Education Matters: District 175 to consider having private company provide special-ed services

Harmony School District 175 tabled a vote last week on allowing Sequel, an education services company, to lease space in the Ellis Elementary School building. The school board plans to vote on the matter July 27.

Sequel Youth and Family Services is a “privately owned company that develops and operates programs for people with behavioral, emotional or physical challenges,” according to its website.

“Some of our students need the innovative, holistic and comprehensive program that Sequel can offer,” Superintendent Pam Leonard.

Leonard said the vote was delayed “for the purpose of allowing continued communication about the program.” She says the district successfully delivered 979 emails to parents and guardians and posted a letter to the district’s website about the program and the district’s interest in it.

The June 30 letter from Harmony, sent and posted the day before the July 1 vote, said the district has had two self-contained special education classrooms, one at each school. “These classrooms are special education classrooms that have students with a variety of needs from social/emotional, learning disabilities and cognitive delays and varying combinations,” the letter stated.

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Hannah Geppert, of Collinsville Unit District 10, was awarded a Certificate in Early Childhood Education at the 51st annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in late June in Louisville, Ky.

High school students from technical education programs across the country competed in the program, with top students winning gold, silver or bronze medallions or other prizes. Skill point certificates also were awarded.

“More than 6,000 students from every state in the nation came to compete,” SkillsUSA Executive Director Tim Lawrence said. Skill Point Certificates, like the one that Hannah won, were awarded almost 90 areas to students who achieved an industry-defined score. The competitions included hands-on activities and academic skills and were judged by industry experts using standards for employment.

For more information about the SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System, go to www.workforcereadysystem.com.

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Incoming freshman and returning college students are eligible to win a $1,000 scholarship for attending an “It’s Not Too Late” scholarship informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 16 at New Life Community Church, 1919 State St., East St. Louis.

The meeting will detail the eligibility requirements for a fall scholarship.

The scholarship fund is supported by Scott Credit Union with monetary contributions and employee volunteers at “civic efforts throughout the region.”

For more information, email Joe Flanders at INTLScholarship@hotmail.com.

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Three local seniors are going to college this fall to pursue legal careers, each with help from a $1,000 scholarship from the law firm of Mathis, Marifian & Richter.

Carissa Bell, of Belleville West, will attend Vanderbilt Unisversity. Accoriding to the law firm, Carissa had a 4.0 GPA and was on the math team, Maroon Madnezz, BASIC, secretary of the National Honor Society, Renaissance Committee, Girls Learn International and more.

Sarah Hasse, of Alton High School, will attend the University of Alabama. She had a 4.495 GPA and was on the National Honor Society, student council, Foreign Language National Honor Society, the volleyball and tennis teams and more.

Brooke Lunn, of Edwardsville High School, will attend St. Louis University. She had a 4.57 GPA was on the student council, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Edwardsville Peer Influence Club, Cross Country and Track and Field and more.

The law scholarship recipients must plan a career as an attorney and make certain academic achievements and have extracurricular activities. The applicants were reviewed by the firm’s attorneys, who also read the students’ essays.

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Education Matters: District 175 to consider having private company provide special-ed services."