Washington Community High School is bringing its bus transportation service for special education students in-house to save money.
At its meeting Tuesday, the high school board approved ending its relationship with Washington Student Transportation Services [WSTS], formerly Allen Transportation, at the conclusion of this school year.
"This will make the service much more cost effective for us," said Superintendent Kyle Freeman.
Washington Student Transportation handles bus transportation for Washington District 50 and East Peoria Robein District special education students in conjunction with high school.
Bus service for District 50 and Robein also is ending at the end of the school year and will be inherited by the high school.
The high school owns all the WSTS buses used by the three districts, and hopes to hire as many WSTS employees as possible.
Torry Gym project cost: $2.6 million
Also at the school board meeting:
• Assistant Superintendent and Business Manager Karen Beverlin informed the board that the final change order for the Torry Gym rehabilitation project was received and paid. That change order involved concrete leveling that was done prior to the installation of the gym floor.
Contractor P.J. Hoerr originally billed just over $33,800 for the leveling work, but reduced the amount to about $20,300 after discussions with Beverlin because the change order was submitted late.
Total cost for the gym project was $2.6 million, about $16,000 under budget including contingency. Beverlin said P.J. Hoerr waived fees totaling more than $24,000 during the project, including the concrete leveling.
• The board approved the high school's cooperative agreement with East Peoria, Eureka, Metamora, Morton and Pekin high schools for boys and girls lacrosse teams for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
WCHS remains the host school for the team and will operate and administer the program. East Peoria has joined the cooperative.
• Freeman informed the board that the Illinois Art Education Association had named the high school a 2025 School of Distinction for the second consecutive year because of its rigorous art, design and media education programs.
Art teachers Margaret Kuchan, Jayme Banzhoff and Jack Clifford were recognized by the association.
