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New administrators see great start to school year  Share
The Casey-Westfield School District began the 2009 school year with three new faces in key administrative positions at each of the schools, Jim Sullivan as Assistant Principal at C-W High School, Carol Wetherell as Principal at Roosevelt Junior High School, and Melissa Meiners at Monroe Elementary. Jim Sullivan Stepping into the position formerly held by newly-retired Lowell Hickox, Jim Sullivan introduced the Warrior Pride Incentive Program to the students at the start of the school year and reported attendance has been above 95% every week. Students who maintain 100% attendance with no tardy violations will be allowed to leave two minutes early for lunch. They will show proof to their teacher by wearing a green wrist band. ''Students are asking if they are on track to get a wrist band,'' Sullivan said. ''Two minutes may not seem like a long time to us, but it's important to the students. It means first in the lunch line and out the door.'' Sullivan said freshmen and sophomores still have a closed campus for lunch unless they live within walking distance or a parent picks them up. Juniors and seniors have an open campus.
Although Sullivan has been a classroom teacher since coming to Casey-Westfield in 2004, he had prior experience with disciplanary duties at an Illinois Safe School in Dupage County Partners for Success where he served as Dean/Case Manager. ''It prepared me for this role,'' he said. ''It was a similar situation with the same concerns, but problems here are a lot smaller.'' Sullivan said his main focus will be on attendance. ''If we can get kids to school, it allows them to be more successful, and in turn, our scores will go up,'' he said. ''It's hard to make up that instructional time if they're absent. Socioeconomic levels don't matter; we're here to help. Education is the only avenue for their future.'' Carol Wetherell Carol Wetherell, in her new role as principal at Roosevelt Junior High School, reported school is off to a great start. ''Things are going well,'' she said. Students were given ''handbook instruction'' in their English classes with teachers going through it and explaining it. ''We are closely following the handbook,'' Wetherell said. ''Students know what the expectations are. We have high expectations and hold them to it. So far they're doing very well.'' Wetherell offered high praise for the Roosevelt teaching staff, calling them ''a great group of teachers.'' ''They work as a team to help all of our students,'' she continued. ''We don't want any of them to fall through the cracks.'' Wetherell said they are working hard on RTI, Response to Intervention, which provides an opportunity for small group assistance or one-on-one help for students who are struggling. Homework help is also available for students. ''I'd like to see more students take advantage of Homework Help,'' she said. ''It's a great tool for parents.'' Wetherell said several important events are on their schedule for the next few weeks. Roosevelt hosted the Girls State Softball Sectional this past weekend as well as the Boys Baseball Regional. The Casey-Westfield Baseball team was to play on Saturday. ''We will team up with Casey Health Care at the end of October to have a pet food drive to help out the Casey Animal Shelter (CAS),'' Wetherell said. ''Also, we should soon receive our solar panels, the result of a grant written by Mrs. Totten and Mrs. Johnson.'' The paper drive for recycling continues on the third Thursday of every month. On a final note, Wetherell mentioned that Jay Markwell had provided the service, National Write Your Congressman, which was being utilized in the social studies classes. Melissa Meiners New Monroe Principal Melissa Meiners, who replaced the new Superintendent of Schools Dee Scott, echoed the other administrator's sentiments when she said, ''It's going great'' ''No two days are ever the same,'' Meiners said. ''We have not implemented tremendous changes, but the school was fantastic coming in when you follow Dee Scott. We are maintaining.'' Meiners said they are expanding RTI for K-6th grade, offering reading support. ''We have an amazing group of teachers and support staff,'' Meiners said. ''Even the students are very respectful. That's been taught. If someone needs help, several are there to help. I see great problem solving every day.'' In continuing her praise of the Monroe staff, Meiners said, ''We'll do just about anything to help a child learn.'' Since it's the second year for a peanut free environment, Meiners said they have encountered no additional problems, and now that it's a district-wide policy, the responsibility will gradually be put back on the student. She explained that extra caution has to be taken at Monroe since they are dealing with children who don't yet have the skills to keep their clothes clean and prevent the transfer of peanut products. ''Everyone has been so welcoming to me, from board members on down,'' she said, ''and it's great.'' Sharon Durham is a staff reporter for the Casey Reporter.
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