District 709 is looking for an architectural firm that will design the renovations the district wants in three elementary schools.
Superintendent Roger Kilpatrick told School Board members Tuesday that a request for qualifications will be published Thursday, with the applications due Aug. 20.
After a vetting process, the remaining firms will be interviewed Aug. 31 and Kilpatrick will make a recommendation to the board Sept. 7.
"We're not looking for someone who built the Empire State Building. We're looking for someone with experience with schools," Kilpatrick said.
Experience with environmentally friendly construction also will be important.
Kilpatrick told board members to be wary of lobbying efforts.
"If you get calls, refer them to myself or (Assistant Superintendent Craig Smock)," he said. "We want to keep the process as objective as possible."
Grundy, Lettie Brown and Lincoln elementary schools are targeted for the work while Jefferson, the district's other elementary school and oldest building, is maintained for an estimated six years, then closed.
Passage of a referendum will be needed for the renovations to proceed.
Also Tuesday, board members:
- Approved a salary of $72,000 for new Lettie Brown Principal Lee Hoffman.
- Welcomed the district's six new teachers, the lowest number of new hires in Kilpatrick's five years in the district.
"We've been averaging between 12 and 15 new teachers per year," he said. "It's a sign of the times."
The new teachers for 2010-11 are Jarrett Brown (Morton High School, physical education); Abby Mundy (special education, Morton Junior High School); Kirk Schick (math, junior high); Jesse Crawford (physical education, Jefferson); Tim Beutel (music, Lettie Brown); Leah Harrison (third grade, Lincoln); and Rebecca Johanson (first grade, Lincoln.)
- Approved increased rates for the rental of district facilities other than the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center at the high school. Rates hadn't changed since 2001.
"The rates are significantly higher than in 2001, but they're still reasonable," Kilpatrick said.
A classroom rental by adults for a community or recreation program has increased from $44 to $66 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Rental of the high school gym by adults for commercial use has increased from $200 to $300 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
- Learned the district will pay substitute teachers the same amount they were paid in 2009-10.
