games, decorated cookies, weighed pumpkins from the tiniest or the biggest and much more.”

    Logston reported that 94 percent of all parents attended Parent-Teacher Conferences this year, held Oct. 27 and 28.

    "We had the parents fill out a conference survey,” she said. “We heard lots of positive feedback.”

    On Friday, Nov. 11, County Seat Bar and Grill in Cambridge held its first Celebrity Night for Caring Hearts, a program which helps kids in need at Christmas and throughout the year. Between $1,600 to $1,800 was raised.

    “We really appreciate them doing this and it was a great way to get the word out about Caring Hearts,” Logston said. “We have more kids than ever this year and everything helps. We have 20 families with 54 kids signed up for assistance. Last year, we had 43 kids.”

    Logston noted Caring Hearts ornaments are in local businesses and churches stating the needs and wants of those asking for help. She also noted that every child will receive a book as part of their present. Logston will purchase the books at a discount.

    Caring Hearts gifts will be due at the elementary school Monday, Dec. 12, and distributed Thursday, Dec. 15.

    Upcoming December activities include Biztown on Friday, Dec. 2; the Cambridge Parents Club Craft Show on Sunday, Dec. 4; the elementary holiday program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the high school and the prekindergarten and kindergarten holiday program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the high school.

    Robert Reagan, Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School principal, gave his administrative report.

    He said Freedom House held a poster contest in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month for Henry and Stark County students. Mary Hammer, a junior at Cambridge High School, was the winner. She will receive a $200 savings bond and a ribbon. Her artwork will be displayed on a billboard near Cambridge. The slogan for the contest was “Teens: Have NO use for abuse.” Andrea Happel, another junior, also participated in the contest.

    Reagan reported the volleyball teams held a sleep over at the school as their year-end party Friday, Nov. 4, instead of a banquet. and everything went okay, other than the girls got a little scared from time to time.

    He stated the J. Kyle Braid student leaders will have a Special Olympics Scarf Project. Anyone interested in crocheting or knitting a scarf should please contact Lisa Miller as soon as possible.

    Reagan announced eighth grade students will attend a Career Trade Expo in Rock Island and tour the Arsenal on Thursday, Dec. 8.

    Reagan noted that Dancing in the Moonlight was changed from December to Feb. 18, 2012.

    He congratulated Chris Allen, Tom Akers and all the performers for the performance of the fall play “Up the Down Staircase” and thanked Julian Trotman for doing an outstanding job as the principal in the play.

    Reagan noted the Jr./Sr. High School Christmas program will be held Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.

    He talked about the junior high book club at the school and the students participating in it.

    Students are keeping track of how many books they read this school year. A chart in Sunny Letterle’s room displays the progress they are making toward their goals. Every five books a new reward is given from pencils to lunch out.

    To date, 74 books have been read and logged. Students in the five books club include James Dobbels, Sami Casteel, Colton Franck, Brockton Reed, David Stinson, Sara Vincent and Ashley Yenor. Students in the 10 book club include Dobbels, Stinson and Yenor.

    The top reader will have their name and the number of books read on the “Top Reader Plaque” and will be recognized at the May awards assembly.

    He reported 12 junior high school students participated in a speech contest at Rockridge Friday, Nov. 4. They came home with one firsts, four seconds and one thirds. Tristan Akers was awarded a judge’s choice for his performance.

    Alexis Johnson and Meagan Underwood came in and presented their skit for members of the board. They were accompanied by their parents.

    Tom Akers, superintendent of schools, talked about the upcoming Illinois School Board Convention in Chicago Thursday, Nov. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 19.

    Akers also talked about the Charlotte Danielson model for teacher evaluation. The model outlines four domains of practice from which teachers should incorporate their lessons. The new evaluations will be required in 2016.

    A joint committee has been formed to address this. Serving on the committee are Akers, Logston and Reagan.

    “I really feel like we got a lot accomplished at our first joint committee meeting Tuesday, Nov. 1,” Akers said. “It will be nice to get a head start on this.”

    In other business, the board:

    • Granted a six-week maternity leave to Annie Wood.

    • Accepted a letter of resignation from Robert Hull, Ridgewood junior high football coach.

    • Hired Tracy Larsen as the new Cambridge Elementary School secretary. C. J. Wexell resigned recently.

    • Approved Patrick Andress at a volunteer with Cambridge FFA program.

    • Approved the IHSA Concussion Policy. The school will provide information on their school’s concussion and head injury policy with any material  that a school requires a student-athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition.

    Schools will use education materials provided by the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches, student-athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including continuing to play after a concussion or head injury.

    • Approved seeking bids for gas and diesel. Akers said Henry FS was hosting a Nov. 16 presentation on cooperative buying for school districts and that may be another savings.