DuQuoin CUSD #300

Summer Food Program begins Monday June 6 through Friday July 29, 2022. Meals are free for kids 18 and under and will be available at the elementary school plus 2 other sites. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed on site this year, no grab-n-go orders. Watch for more details later this month on the future sites around town.

Congratulations to Lauren Heape on achieving the Million Words Club membership! Lauren is a senior and the fourth Du Quoin High school student to earn this level of success. Pictured is Mrs. Coleman, senior English teacher, with Lauren, who presented the award and t-shirt. Congratulations and keep reading!

The 2022 Southern Illinois Reading Council held the Spring Celebrations Program on April 28 awarding excellence in creative writing, including five Du Quoin CUSD 300 student authors. The SIRC sponsors an annual writing contest, open to public and private students across the southern Illinois regions for students in grades 2nd – 8th. Students are challenged to write a short story judged on creativity and organization, as well as overall theme and message. The contest recognizes the top three places in each each grade level out of a 13 county region. It is with tremendous pride we celebrate this accomplishment with our student winners. Student winners, respective award places and teacher’s name. 2nd grade Nixon Porter (2nd place) and Sofia Williams (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Rachel Tilley; 3rd grader Harper Hill (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Kimberly Loyd; and 5th graders Kai Travis (2nd place) and Ashlyn Strode (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Leslie Small.

Du Quoin 21st Century offers a variety of summer courses and camps for students in K - 11th grade. Find out more in the news announcement https://www.duquoinschools.org/article/727981

We are currently seeking applicants for the following positions: Support Staff Positions - Custodian/Janitor (2) - Applications currently being accepted. Starting pay for the 2022-2023 school year will be $13.65/hr. with $1.30/hr. increases occurring in both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. Health insurance is provided to employees by the District. Licensed Staff Position for 2022-2023 - Special Education Teacher at the high school (new position - self-contained setting) - Starting salary for 2022-2023 is $42,000. Prior years of TRS experience are recognized on the salary schedule. A formal mentoring program is provided for new/novice teachers. Deadline to apply May 12, 2022 Full job listings for licensed positions are posted on the IASA Job Bank. To apply for a position in our school district, please complete an application. A District 300 Licensed Staff Application or Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 or picked up from the District Office. Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on the date of the deadline listed above for the position. If you have any questions regarding the position, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

It's Scholastic Book Fair time! From April 25th - April 29th, discover new books with your kids at our BOGO Book Fair. Bonus: Every purchase supports our school. Click on our homepage below to check out new books, order online and set up your e-wallet NOW! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/duquoinelementaryschool1

Elementary News for the week of April 25th. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RQ5XzZHvQlQYlcndZ1lzYIQmoxGMWo4Y/view?usp=sharing

Elementary News for the week of April 18th. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IUoojZICR8rL3ljGpF1nx36phcpMRTQK/view?usp=sharing

We are currently seeking applicants for the following positions: Support Staff Positions - Custodian/Janitor - Applications currently being accepted Cook - Applications currently being accepted Licensed Staff Positions for 2022-2023 - Elementary Intervention Teacher - Deadline to apply April 29, 2022 Elementary Teacher (1st grade) - Deadline to apply April 19, 2022 Full job listings for licensed positions are posted on the IASA Job Bank. To apply for a position in our school district, please complete an application. A District 300 Licensed Staff Application or Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 or picked up from the District Office. Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on the date of the deadline listed above for the position. If you have any questions regarding the position, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

This message is for District 300 families. We want to pass along an update related to student transportation for Tuesday. At this time Durham Transportation has informed us that all bus routes are covered at this time. We are thankful for the work of the bus drivers today and we appreciate the help of families who made arrangements to find an alternative for today and those who helped get children to school today. Small towns have their pros and cons, but today was an example of a pro. Many people worked together, even if they didn't agree, to do what was best for the students. We will pass along any updates as needed. Thank you

Elementary News for the week of April 11th. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XM6PhmU6IgsZ9Fpfp-N5C78NWWPG5Hl2/view?usp=sharing DES/DMS Art Flyer Attachment https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RJtPmyPxBJ4lqCauUci2JHxdOIEOZG2E/view?usp=sharing

This is a message for District 300 families. We want to share more details about transportation impacts for tomorrow in District 300. The following bus routes will be directly impacted: Chicken bus, Lion bus. Durham plans to still run these routes, but at a later pick-up time. Parents of students who ride the Chicken bus or Lion bus should plan for a delay of approximately 30 minutes. We also have impacts on our Pre-K route as well as the route which transports students to other facilities. We appreciate the help and cooperation of SIU Pre-K and Tri-County for contacting those impacted families directly. Through modifications of schedules and cooperation of other districts (thank you Anna-Jonesboro) along with the willingness of our coaching staff to transport students via activity bus, all extra-curricular activities have been covered for Monday. We appreciate the teamwork which is occurring in order to do what is best for our students. We will continue to share information as needed regarding impacts later in the week. Thank you

April 10, 2022 At an emergency meeting of the Du Quoin CUSD 300 Board of Education, the Board awarded the new student transportation bid, in a 5-2 vote, to First Student Inc. The Board had already removed the bid from Durham Transportation and considered two proposals - one from First Student and one from Robinson Transport. Following lengthy deliberation, First Student was awarded the bid and the following resolution was adopted by the Board: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DUQUOIN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 300 The Board of Education for DuQuoin Community School District 300 (hereinafter “The Board”) resolves the following: That in February 2022, the Board solicited sealed bids for Student Transportation Contracts for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 school years. That on March 9, bids were unsealed from three bidders, all of which fell within the bid specifications: Durham School Services submitted a bid in the amount of $2,511,663.48; Robinson Transport, Inc. submitted a bid in the amount of $2,857,206.23; and First Student Inc. submitted a bid in the amount of $2,883,955.56. The Board initially accepted the lowest bid, from Durham School Services. However, the Board subsequently concluded that Durham would be unable to reliably provide a sufficient number of drivers. Accordingly, the Board no longer considers Durham to be a qualified bidder, and rescinded their acceptance of the Durham bid on 4/8/2022. The Board then considered the bid from Robinson Transport, Inc. However, Robinson has failed to adhere to the terms of their bid submission. Accordingly, the Board no longer considers Robinson Transport Inc. to be a qualified bidder. The Board has considered the concerns of the community, including concerns of the current drivers who would likely be employed by the student transportation vendor. The Board has concluded that First Student, Inc. has submitted the lowest qualified bid. First Student, Inc. has agreed to supply a daily bus fleet no older than five years old for the length of the contract, and their backup bus fleet will be no older than eight years old. This will ensure reliable bus service for the District and its students. First Student Inc. has agreed to offer wage rates and terms of employment that are superior to that of the competing proposals and far superior to the terms and wage rates currently available to student transportation employees. This will ensure that drivers, mechanics, and bus monitors are readily available. The Board hereby accepts the student transportation bid of First Student Inc. in the amount of $2,883,955.56. SO RESOLVED, The Board of Education for Du Quoin Community School District 300.

As many of you know, Du Quoin CUSD 300 is dealing with a situation involving the awarding of a new bid for the providing of student transportation and our current student transportation provider, Durham Transportation, and their employees. At an emergency meeting of the Board of Education held on Friday, April 8, 2022, the Board of Education rescinded previous action which had awarded the student transportation bid to Durham Transportation for three years starting with the 2022-2023 school year. While they remain our current provider, Durham Transportation is no longer being considered for the new transportation bid. At an emergency meeting of the Board to be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, April 10, the Board will now be considering the two remaining bid proposals which include First Student Inc. and Robinson Transport Inc. as the potential providers of student transportation beginning with the new school year. We are hopeful that this matter will now come to a full resolution as we prepare for the start of a new week of school. We will share more information following the emergency meeting.

This is a message for District 300 families. On Thursday, April 14, District 300 schools will be dismissing at 2:00 PM in advance of the extended Easter weekend. District 300 schools will not be in session on Friday, April 15 or Monday, April 18. Everyone have a good weekend!

Elementary News for the week of April 4th. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y0rx85WzaPWi647ywff6Mvy_RXlW6jyt/view?usp=sharing

The DHS Theatre Department has put together an entertaining production of scenes from Almost, Maine and Check, Please. The cast and crew involves a lot of kids and they’re great! The show starts at 7 PM tonight in historic R.P. Hibbs auditorium. Check these kids out! As an additional note, with Mrs. Lisa Coleman’s retirement at the end of this school year, this is the end of an era for the DHS Theatre Department. Mrs. Coleman has provided many years of hard work and dedication to student productions and each of them have been a team effort involving her family. We know it has been a labor of love. Thank you for all you’ve done!

Elementary News for the Week of March 28th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SzzQc5QpoPGD35Pk3beRYSP05BlHKR7A/view?usp=sharing One School One Book https://drive.google.com/file/d/13tRt8xOq1LNBoYUtx4BobEyrRgnOOySa/view?usp=sharing Girl Scouts https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NvhfYiGdN_9_cWs_P4D6qGu_i3dcWyVP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102155161693232667537&rtpof=true&sd=true

Elementary News for the Week of March 21st https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEO2l_H_XFYEpL4rKAbYN7trwH2K2ATm/view?usp=sharing Pre-K Screenings https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xgqaWNn5He10PrT5_Dbv3HOoxrWzcIZf/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102155161693232667537&rtpof=true&sd=true https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ny9QlDuXJWZ9UDAslgIPvcYTmiKsSVyI/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102155161693232667537&rtpof=true&sd=true https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SDJeCo6m8U6ODCU-i5iuevdqxZjUilWZ/view?usp=sharing

We are seeking feedback from families for an application to extend our 21st Century Arrow Academy program for students in elementary and middle school beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. The survey is available here https://forms.gle/4YsweEtxZxRDKbbd9 until Tuesday, March 22 to participate.