D135 To Receive $5.3M Capital Improvement Grant

It took seven years, but Orland School District 135 crossed the first of two hurdles last week to receive a $5.3 million capital improvement grant from the state.

On Monday, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services John Reiniche told members of the school board that he had applied for the grant in the midst of building additions at Liberty School, Prairie School and Jerling Jr. High. Although construction on those projects has completed, the money will be spent on safety improvements and technology initiatives, he said.

However, the state is under no obligation to immediately distribute the grant. The Illinois Capital Development Board, which approved the application, does not distribute funds, Reiniche said.

He attributed the delay in the grant application process to a long waiting list and said the funds, whenever they arrive, will also be used to restructure the district’s debt.

Enrollment Down

Enrollment is down 150 students from this time one year ago, according to assistant superintendent of student services Colleen Schultz.

Human Resources Director Julie Oberwise said the drop comes mostly in the kindergarten class, where teachers have been shuffled as a result. The district has lost 7.5 positions between this coming year and the last, Oberwise noted, but it has maintained all of its teachers through attrition.

Schultz expects about 50 students to sign up before the school year begins, bringing the total decrease this year to 100 students. If that number holds, it will be the sixth school year in a row that .

Tech Consultant Rehired

The district renewed a one-year contract with assistive technology consultant Leslie Griffin at a cost of $75 per hour, which will be paid entirely through technology grant funds.

In a memo to the board, assistant superintendent Colleen Schultz wrote that “Griffin serves as one of our representatives at local Infinitec meetings and provides both student and staff training on the use of software programs,” in addition to maintaining an inventory of equipment and software licenses for the district.

The contract caps her yearly pay at $91,000.

Although the district did not review alternative applicants, Schultz argued that Griffin would likely be the cheapest they could find because she does not receive benefits and works many evenings and weekends without billing the district.

Carmody asked that Schultz provide more information about alternative forms of service and competitive wages when they review Griffin's contract next year.

“I can’t speak of her capabilities,” Carmody said, “but the process is something that needs to be looked at.”