PC provides education spotlight

An educational spotlight was provided for Prairie Central Junior High School during Thursday’s regular meeting of the PC Board of Education in Fairbury.

Principal Amy Bachtold was joined by staff members Jenny Deschepper, Baylee Ritter and Angie Kratochvil. Junior High staff provided updates to the board on their school improvement goals for the current year.

Deschepper discussed a number of interventions the building is conducting to assist students considered to be chronically truant for missing over 10 percent of the school year.

Ritter reported on staff creating common language tools to assess mathematical reasoning skills by using CER, or Claim Evidence and Reasoning.

Kratochvil explained figurative language and how the staff has created an area of focus each month for students to work on throughout the building.

Bachtold said she has pride in her staff for rallying together to make collective changes for the betterment of students.

Two Junior High students addressed the board. Harper Steidinger gave an introduction to Ellen Quain who will run for a regional section seat at the Illinois Student Council Conference. Steidinger spoke of Quain’s work ethic, drive, leadership and service. Quain then gave the speech she will be presenting at the state convention.

Superintendent Brian Quam provided an update on the Junior High project as metal roofing installation has started on the gym. Once the roof is complete, the gym floor installation company will begin laying the new floor. The lighting and sound system has been updated and new scoreboards were ordered.

At the high school, Union Roofing has started to repair the cafeteria roof which was damaged from the same storm last winter. They hope to have work completed by the end of next week if the weather cooperates.

Meetings are taking place with BLDD, Vissering and the school team to complete the design documents for the new school. A facility committee meeting will take place in the near future to discuss facility needs for PC moving forward and to create a vision to guide the district.

Updates from the Advisory Council were presented by Dr. McGowan and Mrs. Pickham. PC Primary West was this month’s spotlight and Mrs. Fuhr updated the board on school improvement goals for the year.

Under old business, stipends and fees were approved for FY27. District lunch prices were increased by $0.15 to assist with the increasing cost of supplies. The board approved waiving the high school parking fee for the 26-27 school year.

In new business, student handbook changes were discussed for 26-27 and there were no major adjustments to student handbooks other than required legal updates. The group approved opening construction bids for facility projects. These bids will be public April 30 and close May 28. Approval comes in June and once bids are approved, the construction process can begin.

Superintendent Quam presented the proposed regular meeting dates for the next school year. The board meets on the third Thursday of each month except for November and March when they will meet on the third Tuesday.

Dr. McGowan presented information on the Consolidated District Plan and Family Engagement Plan for Prairie Central. The plan must be presented each year and approved by the board for the district to continue receiving Title Grant funding. It outlines how the district collects data and creates plans to address academic deficiencies and how to support students as they transition throughout the district.

Quam presented the Health and Life Safety Certification of Need which is the final step of needed paperwork for storm damage at the Junior High and High School. This is submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education. The district sustained approximately $1 million of damage from the storm and insurance covered all of the expenses except for roughly $180,000.

The Board:

Approved the following individuals for employment:

■ Trevin McCulloh, HS Auxiliary Baseball Coach, Effective Immediately

■ Mackenzie Tallyn, PCE 2nd Grade Teacher, Effective 26-27 school year.

■ Sydney Woodrey, Auxiliary Cheer Coach, Effective Immediately.

■ Piper Rieger, HS Flags Coach(0.5), Effective Immediately

■ Lynette Edelman, UE 6th Grade Teacher, Effective 26-27 school year.

Brittany Chadwick, 0.5 HS Winter Cheerleading, Effective 26-27 school year.

■ Mara Knobloch, HS FACS, Effective 26-27 school year.

Approved the following resignations/retirements:

■ Erik Kurtenbach, JH 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, Effective Immediately

■ Ruth Getchius, HS English, Effective at the conclusion of the 25-26 school year.

■ Jessica Spiers, UE Paraprofessional, Effective April 10, 2026

■ Marla Moore, PCE Teacher, Intent to retire at the conclusion of the 2028-2029 school

year.

■ Jen Jacobs, HS Special Education, Effective at the conclusion of the 25-26 school

year.

■ Lee Reinhart, HS Head Custodian, Effective Immediately

Approve Dismissals of;

■ Robert Ellis, Bus Monitor, Effective Immediately

Approved the following transfers:

■ Colette Striepling, PCPE First Grade to PreK at PCPE and PCPW. Effective 26-27

school year.

■ Michelle Koehl, PCPW Prek to PCPE Intervention, Effective 26-27 school year.

Allyson Payton, HS Para to HS Bilingual Paraprofessional, Effective 26-27 school

year.

■ Nadine Pilgrim, HS FACS to HS ICE Coordinator, Effective 26-27

Approved the following leaves:

■ Carrie Golden, UE Teacher, beginning April 7, 2026 for 4 weeks

■ Kelsey Stalter, UE Paraprofessional, beginning September 7, 2026 for 6-8 weeks

The Board of Education approved the contracts for non-bargained employees for the 26-27 school year.