far right, flank the Parker cross country team, which was
honored at the District 161 board meeting Monday.
(Photo by R.L. Anderson/H-F Chronicle)
Flossmoor District 161 Monday honored cross country team members at Parker Junior High who recently qualified for the state championship meet.
The recognition came even though the scheduled board of education meeting was canceled due to the lack of a quorum. Only three of seven school board members were present Monday.
Board President Stephen Paredes made an announcement about 15 minutes after the meeting was scheduled to convene that due to the lack of a quorum, the board would not be able to conduct official business.
“This doesn’t happen very often, everyone is really on top of things,” Paredes said. “We have a really committed board but at the last minute there were family, business and transportation issues that made it impossible for everyone to be here.”
Besides Paredes, only board members Michelle Hoereth and Merle Huckabee attended the meeting..
But one agenda item was addressed and Paredes said that suited him just fine.
“Honoring kids is the number one thing we do here,” Paredes said. “We’ll squeeze in regular business at another time. We have all these kids here and we won’t put that off.”
Runners from both the boys and girls cross country teams qualified for the Illinois Elementary School Association championship meet, which took place Oct.15 in Normal. It was the first time both Parker cross country squads qualified for the state finals in the same year.
“This was the epitome of great coaching,” Paredes said.
Coaches Tim Germeraad and Mark Eichenlaub praised the young athletes.
“The boys finished first at the sectional meet held at Apollo Park and the girls placed second,” Eichenlaub explained. “That got both of our teams to the state finals at Parkside Junior High in Normal. These kids did a great job all season long.”
Paredes presented certificates of recognition to members of the girls team including Daija Brown, Samantha Gorton, Jazmyn Hunter, Jackie Klupchak, Alexia Pugh, Caroline Schoen and Haley Trojan. Boys team members so honored were Dean Barrow, Ian Barrow, Jeron Burns, Jack Prokop, Nehemia Ray, Jason Schmidt and Estevan Valverde.
“It’s great to recognize these young women and young men who represented the Parker cross country teams,” said Parker Assistant Principal Shemeka Fountain. “But they are also good students and good citizens. We’re very proud of them.”
