School board to consider naming gym again

The School District 166 school board has a very full agenda for its May 17 meeting–the board will hear an update on bond projects such as the culinary arts and science rooms and will consider curriculum budgets for physical education, music, and culinary arts.

Renaming the School District 166 gym is once again on the agenda. In the board packet is a letter from Michael McHugh, president of the Cook County Education Association, requesting that the school district dub the gym as the Pam Taylor Gymnasium.

McHugh pointed out that it would be fitting to honor her legacy as a coach, teacher, mentor and colleague, cancer survivor and friend in this way. The association added that it would be especially meaningful if the designation were announced at this year’s commencement exercises.

According to the agenda, the board will review and possibly approve updates to its Indian Policies and Procedures.

A number of personnel matters are on the agenda, including accepting resignations of four paraprofessionals, Bruce Johnson, Jennifer Sutton, Erin Petz and Anna Ross. According to their resignation letters, all appreciated the opportunity to work at the school. Petz is leaving to pursue her Master’s degree in education at the College of St. Scholastica.

Johnson and Sutton both expressed interest in sometimes serving as substitutes if the school wanted them to do so.

Other personnel matters include possible hiring of Megan Trumper as school counselor; Autumn Hood as early childhood special education teacher, Mila Horak as art teacher; Andy Feddema as social studies teacher; Sharon Van Ruiswyk as special education paraprofessional and Amanda Biehl as language arts teacher.

The board will also talk about how – or if – it will be involved with the city and county’s plans for trails from the Sawtooth Bluffs area to the Cook County YMCA on school grounds.   

Again, the School District 166 school board meets May 17 in the Jane Mianowski Conference Room at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. The meeting convenes at 5 p.m., starting with a brief time for public comment at the start of the meeting.