HOOPESTON — School board members learned Thursday that stimulus funds have been approved for use by the district except for the Title I funds. Title I money still has to be approved, according to Superintendent Hank Hornbeck.

"As many of you know from reading the news, Illinois finances are bleak," Hornbeck said. "The schools haven’t been hit by this yet, but will probably get hit by it next spring."

Presently the IDEA part B Flow Through for Special Education has been approved for $288,594 and the IDEA Preschool Flow Through approved for $10,546. Hornbeck said the money will be used for staff development, technology, materials and supplies.

"The district plans to purchase and hopefully have in place approximately 120 new computers and 40 Smart Books by next school year," Hornbeck said.

Title I, which focuses on reading, would receive $236,142 if approved.

In other business, board members:

-- Approved the youth wrestling charter club for students in grades 1-3 for the 2010 school year with the stipulation it be reviewed and approved yearly and follow the guidelines of the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation.

-- Approved by a vote of 6 1, the motion to establish an athletic Hall of Fame advisory council.

-- Approved Bill Nelson as the school attorney with a retainer fee of $2,000 a year.

-- Approved the proposed tax increase for Hoopeston Area Community Unit School District No. 11 in the amount of $3,183,225. This represents an 8.3 percent increase more than last year.

-- Learned the community and businesses are forming a partnership with the school district to focus on the same concept as the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program in the school system. Posters entitled Hoopeston Area Students Demonstrate Community Leadership will be placed in 20 participating businesses to encourage students to be responsible, respectful and safe.

-- Learned that eighth-grade students will participate in Career Awareness next Tuesday and Wednesday at Danville Area Community College.

-- Learned that the middle school has a new Homework Academy for students who have failed one or more classes the previous quarter. Students can receive help with homework on Tuesday and Thursday before and after school until the next passing midterm grading period.

-- Learned John Greer Grade School participated in the mittens, hats and stuffed toys for the Festival of Trees put on by Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation this year and collected 1,118 items to win a Christmas tree for the second time.

-- Learned the Rossville-Alvin eighth-grade students and parents would be hosted at an orientation night 6-7 p.m. Nov. 30, Bis-marck-Henning High School. The students will then visit Hoopeston Area High School on Dec. 1 to help decide which high school they plan to attend in 2010-2011. Since its deactivation, Rossville-Alvin’s students can attend either Hoopeston or Bis-marck-Henning with tuition paid to each school by the Rossville-Alvin School district.

-- Learned that a Meet The Cornjerkers night is scheduled for Nov. 20.

-- Hired Kendra Flohr as the middle school cheerleading coach.

WHAT’S NEXT

Hoopeston Area School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the high school library.