200-U Making Up That Snow Day
By Jeff Vorva
Two new part-time positions have been added to the Beecher School District 200-U roster and will be filled with current full-time employees.
Kerry Pikal will serve as a dean at Beecher Junior High, and Paul Vogel will serve as the technology coordinator for the district, starting next school year.
Both will continue to work their regular staff jobs but will pick up these new responsibilities with added compensation.
Pikal will work closely with Principal Michelle Kwasny at the junior high school.
“The dean would be an assistant principal who handles behavior,” Board President Ashley Belt said. “When something does come up, it takes over (Kwasny’s) whole day.
“She can no longer do her job, because she is dealing with behavior. Hopefully this opens it up where she can be in the building with the students doing what she needs to do other than dealing with misbehavior issues.”
“That building does not have a second administrator,” Superintendent Jack Gaham added. “Michelle is kind of always there by herself. This gives her additional support.”
Vogel will help Technology Director Joe Duncan with his duties.
“Joe does a lot, and we have Joe stretched very, very thin. Right now we are in a world where everything is technology based,” Gaham said. “It’s a new position, but we’re not hiring a new person. It’s taking a person who we have and giving him additional responsibilities.”
Gaham said Vogel already is working on consolidating 15 different curriculum technology programs and already has saved the district “significant money.”
Using the emergency day
The district gave students two days away from school during a mid-January snow and ice storm and one was a virtual learning day while the other was a traditional snow day. The snow day will be made up on March 1, which was designated an emergency day to be used in case a makeup day was needed.
Gaham was not a fan of using both days as virtual learning days.
“Putting two in a row does not feel right, and we have that emergency day built in at the beginning of March,” he said. “With Pulaski Day on that Monday, they will still get a three-day weekend rather than a four-day weekend.”
Comings and goings
The board acknowledged the imminent retirement of elementary school aide Joy Walker and the resignation of junior high cross country coach Nick Kapchinske.
It also approved the employment of Lauren Garza as a kindergarten special education teacher.
Illinois News
Classifieds
Time for Halloween Fun; Be Safe!
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave Area villages have set the hours for the traditional Halloween trick-or-treating, and at least one requires adult supervision for minors. In the Village of Crete, kids can gather candy on Thursday, October 31, from 3 to 7 p.m., with the 6 – 7 p.m. hour requiring adult supervision. The Village…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Youth Services Kids are welcome to stop by the library to vote on a name for the giant stuffed monkey for the library’s “2024 Name Our Ape Election” and receive an “I voted” sticker. A new turkey leaf take-and-make craft will be available…
Free Film Screening: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Observes Native American Heritage Month
Spread the loveNovember is Native American Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture, and contributions of Native Americans, while educating the public about the challenges American Indians face today. We begin by honoring the land ancestry of Kankakee County, the occupied lands of the Potawatomi and Kickapoo Tribes, as a result of settler colonialism. In observance…
BHS Announces First Quarter Honor Rolls
Spread the loveBeecher High School recently announced students named to its first quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Seniors: Valentin Alcauter, Noah Berry, Brooklynn Burdick, Laville Cherry, Klaudia Chlebek, Ava Chose, Abigail Collins, Jace Cook, Meghan Dabrowski, Amelia Dodge, Charlotte Farrar, Savannah Farrar, Steven Fezler, Kevin Flanagan, Kate Flora, Nicholas Flores,…
St. Paul the Apostle Parish Holding Second Listening Session
Spread the loveAs part of Phase 3 of the targeted restructuring process for the Diocese of Joliet, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish, 511 N. Conrad Street, will be hosting its second Parish Listening Session on Wednesday, November 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. It is important people attend both sessions, as the content of…
Trick-or-Treat Hours
Spread the loveMark your calendars for local trick-or-treat hours, and don’t forget to be extra vigilant while driving, as the children dart about enjoying Halloween fun! Keep everyone safe! Beecher: From 4 to 7 p.m. Crete: From 3 – 7 p.m., but children must be accompanied by an adult from 6 to 7 p.m. Manhattan:…
Beecher in Water…
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Former longtime Beecher Administrator Robert Barber brought an issue to the village’s attention that could lead into a bigger issue. During the October 15 meeting, Public Works Director Matt Connor said that Barber informed him recently of water gushing on the Cardinal Creek Golf Course and after doing some investigating,…
Local Farmers Markets Ending Season
Spread the loveTime is running out to visit local Farmers Markets: Manhattan – Saturdays, through October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bothwell Farms, 13015 W. Smith Road, Manhattan; Monee: Every Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Crow and Calico Tavern at Crozehead Cooperage, 25964 S. Egyptian Trail, Monee; Kankakee – Saturdays, through…
St. Pat’s CCW Hosting Harvest Social, Card Party
Spread the loveSt. Patrick Council of Catholic Women, in Wilton Center, will host their Harvest Social and Card Party on Wednesday, October 30, beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the Wilton Center Community Building, 14355 W. Joliet Road, Manhattan. Tickets are $10, with lunch, door prizes, and a split-the-pot raffle (tickets are $1 each or six…
Veterans Day Basket Bingo November 9
Spread the loveFlight Club Survivor Basket Bingo is back! The bi-annual fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 9, from 6 to 10 p.m., at 209 W. Dixie Highway in Grant Park. Doors open at 5 p.m. The event, which honors Breast Cancer Warriors, Camo Warriors, and Veterans, is a family-friendly event, with tickets only…
Beecher Police Blotter: October 12 – 15
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On October 12, Sylvia Anna Ramos, 64, of Beecher, was stopped for having an expired registration and found to have a suspended driver’s license. She was issued citations for both offenses and…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The public is invited to stop by the library and view all the wonderfully decorated pumpkins for our pumpkin decorating contest. Youth Services Kids are welcome to stop by the library to vote on a name for our giant stuffed monkey for the…
200U Trending in the Right Direction
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The three principals in Beecher School District 200U shared test scores from the previous school year and while there was a downturn in some areas, Mike Meyer, the high school principal, was the most disappointed. He gave a series of stats and graphs and summarized it with somewhat mixed feelings.…
Beecher Police Blotter: October 1 – 4
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On October 1, Ricardo Soto, 22, of Beecher, was stopped for speeding and found to have a suspended driver’s license. He was issued a citation for being suspended, speeding, and no insurance,…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Youth Services Kids are welcome to stop by the library and vote on a name for our giant stuffed monkey for the “2024 Name Our Ape Election.” They will receive an “I voted” sticker. A candy corn take-and-make craft now is available. Pick…