Published: July 15, 2008 06:08 am      

School district proud of improvements

Grant pays for landscaping around tennis court

GEORGETOWN — Georgetown-Ridge Farm School Board members learned Monday about improvements that have been occurring in the district this summer.

Ridge Farm Elementary Principal Andy Weathers said landscaping at his school has been going well and is fairly extensive this year.

With the help of a $400 Keep Vermilion County Beautiful grant, the area around the tennis courts has been completely renovated. The grant paid for half of the work.

“Without that money, we couldn’t have done it,” Weathers said.

A berm with junipers, butterfly bushes and plants was created around the tennis courts. Trees that were planted last year also were trimmed and pruned. Next year, the plan is to plant evergreens along the main fence at the school.

At the high school, Principal Steve Sliva said the visitors’ football bleachers have been reinforced and painted. The press box also was painted, but Superintendent Kevin Tate said it has since been broken into twice.

Other recent trespasses on the high school property include skateboarders on sidewalks. Also, four-wheelers have been riding on the cross-country course. Tate said the police have been notified that trespassing is not allowed on the property and more signs will soon be erected.

“I want people to know that we don’t want people back there,” Tate said.

In other business, board members:

-- Accepted the resignations of Rachel Halliday as high school National Honor Society sponsor and Denise Dixon as high school junior class sponsor.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Georgetown-Ridge Farm School Board will meet at 7 p.m. July 28 at the superintendent’s office.