The Mahomet-Seymour School Board unanimously passed the adoption of the 2018-2019 Parent/Student Handbook Monday night.
The handbook, printed in full for board and public review became available May 18 via the board packet, which is emailed to district parents and also available online. By providing the board agenda ahead of time, the board is expected to review its contents for discussion and vote the following Monday.
Having read the handbook prior to the meeting Monday, the Mahomet Daily found a few simple discrepancies that should have been picked up by board members and administrators, corrected at the meeting and then changed prior to voting.
| 2018-2019 Handbook Item | Correction Needed | When the change was made |
| Instruction to begin and end at Middletown Prairie Elementary at 8:20 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. | Instruction will begin and end at Middletown Prairie Elementary at 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m | Board meeting 5.21.2018 |
| Instruction to begin and end at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High at 8:20 a.m. and 3:17 p.m | Instruction will begin and end at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High at 8:15 a.m. and 3:12 p.m | Board meeting 5.21.2018 |
| The Parent/Student Handbook lists Sangamon Elementary twice | The District will not own Sangamon during the 2018-2019 School Year | Board meeting on 12.13.2017 |
| The handbook references the 2017-2018 Early Dismissal Calendar | The 2018-2019 calendar should be referenced | |
| The handbook states that students will be released one-hour early | M-S students are dismissed two hours early on early dismissals days when teachers are working on professional development and one hour early on the day before a long break | |
| Textbook fee for Middletown Prairie will be $85 | Textbook fee for Middletown Prairie will be $110 | Board meeting on 4.16.2018 |
| Textbook fee for Lincoln Trail will be $85 | Textbook fee for Lincoln Trail will be $110 | Board meeting on 4.16.2018 |
| Textbook fee for MSJHS will be $85 | Textbook fee for MSJHS will be $135 | Board meeting on 4.16.2018 |
| Textbook fee for MSHS will be $120 | Textbook fee for MSHS will be $170 | Board meeting on 4.16.2018 |
Superintendent Lindsey Hall pointed out that information about Erin’s Law, which mandates that schools provide age-appropriate sexual abuse education to students in grades K-5. Erin’s Law was passed in Illinois in 2011.
The district implemented sexual abuse education in grades K-5 during the second half of the 2017-2018 school year.
The District Technology Acceptable Use Policy was also added to the 2018-2019 handbook. Parents will be required to sign the policy prior to their student receiving a Chromebook for the 2018-2019 school year.
The policy regarding the administration of medication during school hours was not changed but clarified to state that district personnel will only dispense prescribed medication necessary for management of diagnosed long-term, chronic illness or disability and ADD/ADHD.
Antibiotics and over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cough medicine, etc., give for acute, intermittent illness will not be administered by school staff per handbook guidelines.
In order for long-term over the counter medication to be administered at school, a School Authorization for Medication form must be completed and signed by both the prescribing physician and parents/guardians annually.
The other change in the Parent/Student handbook focused on school volunteers who will now undergo appropriate screening based on the activity for which he/she volunteers.
Define exact locations in Champaign County for School Board Candidate requirement for outside Mahomet Township?
As a former lifelong permanent resident of Mahomet (506 E. Franklin St) now living (permanent resident) in a housing complex in NW Champaign off North Neil St (Ashland Park to be exact) make one eligible for applying for the vacant short-term replacement of retiring board member for the term to end in 2019?