During Galva’s School Board meeting on Monday, Galva High School Principal Jerry Becker commended Junior Everett Thuline for his selection to the 2019-2020 Illinois All-State Chorus sponsored by the Illinois Music Education Association (IMEA).
By Carol Townsend
GALVA – School Board members Andrew Larson and John VanDeVelde were named to a sub committee to search for a new School Superintendent. The district hopes to name a superintendent in November to replace Doug O’Riley, who is retiring July 1, 2021.
O’Riley came to Galva in 2006 as principal before becoming superintendent in 2010.
The board also looked at architectural plans for new science rooms. Bidders for the construction project can walk through the rooms in February and the board will look over bids at its March meeting.
Some features of the rooms include a dishwasher to wash glassware, an eye-wash system with a shower, hot water added to the lab and a new floor.
O’Riley told the board about E-Learning Days, a program that students in grades 4-12 can log into on days missed due to bad weather.Students could check in and do work with a teacher online for five hours, which would count for a day’s credit. Dedicated hotspots would be set up for those without internet service.
O’Riley said this might be negotiated in the next teacher’s contract.
O’Riley also talked about an Instructional Coaching Cooperative with a focus on technology professional development and implementation. This would be through a Learning Technology Center (LTC) and used for sending someone into the districts to work with teachers on using electronical devices in the classrooms.
The LTC is an Illinois State Board of Education program that supports all public school districts, schools and educators through technology initiatives, services, and professional learning opportunities that further four main focus areas: digital teaching, learning and leadership, network and technology infrastructure; student data security and safety and equity and access.
O’Riley said there are grants for this program available and added the program has worked well in the Rock Falls area.
O’Riley said at a recent meeting of superintendents, Annawan, Bradford, Stark County, Wethersfield and Galva were possibly interested in looking into this. The program costs about $650 per day but he said that there are grants available for this.
The board will vote on this in March, so grants could be obtained.
The board looked over the 2020-21 school calendar.
