Peoria Public Schools Observer Report

The Peoria Public Schools Board held its regularly scheduled meeting on April 25, 2022  with all seven board members present.
 
PPS Announcements (Upcoming Events)

• PPS is held the Annual Kindergarten Roundup at the Peoria Zoo on Saturday, April 30.
• Planning is underway for 2022 Summer School programming, scheduled for grades K-8 from June 13 through July 1 and for high school students June 6 to June 24. Students will attend the school they normally attend during the school year. Registration is open at www.peoriapublicschools.org/summerschool2022
• The Mayor’s Youth Program in conjunction with the City of Peoria Public Works Department will give students work experience during the summer. The application deadline is Monday, May 9.

 
PPS Awards and Recognitions
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat congratulated four PPS teachers – Emily Dawson, Shannon Sailer, Michelle Salazar and Lauren Wulf for earning advanced teaching credentials by achieving National Board Certification. The rigorous program, which is paid for by the state for eligible teachers, takes educators approximately two years to complete.
 
Student Showcase: Middle School Speech Team
Six PPS middle schools implemented a new speech and debate program targeted at fourth graders to improve their oral communication, vocabulary, analytical writing and public speaking skills. The schools – Glen Oak, Harrison, Lincoln, Trewyn, Roosevelt and Sterling – are using a program developed by Bradley alumni Salvatore Trajino of Advantage Communications. The hope is that next year up to 350 students will participate. The PPS District Championship is Saturday, May 14 at Manual High School.
 
District Presentation: Woodruff Career & Technical Center Solar Panel Installation
Installation of 545 solar panels at Woodruff Career & Technical Center should generate more than 318,000kWhs and offset 226 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The construction process including roof updates began in 2019 and was funded by a $1.6 million award from the Edwards Power Plant. Contractor Ruyle estimates school district saving about $16,000 annually. Students in Woodruff’s Renewable Energy Program have been able to observe throughout the construction process, which has produced approximately 1,400 union job hours. Next semester students will monitor the solar panels, studying the energy production onsite.
 
Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda, which can be found at https://peoriapublicschools.org/domain/57, was approved unanimously.
 
To see the meeting, go to the Peoria Public Schools YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFNu3PTGzEyjDH6qV7FKSnA.
 
Becky Doubleday, Observer