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, July 13, 2012
Kirt Hendrick, Director of Business Operations in Mokena School District 159, tendered his resignation, effective at the end of July.
District 159 Director of Businress Operations Kirt Hendrick has resigned, after just more than a year on the job. Hendrick's resignation takes effect at the end of July. "Due to personal and professional reasons I have submitted my resignation as the Director of Business Operations," Hendrick wrote in a press release. "It was a privilege to serve the Mokena 159 students and community as a member of staff and administrators." Hendrick announced his resignation during a special board meeting July 11. Board members Scott Peters and Mike Ford were dismayed at the news, but wished Hendrick the best in his future. District Superintendent Steve Stein said that Hendrick did not resign to take another position. The board later went into closed …
Friday, June 22, 2012
Mokena Junior High Principal Mike Rolinitis told the D159 Board of Education funds have all been returned to families and money is already rolling in for the coming year, thanks to lower costs to families.
After D159 board members voted to lower fees for activities in May, families within the district have since received refunds and are once again registering—at a lower cost. Mokena Junior High Principal Michael Rolinitis on June 20 updated the board on on refunds, current registration figures, and what switching band and choir back to schedule B have meant for the district. Rolinitis told the board that due to the lowering of fees, all monies collected by the district for schedule B activities were returned to families, with the exception of two—because they paid in cash and the district is uncomfortable mailing cash. “I sent back a flier with a letter attached that said, 'Fees have changed, void your check,'” he said. “We also changed a …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education recently approved a carnival that will feature rides, games and food for attendees, to be held at Mokena Elementary School May 17–20. Will you get in on the fun?
Break out the cotton candy and get ready to try your luck for a few prizes—the carnival is coming to town. Mokena is abuzz with news of a District 159 carnival at Mokena Elementary School scheduled for May 17–20. The school board approved the festivities in a 5-to-2 vote during its April 12 meeting. Board members Kathy Moore and Scott Peters voted against the carnival, although Moore said she wasn't against the carnival, just the timing. “I'm not against one, I'm against making the decision with no information and very little time to plan, Moore said. She added that her concerns stemmed from a lack of knowledge about exactly how much the carnival will cost, data that she said she had previously requested. Peters' worries stemmed mainly …
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Mokena Elementary School
11244 Willow Crest Ln, Mokena, IL
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Friday, April 20, 2012
While discussing possible new meeting dates for the coming year, District 159 Board of Education members traded verbal blows. Much to the dismay of one board member, meetings will soon take place Wednesdays.
It wasn't quite a war of words at the Mokena School District 159 Board of Education meeting, but there were definitely some tense moments between members when discussing the possible switch of meeting dates for the coming year. The contentious atmosphere moved one board member to tears. Late in the nearly four-hour board meeting, members voted to change meeting dates and to form a Committee of the Whole, which will meet once a month and encompass all of the board's various committees into one larger group. Both groups will meet once a month, on separate Wednesdays. “I think it would behoove the board to spend more time together as a board, rather than less time,” said board president John Troy. “It would also have the benefit of the board…
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Mokena Elementary School
11244 Willow Crest Ln, Mokena, IL
/articles/district-159-gets-heated-as-new-meeting-schedule-approved
1374295
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Monday, October 3, 2011
Board president John Troy talks about the seat filling process, what the board is looking for in a new member and what happens if the board cannot come to an agreement on who should fill the seat.
Following the resignation of former District 159 school board member Frank Ventura on Sept. 16, the board of education is taking on the task of filling the vacant seat. On Friday, Sept. 30, the board board stopped taking applications from residents seeking to fill the seat and this Friday, Oct. 7, will hold interviews with those who applied for the position. Following the interview process, which will have all of the applicants interviewed by the entire board one-by-one, the board will make a decision to fill the open seat at its next meeting on Oct. 13 at Mokena Elementary School said board president John Troy. Troy added that while he isn't sure what other board members are looking for in a new member specifically, he had a general idea …
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
With the next school year in District 159 around the corner, parents, administrators and members of the school board are thinking about how to keep programs running.
Talent show. A fishing club. Outdoor programs. As it stands today, all of these extracurricular activities — and many more — won't be financially supported by District 159 when the next school year opens this fall. The situation has some parents and other stakeholders in the district worried about the loss of funding for such activities, and thinking about ways to rectify the situation in tight budget times and during a difficult economic moment. "The only extracurriculars for the 2011-2012 school are student support services," said Mokena District 159 Superintendent Karen Perry, referring to academic assistance efforts. Perry said she wants to keep the programs and clubs running, perhaps through partnerships with the park district or …
41.531945
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Mokena Public School District 159
11244 Willow Crest Ln, Mokena, IL
/articles/extra-effort-needed-to-find-dollars-for-extracurriculars-in-sd159
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/locations/4469262
Lonny
6:12 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
And also RW, the time off provides a chance for children to be with their families. Family first! You're against families too? more ›