Meridian approves 2024-25 academic calendar

MACON — The Meridian CUSD #15 Board of Education held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 19. Editor’s note: The full agenda and administrative reports will be attached at the end of this article.

Winter sports are complete.  Sebastian Hill and Ella Woolington were both named First Team All-Conference. Lleyton Miller and Shelby Renfrow were Second Team All-Conference and Brook Brown was named Honorable Mention.

The elementary school is beginning IAR testing this week. Fifth grade recently participated in the Engineer in the Classroom program. Mr. Punches’s class received first place at the Rube Goldberg Competition and will compete at the state competition in April.

The middle school Junior Honor Society recently inducted 23 new members. The Drama Club performed the Little Mermaid Jr. in front of a packed house. 

The high school Academic Challenge team placed second at the sectional competition and will compete at the state competition in April. The National Honor Society recently inducted 21 new members.

The 2024-2025 school calendar was approved. Students will begin school on Monday, August 19. 

The Board approved an administrative contract for Lori Guebert to become the district’s Special Education Administrator and Curriculum Director. In the new role, Mrs. Guebert will supervise the special education department and assist with the special education referral and assessment process. Additionally, as Curriculum Director, Mrs. Guebert will direct and assist teachers through a comprehensive curriculum mapping and alignment process. 

The district will also be welcoming three new employees for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Adelaide Harp was hired as an agriculture teacher. Over the last five years, the agriculture department has grown to the point that a second teacher is necessary to be able to offer a wider array of course offerings. The goal is to also offer an agriculture class at the middle school level as well. Miss Harp is currently completing student teaching at Macomb High School through Western Illinois University. 
• Taylor Schippert was hired as a third-grade teacher for next year. She is a Millikin graduate and is currently teaching second grade in Washington, Illinois. 
• The district also welcomes Allie Wilson as an aide in the Pre-K program. Allie has been an essential substitute in many roles for the district over the last couple of years and will transition well into the Pre-K program.

The Board also approved the following coaches for 2024-25:

• Kyle Woolington – high school girls basketball
• Shannon Kirby – middle school volleyball
• Mariah Seitz – middle school cheer
• John Enlow – high school baseball
• Terry Kaufmann – high school baseball
• Katie Hardeman – high school track

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Shane Gordon, Meridian CUSD #15

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Shane Gordon is the current Superintendent for Meridian Community Unit School District #15 based in Macon, Ill., and has served in that capacity since July 2023.

• Shane Gordon, Meridian CUSD #15

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  Meridian finishes second in Academic Challenge