Much is happening on three construction projects at Kewanee High School, and Supt. Rebecca Baney updated the Kewanee School Board on the work during Monday’s meeting.
The projects are:
— A fitness court across Third Street north of the school.
Baney said the exercise equipment for the court has been delivered, and the electricity has been connected.
Students’ opinion of the fitness court is that they “think it’s cool,” Baney said.
The Kewanee Schools Foundation has been raising money for the fitness court, and the district received a $50,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign.
— A tennis facility is being built just east of the fitness court. Baney said there was an issue with a sewer line being found in a different place from where the city had informed the contractor that it was. That problem has been taken care of, she said.
— Addition of a smaller auditorium and a new classroom is proceeding, with framing and electric work going on now.
Also Monday, the board approved the district’s 2025-26 budget.
Baney said the state is falling short on its commitment to provide “evidence-based” funding. Kewanee Schools’ state funding is only 71% of what the state considers adequate, she said.
“It’s disappointing that the state is only giving us enough money to tread water,” the superintendent said.
On the positive said, Baney said, the schools expect to receive 10.6 percent more in property tax revenue than last year.
— Baney reported that total enrollment for the district this school year is 1,926 students.
— Kewanee High School Principal Amanda Tidwell reported that talks are under way with Western Illinois University officials about a dual-enrollment program between the high school and the university.
Unlike the school’s current agreement with Black Hawk College, the courses would offer credit only at WIU, not with both the college and the high school.
Tidwell said she hopes the program can start for the next school year.
Cost to the student would be $320 per class, about a third of what it would cost for an on-campus student.
