(Above) Danville High School AD Mark Bacys and Girls Tennis Coach Kathy Houpt introduce the 3rd place in the state DHS Girls Tennis Team to the School Board.
During Wednesday evening’s District 118 School Board meeting, North Ridge Middle School principal Eliza Brooks presented a proposal for a school safety plan, which includes metal detectors very similar to the ones already used at Danville High School. Superintendent Dr. Alicia Geddis says budgeting for this plan is already being worked on; and bringing in the metal detectors is something that’s planned.
North Ridge Middle School principal Eliza Brooks presents campus safety plan to District 118 Board.
AUDIO: We actually started that conversation last school year. So, some of it was projected into this school year; because the conversation already existed and the committee had already met. So we were expecting this to come. (On detectors) The staff has indicated that they want them. And so we want to make sure that the students and staff feel safe. And if that is what they need, we will absolutely provide it for them.
Ms. Brooks had stated that overall cost of the plan was about $116,000.
(Left) Dr. Alicia Geddis presents report on food service program to District 118 Board and meeting audience. (Right) Earlier in meeting, Lisa Behrens states she will be at each meeting presenting facts about mishaps within the district.
Meanwhile, a disagreement that came forth during the last meeting continued. Danville resident and district parent Lisa Behrens had criticized Dr. Geddis, the school board, and the food service director for disorganization, and not being aware the district was part of a food co-op. She spoke at the start of Wednesday’s meeting; said other district parents are contacting her, and that she plans to attend every meeting.
AUDIO: I’m on a fact finding mission. Thanks to them they have giving me lots of information to go with. I will only provide facts that I can prove. You know what? I’ll make sure that everybody sees what needs to be seen.
But Dr. Geddis presented a long report later in the meeting defending food service director Zeta Piggott, saying she arrived in July of 2021 amid extreme chaos and missing files. And yes, District 118 had received citations from the state board of education for items such as inadequate meal components. Dr. Geddis says, Piggott walked into a problem, and lots of progress has been made.
AUDIO: Ms Piggott came to the table, and there wasn’t a single piece of paper for her to examine. There were no files, they were all taken. The training that was required is happening. Our staff, they’re being taught about the required meal components. Because as you can see, each time we failed to meet the required meal components. Our staff needed to be taught. There has been some resistance; because, you know, “that’s the way we always did it.” But you can clearly see that the state board said that the way we were doing it was incorrect.
Dr. Geddis says all the information she provided to the school board will be available on the district web site.
Dr. Geddis was extremely happy to receive her own DHS Girl Tennis Team 3rd Place Medal from DHS AD Mark Bacys.
Finally, Danville High School’s “third place in the state” girls tennis team was honored; with DHS Athletic Director Mark Bacys introducing all six members; who introduced themselves to us afterwards.
AUDIO: Ava Towne…Reese Rundle…Josie Hotsinpiller…Anna Houpt…Lexi Ellis…Cici Brown.
The Danville High School girls tennis team is coached by Kathy Houpt.
