Now through September 5, parents in Danville District 118 can take a survey about cell phone policies on the District 118 website. As Superintendent Dr. Alicia Geddis explained after the school board meeting Wednesday night (August 28), this is an opportunity for families to see what other districts are doing and give their opinion.

AUDIO: Just to understand what students, staff and parents think about these cell phone bans that have been enacted in a number of districts. We haven’t done that here, but we would like to know what they think about it and what they think needs to be done. So, just to gauge their thoughts.

You can find the survey at https://www.facebook.com/district118.

Also attending the District 118 board meeting was Michael Remole of Gateway Family Services in Potomac, who is known for providing special animal therapy to students. This school year, Remole says, there will be a special focus on preschool children.

AUDIO: That way, when they get to kindergarten, they’re ready. We have a lot of kids who do really well in school but struggle socially and emotionally, so we really want to help them prepare for success in school.

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent John Hart said that middle and high school-aged students at Kenneth D. Bailey Academy are off to a good start in their temporary home in the Carle Building in North Vermilion, which is now being leased by the district. The plan remains to move Kenneth D. Bailey Academy students back to the Main Street Academy site sometime in the fall. After that, the original plan to house some preschool students, some substitute students and eventually a day care center for district employees in the Carle Building can proceed.