West Peoria Residents' Association

From Dec 2009 News:    Beth Gilbert, the West Peoria Residents’ Association’s newly appointed  Education Committee chairperson, extends an invitation to all West Peoria residents to become more involved in the education of youth in our area.  The overall goal of the Education Committee is to build a stronger community by collaborating with local educational institutions in an effort to encourage area youth to continue their education.   Gilbert recently met with Calvin Coolidge Middle School Principal Blumer to discuss potential opportunities for the WPRA to support this West Peoria school.  Three goals were established for the committee.   First, fundraising for the school is a simple way to help the school.   By helping Calvin Coolidge collect Campbell Soup labels and box tops with the Box Tops for Education label, West Peorians can help the school receive additional funding and educational equipment for the school.  These items can be dropped off at the school or brought to a West Peoria Residents’ Association meeting.   Secondly, the WPRA has already begun a project to raise funds for a new computer lab for Calvin Coolidge to help the school meet the demands of continuing high tech advancements.  Currently, the WPRA board members have raised $1,300 toward the ultimate goal of purchasing ten computers for a total of $8,000.   The third goal is to develop a mentoring program for Calvin Coolidge students.  Mentors are invited to help out in efforts such as reading with students during school hours or explaining the world of work to the students.  Volunteering for just a few hours a month can give students benefits that last a lifetime.   Anyone interested in helping with the goals of the Education Committee is invited to call or e-mail Beth Gilbert at 309.339.9731 orvp2@westpeoriaresidents.org.  Meeting times and location are yet to be determined. From Feb 2009 News:   Students returning to Manual High School for the 2008-09 year immediately noticed major changes in their school—mainly the new faces that greeted them as they entered the building and their classrooms.  The restructuring of Manual High School resulted in dramatic changes in staff positions (administrators, teachers, and support staff).   Manual personnel (25) from 2007-2008 who are no longer at Manual:

• 7 administrators and support staff:  principal (to Adult Ed), administrative assistant (leave of absence), two deans, and three counselors (1 to Peoria High, 1 to Peoria Alternative, and 1 resigned)

• 12 regular division teachers were transferred:  5 English teachers, 1 math teacher, 3 science teachers, 1 social studies teacher, 1 P.E. teacher, 1 choral director (2 transferred to Peoria High, 5 to Richwoods, 2 to Roosevelt, 1 to Trewyn, 1 to Washington Gifted, 1 to Kingman)

• 3 retirees (Manual’s band director and 2 special ed teachers)

• 3 special education teachers (1 to Jamison, 1 to Calvin Coolidge, 1 to Peoria High)

Manual’s 2008-09 faculty consists of:

• 19 Manual teachers from 2007-08 (2 English, 2 math, 1 science, 3 social studies, 1 French, 1 Spanish, 1 business, 1 P.E., 1 health, 1 drivers’ ed, 1 art, 1 librarian, 3 special education)

• 7 teachers new to 150 but with experience

• 2 first-year teachers

• 5 Transfers from other 150 schools (1 Calvin Coolidge, 2 Trewyn, 1 Richwoods, 1 Peoria High)

• 6 special ed teachers who were not at Manual last year

   For the first time in its history, Manual no longer has an orchestra.   Approximately fifteen of Manual’s 2008-09 regular division teachers are non-tenured in District 150.  If staff reductions occur due to the possible closing of Woodruff High School—as currently proposed—these non-tenured teachers could quite possibly be replaced with “displaced” veteran 150 teachers.  Once again in just one year’s time, Manual students could walk into a building in 2009-10 with many new faces.