Robinson Daily News

Oblong junior high teams to become Panthers

Students, public wanted change


Oblong Elementary School’s mascot is morphing from a tiger to a panther.
The Oblong Unit 4 school board approved the change, effective July 1, during its meeting Monday.
It was a move long wanted by students and members of the public, Superintendent Michelle Meese told the Daily News.
“For several years, junior high kids have been asking us to make the change and community members have come to the board about it,” Meese explained. During the past year, the board sought community input and surveyed students about making the switch.
Oblong High School’s mascot is a panther, but most of its teams are now part of a co-op with Palestine and Hutsonville high schools. The combined teams are called the Wildcats.
Only OHS girls volleyball and softball remain Panthers and outside the co-op.
“There were several students who could potentially never be a Panther,” Meese said. “This affords all Oblong students the chance to be a Panther.”
Junior high teams affected are baseball, softball, boys and girls basketball, volleyball, track and field and scholastic bowl.
Board members also gave tentative approval to amendments to the current district budget. A public hearing on the changes was scheduled for 5:50 p.m. June 22 in the OES Oblong Room. The regular June board meeting will follow at 6 p.m.
In personnel matters, the board hired Jaime Newkirk and Emberlyn Polgar as elementary teachers, Toni Budd as an elementary special education teacher and Jodi York as a high school special education teacher.
Samantha Inboden was hired as junior high cheer coach and Samantha Johnson as high school assistant volleyball coach. Alexis Inboden and Ginna Russell were employed as seasonal summer employees for the summer months of May through August and Chesley Yager was hired as a substitute school nurse.
Board members accepted resignations from elementary teachers Connor Williamson and Kimberly Riley, grade school social worker Stevi Maus, elementary special education teacher Mariah Bell and grade school paraprofessional Stacey Holt.
During the meeting, Meese and the board recognized the Oblong High School Aces Team on an overall fourth place team finish in recent competition.
They also recognized the OHS Math Team on an overall ninth place team finish. Several students also recognized with small team and individual results.
These included Maggie Bailey, ninth place Geometry individual; Ethan Dhom, fourth place Algebra II individual; Landon Baker and Rowan Bailey, second place freshman/sophomore team.
The Geometry Team brought home second place while the Algebra II Team finished fourth, the Freshman/Sophomore Team was 10th and the Junior/Senior Team finished eighth.
Jude Wirey was also recognized by Meese and the board. Wirey recently competed at the Illinois State Junior High Track meet and finished sixth in the 400-meter dash.
In other business, the board:
• Approved an FFA trip to Holiday World on May 31 and an FFA trip to the state convention in Springfield June 13 to 15.
• Authorized the Oblong Band Boosters to use the facilities at the high school on Saturday, Oct. 28, for the annual Spooktacular Band Competition.
• Granted a request from the Junior Class sponsors hold prom April 27, 2024, at OES.
• Approved the final school calendar for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the summer maintenance list as presented.

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