Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Mokena schools are taking extra precautions with students' safety as police search the Tinley Park area for two convicted bank robbers, who escaped from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in the Loop this morning.
Schools in Mokena School District 159 are on a 'safety hold' and St. Mary School in Mokena is under lockdown this afternoon after two convicted bank robbers who escaped from a jail in the Loop were seen in the Tinley Park area. District 159 schools and St. Mary's all had indoor recess, and police officers will oversee dismissal at all schools, according to representatives from D159 and St. Mary's. D159 officals said a 'safety hold,' means that district schools have all their doors and windows locked, with access to the school entirely closed. St. Mary's representatives said the school is always locked for students' safety and that the school would follow D159's lead on having Mokena police on-site during dismissal. Jose Banks, 37, and …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Mokena School District Superintendent Steve Stein, on the job for just over a year and a half, submitted his letter of resignation Nov. 20, effective June 30, 2013. He will move on to become superintendent of Peotone Community School District 207U.
Mokena School District 159 Superintendent Steve Stein will leave the district in June 2013, after less than two years on the job. Stein announced his resignation Tuesday, Nov. 20, in a letter addressed to Patrick Markham and the rest of the D159 Board of Education. But the board had also been notified previously. “It will probably be a blast for the community members who aren't as directly connected with the school," Stein said. Stein was named interim Superintendent in August 2011 after the reassignment of former Superintendent Karen Perry. "It's been very humbling, a lot of people saying many many kind things about me and my time here. Anything like this is very, very bitter sweet," Stein said. "I have a very good working relationship …
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education discussed a proposed tax levy, reviewed its intergovernmental agreement with the park district, and approved the purchase of a new maintenance truck at its Nov. 14 meeting.
At the Nov. 14 meeting of the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education, Director of Business Operations John Troy presented the board with an outline for the district's proposed 2012 tax levy, which came to a total of $13,052,000. The board has agreed to hold a public hearing on the levy, even though state law does not require one, after which the board will vote to approve a final version. It must be filed before the last Tuesday in December. Since that deadline falls on Christmas this year, Troy suggested that the board vote on the levy no later than its Dec. 19 meeting so that the paperwork could be filed with the state before the deadline. The board also revisited its discussion about the district's intergovernmental agreement …
Friday, August 10, 2012
The search for a new Business Manager in the Mokena Public School District 159 continues after former Business Manager Kirt Hendrick resigned at the end of July.
As the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education prepares to interview candidates for the vacant board seat during a closed session on Saturday, Aug. 11, administrators also continue another search—for a new district business manager. The seat remains vacant after former Business Manager Kirt Hendrick abruptly resigned at the end of July. District Superintendent Steve Stein and board members are currently conducting a search for a fulltime replacement for Hendrick. They hope to fill the role by September. “We haven't had any interviews yet, the board is still looking through applications,” Stein said. “We haven't been overwhelmed by [the number of] applications, but we've gotten quite a few.” Stein said that the job opening was posted …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Anthony Soyak and Karen Bussean were hired by the D159 Board of Education on Wednesday, Aug. 1, as full- and part-time music teachers respectively.
Two new faces will step up to the podium to lead music classes in Mokena schools this year. Anthony Soyak and Karen Bussean will both teach music and physical education in the district during the 2012-13 school year, following the board approval. Bussean, a former president of the Music Booster Club and current district summer band leader, will take on a part-time role within the District. While Soyak will fulfill the District's final fulltime music education position. “Karen, she just really had a lot of interest in it,” said Anna Kirchner, Mokena Elementary School Principal. “She wanted to do what was best for the students, she just really appears to have a love of music.” Kirchner said that Bussean's passion for the band was a major …
Monday, July 30, 2012
John Troy's resignation leaves an open seat on the District 159 Board of Education. Interested parties should submit letters of intent or resumes to the Board no later than Aug. 8.
With the resignation of former District 159 Board of Education President John Troy and the shift of VP Patrick Markham into his role, the Board of Education currently has an empty seat. Without the ability to elect a new board member until the next general election, the board will appoint a member to fill Troy's seat until the public can have their pick with a vote. Members of the Mokena community who would like to apply should submit a letter of intent or resumé no later than Wednesday, Aug. 8, to the D159 Board of Education. Interviews for the open seat will be conducted in August by the Board of Education, with final appointment coming sometime later in the month. The person chosen to fill the seat will serve on the board until April …
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Administration for Mokena School District 159 leads the district's students, staff and faculty throughout the year. Take a look at what those leaders earned during FY2012—and what they could potentially earn in FY2013.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Administration for Mokena School District 159 leads the district's students, staff and faculty throughout the year. Take a look at what those leaders earned during FY2012—and what they could potentially earn in FY2013.
As the budget deficit for District 159 dwindles, salaries for district administrators could see a bump in the next fiscal year, according to the district's proposed budget for FY2013. Although the board has yet to approve the new budget, board members got a glimpse during its July 18 meeting. Included in the preliminary budget, were the proposed salaries for district administrators, including Superintendent Steve Stein, Assistant Superindent of Instruction Dr. Charles Vitton, the open Business Manager position and more. Below are the FY2012 unaudited salaries for all administrators and the proposed salaries for the FY2013 year. Note that the salary of the Director of Student services reflects only 120 days of work, and not the entire year …
Monday, July 23, 2012
John Troy, Mokena District 159 board member since 2009 and current board president, resigned effective Monday, July 23. Troy plans to apply for the district's open business manager role and resigned to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
John Troy, President of the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education, resigned Monday, July 23. The resignation comes just two weeks after Troy voiced his interest in the district's vacant business manager position. “I am resigning my position on the Mokena Elementary School District Board of Education effective today [July 23]. Concurrent with my resignation I am submitting my application for the school district business manager position,” Troy's letter read. Previously Troy, who is currently attending Northern Illinois University to attain certification as a chief school business official, said that when Kirt Hendrick abruptly left the district the timing was “nearly perfect,” for him. “This is my career choice, it's what I've gone …
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Mokena Public School District 159
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Patch takes a look at what's in store for the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education meeting at Mokena Elementary School at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18.
Following a campaign by parent Heidi Yergler Herrmann urging District 159 to reevaluate its bullying policy, the board agreed to delve deeper into the issue during its July 18 meeting. Board Vice President Patrick Markham went so far as to call for a voting show of support by board members to signify how important the issue is to the board. In an email to Patch, Markham said he will be seek to discuss not only the policy, but also the possibility of a “capture form,” for the district—a webpage or hard copy form for students to detail encounters with bullying. Also on the agenda are two new hires within the district—one a special education teacher, the other a transfer of a building aide to the role of attendance secretary at Mokena …
Anna Schier
5:26 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Hi Alan, Schools in Tinley and Frankfort Square were both on "soft lockdown," meaning that the doors were locked and recess was held indoors. Thanks for reading! Anna more ›