SPOON RIVER VALLEY CUSD #4
35265 N. IL Hwy 97, London Mills, IL 61544
Superintendent’s Office 778-2204
Jr./Sr. High Office 778-2201
Elementary School Office 778-2207
Administrators
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Superintendent – K. Scot Reynolds
Jr./Sr. High Principal – Christopher Janssen
Elementary Principal – Julie Deignan
parents/guardians and teachers is more essential than ever
for student success. For those of you who have not yet met
me I have extensive experience in both rural schools
(Warrensburg-Latham; six years) and large schools (Decatur;
twenty years). I have a very strong family orientation and put
kids at the center of my professional life. As stakeholders we
will not always agree on every issue (that is unrealistic at
best), but we must, for the sake of the kids, present a united
front. To that end, we must all work toward maximizing
student achievement in all areas, not just paper and pencil
tests. As a community it is our collective responsibility to
help all of our kids to be the very best they can be. The school
environment must be safe and instruction of exceptional
quality.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns,
or just want to stop by for a short visit please feel free to
contact me. Working together I look forward to developing
strong positive relationships as we prepare our students for
the challenges of the future.
With Highest Regards,
K. Scot Reynolds, Superintendent
State of Illinois Monetary Shortfall
Message from the Superintendent
As I complete my first full year and start my second
year at Spoon River Valley as Superintendent I continue to be
impressed with the outstanding quality of both students and
staff. We are far from perfect, but everyone has a strong
sense of dedication to making Spoon River Valley the best
district in West Central Illinois. We are making great strides
in terms of better organization, improved focused goals, and
technical improvements. Thanks to the strong fundraising
efforts of Elementary parents this past year we have been
able to install a new playground. A new fence improving
elementary student safety has been installed. The west
parking lot is undergoing improvements and handicapped
accessibility is being improved. Numerous other electrical
improvements and painting have occurred in both buildings
and in and around the district grounds. Please join me in
welcoming the following new staff members to Spoon River
Valley for the 2009-2010 school year:
Sara Wills, Academic Success Coach and Guidance Counselor
Mary Van Middendorp, Middle School Language Arts
Teacher
Matthew Henning, Vocal/Choral Music Instructor
Staci Pettigout, School Psychologist
Stephanie Mason, Special Education Teacher
Alicia Nelson, Speech Language Pathologist
Matt Allen, Computer Technology
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As an educator starting my 28 year I feel that an
open and collaborative environment between
As of July 7, 2009 the State of Illinois owes Spoon
River Valley $54,000 for FY09 Early Childhood and Special
Education reimbursements. The state also owes the
Transportation Fund $66,000 from FY09.
In order to pay our bills the District has been forced to
transfer funds from Working Cash to the Transportation
Fund.
Spoon River Valley faces potential cuts in many
state funded appropriation line items for FY10. The
following grants have been frozen: ADA Safety and
Educational Block Grant, Career & Technical Education,
Driver Education, Early Childhood – Block Grant, Reading
Improvement Block Grant, School Breakfast Incentive and
State Free Lunch & Breakfast.
We encourage you to contact your State
Representatives.
*Senator David Koehler - 13 S. Capital Street,
Pekin, IL 61554 - (309)-346-4646
*Senator Dale Risinger – 5415 N. University, Suite 105,
Peoria, IL 61614 – (309) 693-4921
*Rep. Donald Moffitt - #5 Weinberg Arcade, Galesburg,
IL 61401 – (309)-343-8000
*Rep. Michael Smith – 333 Margaret St., Pekin, IL
61554 – (309)-353-6276
District Web Site
District news and calendars are available on our web site,
www.spoon-river.k12.il.us. The Web site contains board
meeting agendas, board minutes, menus, activity calendars,
teacher links, and much more. Please check it out.
SCHEDULE FOR FIRST WEEK
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Monday, August 17 – Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, August 18 – Teacher Workshop
Wednesday, August 19 – Student attendance Day –
Dismissal at 11:30 AM
Thursday, August 20 – Dismissal at 2:00 PM/Meals
served
Friday, August 21 – Dismissal at 2:00 PM/ Meals
served.
PLEASE HELP
Please apply for Free and Reduced lunches. Many of our
grants are based on the number of Free and Reduced
applications that we receive. If our numbers increase the
District is entitled to more money. Applications will be
available at registration.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Board of Education of Spoon River Valley Unit
District #4 consists of seven (7) members. Members serve
without salary or other monetary compensation. They serve
4-year terms.
Board meetings are held in the board room in the Jr./Sr.
High School at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each
month. Special meetings may be called as the Board deems
necessary.
Current members are Randy Hartstirn, President; Lance
Tarochione, Vice-President; Jill Freeman, Secretary; Bob
Davis, Lynn Phelps, John Stuckel, and Warren Utsinger
members.
General Admission Requirements
A. AGE – Students must be 5 years old on or before
September 1 to begin kindergarten.
B. BIRTH CERTIFICATE – A certified copy of the child’s
birth certificate must be presented upon enrollment.
This copy comes from the courthouse in the county
from which your child was born.
C. PHYSICAL, DENTAL AND VISION EXAMS - A physical
examination is required under Illinois law for
students enrolling in the Early Childhood Program,
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and 9
grades.
Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6
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Kindergarten, 2 and 6 graders all are required to
have a dental exam.
All students entering
Kindergarten or any student entering the district
from out of state for the first time are required to
have a vision exam. ALL students entering from out
of state must have an Illinois Physical.
D. IMMUNIZATIONS - Students must be in compliance
with Illinois immunization laws. Students are now
required to have a diabetes screening, which is listed
on the immunization form. Parents may get this
form at the doctor’s office or at the school office.
E. ENROLLMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME – Students
enrolling in the Spoon River Valley District #4 school
for the first time must show proof of proper grade
placement from their previous school attended, and
a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate must
be presented. Students must also have a current
Illinois Physical.
F. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS - Only students who are
residents of the District may attend school without a
tuition charge, except as otherwise provided in
board policy or state law. New students may be
required to establish residency as outlined in the
board policies.
G. EXCLUSION DATE – Students who have not met the
immunization or physical requirements will be
excluded beginning with the first day of school.
BACK TO SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONS
A. REGISTRATION – Students are required to register at
their respective school.
The following are
registration dates:
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• Wednesday, August 5 – 8AM – 4PM
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• Thursday, August 6 – 1PM – 7PM
Fees, book rentals, birth certificates, physicals,
dental and vision forms, and residency will be
checked for compliance at this time.
B. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Early childhood education
students, pre-kindergarten students, kindergarten
students and students in grades 1-6 will register at
the Elementary School Office. Bus lists will be
available at this time with pick-up times.
C.
JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL - Students in
grade 7-12 will register at the Junior/Senior High
building. Each student will receive a schedule of
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classes upon registering for school on August 5 or
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6 . Changes to schedules can be made at this time.
School pictures will be taken on September
rd
3 . All students will be required to have their photo
taken at this time for purposes of ID. and lunch
cards. This picture is NOT the one that will be used
for the yearbook for senior students.
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D. 7 GRADE ORIENTATION – a special orientation
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meeting for 7 graders and their parents will be held
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August 18 at 7:00PM in the commons.
FEES
WAIVER OF FEES
The Board of Education has a policy whereby textbook
and instructional materials fees may be waived by the school
district. These are the only fees that will be waived.
If you wish to request a waiver of the above fees, fill out
the “Application for Fee Waiver” which is available at the
school office, and return it to the building principal. You
should fill out the form for each building where you have
children attending school.
After receiving the fee waiver request, the building
principal will determine whether fees will be waived as
requested, and parents will be notified within 14 days of
acceptance or denial. If the request is denied, you will
receive directions at that time as to what you can do if you
wish to appeal the decision.
BOOK RENTAL FEES
Early Childhood
Grades K-6
Grades 7-8
Grades 9-12
$20.00
$40.00
$50.00
$65.00
An additional fee is charged for the following high school
courses:
SPECIAL FEES
Art Classes
$10.00
Technology
$10.00
Agriculture
$10.00
Driver Education
$50.00
IVHS On-Line
$75.00 per semester
WACS
$200 – ($100 refunded
upon successful completion)
College Classes
Students are responsible
for fees and tuition.
SPORT PARTICIPATION FEE
Student/Athletes are required to pay a $20.00
participation fee per sport with a family cap of $100.00.
LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS
MEAL PRICES
ELEMENTARY
Lunch - $1.50
Breakfast - $.75
JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH
Lunch - $1.75
Breakfast - $1.00
Reduced - $.40
Reduced - $.30
Reduced - $.40
Reduced - $.30
Snack Milk/Extra Milk - $.30
Free or reduced lunch forms are available at each school.
Please remember that you may be asked to verify your
income at a later date in order to comply with state
regulations.
If your child received free or reduced meals at the end of
last school year, they may receive the same until a new
application is received and approved. If a new application is
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not received and approved by September 30 , your child will
no longer be eligible to receive free or reduced meals and will
be expected to pay regular price for meals.
INSURANCE
All students attending Spoon River Valley Schools will be
able to purchase insurance through American Youth Student
and Sports Insurance. Brochures describing the insurance
coverage and rates will be provided at registration time. The
following coverage may be purchased: School-time coverage,
24-hour coverage during the school year, football coverage
(grades 9-12). Optional accident and sickness coverage, and
24-hour summer vacation only coverage.
CURRICULUM
ELEMENTARY - Early childhood/pre-kindergarten shall
emphasize the needs of the whole child. Areas to be
developed are language/vocabulary and speech, social,
cognitive, emotional, visual-motor integration, fine and gross
motor skills, and exploration of creative ability.
The grade K-6 curriculum includes reading, language arts,
mathematics, science, social studies, health, computers, art,
music, and physical education.
Resource rooms are available for students with special
needs.
Title I reading, math, and study skills services are
provided for students with needs in these areas.
Report cards are issued every 9 weeks, and one planned
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parent/teacher conference is scheduled for October 22 and
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23 . Members of the community with small children are
welcome to have pictures taken at 8:30 AM on September
rd
3 . Please contact the school for information.
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JUNIOR HIGH – Students in 7 and 8 grade take math,
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language arts, science, and social studies. 7 graders have
rotationals, which include PE., health, supplemental language
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arts, keyboarding, and fine arts. 8 grade rotationals are art,
computers, and supplemental language arts.
HIGH SCHOOL – Valley High School offers a comprehensive
program in general education, vocational education, and
college preparation. There are about 60 courses available at
the high school campus. Courses are also available through
the vocational education cooperative.
The following scale determines a student’s grade level
placement:
0-5.5 credits = Freshman standing & Homeroom
6-11.5 credits = Sophomore standing & Homeroom
12 – 17.5 credits = Junior standing & Homeroom
18– UP credits = Senior standing & Homeroom
Students are ultimately responsible for seeing they meet
the prescribed graduation requirements. There are staff to
assist in the process, but students should be watching to
make sure they meet requirements set forth by the Board of
Education.
SPECIAL EDUCATION - Any child ages 3-21 residing in the
Valley School District is eligible for special education services
if the child is determined to have a handicap which
significantly interferes with learning. Services most often are
provided locally, but occasionally students are placed in one
of the surrounding districts in programs under the auspices of
the West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative.
Each year in February, the district conducts a screening
for all children between the ages of 3 and 5 to determine if
pre-school help is necessary.
Speech and language services are available through a
speech pathologist. Their teachers or parents may refer
students for speech and language evaluation.
If there is a suspicion that a child may have a handicap
which interferes with learning, referral for evaluation may be
made through the building principal, by school district
personnel, the parents of the child, persons having custody,
or by other persons having knowledge of the child’s
problems.
School psychological and social work services are
available through West Central Illinois Special Education
Cooperative.
SENIOR HIGH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS – The philosophy of
athletics at Valley is that athletics is an integral part of the
school’s program of education, which provides experiences
that will help boys and girls grow physically, mentally,
emotionally, socially, and morally.
JUNIOR HIGH BOYS AND GIRLS ATHLETICS - The boys’
athletic program consists of three interscholastic sports –
football, basketball, and track.
The girls’ athletic program consists of three
interscholastic sports, basketball, volleyball and track. There
is also a squad of cheerleaders for boys’ basketball.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS ATHLETICS - The boys’
athletic program consists of five interscholastic sports –
football, golf, basketball, baseball and track.
The girls’ athletic program consists of five interscholastic
sports – volleyball, golf, basketball, softball, and track. There
is also a cheerleading squad and danceline for boys’ football
and boys’ basketball.
ATHLETE REQUIREMENTS/PARTICIPATION FEES
Athletes must have a physical, insurance or insurance
waiver, and a signed interscholastic handbook form prior to
participating in any activity, including practice.
Student athletes are required to pay a $20.00
participation fee per sport with a family cap of $100.00.
SPORT ADMISSION FEES
The North Fulton Coop will charge the following fees for
admission: Children/students $2.00, adults: $3.00, senior
citizens (65 up): free. Season passes available: $30.00.
OTHER GENERAL INFORMATION
EMERGENCIES, SEVERE WEATHER
In cases of extreme weather, parents are asked not to
call the administrative offices.
Listen for information
broadcast by the area radio stations. The following radio
stations will carry school closings news:
WBYS (FM107.9) in Canton; WAIK (AM 1590) and WAAG
(FM 94.9) in Galesburg; and WJEQ (FM 102.7) and WKAI (FM
100.1) in Macomb.
SPOON RIVER VALLEY
SCHOOL DISTRICT #4
35265 N IL HWY 97
London Mills, IL 61544
If time permits, weather-related information will also be
broadcast on the following Peoria TV stations: WMBD - Ch.
31, WHOI – Ch. 19, and WEEK – Ch. 25.
The decision to close or not to close school will generally
be made by 6:30 AM if possible. School personnel will make
the decision after inspection of roads from road
commissioners, information from bus drivers, weather
forecast information, etc.
Radio stations will also broadcast tornado information.
In case of a tornado warning during school hours, pupils will
be kept in the buildings until the warning is lifted. Each
school has a disaster plan as well as a fire emergency plan.
We will also use an automated calling system to get
information out in a timely manner. We will use current
numbers on file, so please be sure to update numbers if they
change. There is no need to return a call made to you by this
system.
TRANSPORTATION
School buses provide morning and afternoon service for
District #4 students. Bus routes, which change somewhat
yearly, will be posted in each school at registration.
High School students who are properly licensed and who
observe school regulations are usually permitted to drive cars
or other motor vehicles to school.
Each bus student will receive a list of regulations
governing school bus riders. It is recommended that all
riders, parents of riders, and teachers become thoroughly
familiar with the regulations. Students failing to observe bus
regulations will be referred to their respective building
principal and transportation director. The building principal,
director of transportation and the bus driver will decide what
disciplinary action needs to be taken, if any. Parents should
talk with the building principal and director of transportation
if they have any questions.
HEALTH SERVICES
School health services are offered by the Fulton County
Health Department. The Department works with the school
to provide vision and hearing screening as well as a dental
education program.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Each school has discipline guidelines established.
Parents are asked to be sure it is understood what
disciplinary measures will be taken. Call your principal(s)
with concerns.
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