A study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago has identified Centralia High School as a positive outlier for teacher retention in rural schools. In the principal’s report at Thursday night’s school board meeting, Dr. Reid Shipley shared a summary of the researchers’ findings from visiting the school in December. Among possible contributors to the school district’s high teacher retention, the study mentions support from the administration, opportunities for collaboration between teachers, a full support staff, new teacher mentoring, and connections between the school district and the Centralia community. Shipley said it was nice to receive positive feedback where the district is doing well. The full study from NORC has yet to be released.
In the superintendent’s report, Dr. Chuck Lane said he is optimistic about education funding as state legislators work on this year’s Illinois budget in Springfield. According to Lane, evidence-based funding, which is important for southern Illinois school districts, is not in danger of being reduced. Lane noted that this year is expected to be a down year for Illinois, but he said as long as evidence-based funding isn’t cut, school districts will be in good shape.
In business items, the board chose at Lane’s advice not to approve a bid for work on the parking lot. Lane reevaluated the project, consulted with engineers, and found the work could be completed with one and a half inches of asphalt instead of four inches, with little downside. The project will quickly be re-bid with the hope of getting it done this summer. Lane expects the revision will save the district $400,000 in expenses.
The board employed Sam Andrews as full-time custodian effective March 9, Cedric Webster as assistant director for this year’s spring musical, and Tabitha Cockrum as IEP Writer/Facilitator for the 2026-27 school year.
This year’s graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m.
