The Danville Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Greg Ross present Board Chair Steve Becker with a service award to recognize him for 16 years of “outstanding and dedicated service to the board.”
Glenn Ball, Esther Rugerio and Jennifer Pusateri, existing Danville Independent Schools Board of Education members, were sworn in by Rep. Daniel Elliott on Monday and will begin their new terms on Jan. 22.
Kent Mann, who will be filling one of the two-year terms on the board, will be sworn in during the month of January. Patrick McClure, who was elected to serve on the board for a two-year term, has sent a letter to the board announcing he will not be able to fill the role. The board will be declaring a vacancy on the board in January.
Monday’s meeting was Board Chair Steve Becker’s last board meeting. He is finishing his 16th year as a board member, and he has been the Board Chair for several of those years.
“It’s been a long time since I haven’t been on this Board of Education, so I’ve been honored to serve several superintendents and board members that all have been excellent in their jobs,” he said.
Superintendent Dr. Greg Ross said he felt it “prudent and needed” to show Becker appreciation for the years he has served on the board. He presented Becker with a service award to recognize him for 16 years of “outstanding and dedicated service to the board.”
Becker said, “It’s been an honor.”
Melinda Weathers’ term also ends on Dec. 31. She took on her role as board member in July to fill a board vacancy.
She said, “I’ve enjoyed my time on the board … it’s been a pleasure.”
In other business, the board:
Unanimously approved a $4,500 expenditure to pay for Danville High School sophomores to take the ACT. This will help prepare them in their final years at DHS before they graduate.
In a report, heard representatives from Trane share that DHS is now recognized as an Energy Star Certified school due to the school’s energy savings.
Unanimously approved a quote for the Gravely Hall Performing Arts Center lighting project. The current lighting system has been in Gravely Hall for about 23 years. Facilities and Transportation Director Ernest Dunn said an upgrade would give the space more lighting options, allow the district’s great performances to be even better, and significantly reduce energy costs. Gravely Media/Tech Coordinator Malcolm Springs said the new system would only use about 16% of the power that the current lights use, with five times the amount of light at one-fifth of the cost.
Unanimously approved to pursue new bids on the Anchor Plaza project, a proposed outdoor learning space.
Unanimously approved going forward to put Frontline Time and Attendance in place, a digitalized timekeeping system for employees.