The next superintendent has been named for the Prairie Central school district.
Brian Quam was officially appointed during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Prairie Central Board of Education in Fairbury.
“We are excited that Mr. Quam will be leading Prairie Central into its next chapter and ask you to join us in welcoming him to his new position,” said a statement released by the board.
Quam said he was humbled and honored to be the district’s next superintendent beginning July 1.
“I’m very excited about it,” Quam told board members and those in attendance.
Quam has served the district in several roles including high school dean of students from 2009-2012, Westview Elementary principal 2012-2014 and currently as director of curriculum, instruction and technology since 2021.
Previously, Quam served the El Paso and El Paso-Gridley school districts where he was a high school social studies teacher, head boys basketball coach from 2001-2009 and high school principal from 2014-2021.
Current superintendent Paula Crane will retire late in the summer after 27 years of service to Prairie Central – the past eight years in her current role.
“She has faithfully and steadily led our district and will continue serving as superintendent until Mr. Quam begins in July,” the board statement reads.
In other personnel moves at Tuesday’s meeting, Mike Wolf was named the new head varsity girls basketball coach effective the next school year following the resignation of Gabby Zeedyk from the role. Wolf resigned his JV boys coaching position and JV girls basketball coach Hannah Miller also submitted her resignation.
A bus purchase was authorized by the board. This includes the purchase of four buses while trading six.
“We really need the 77-passenger buses,” said Crane, referring to a lack of drivers.
The total purchase cost is $389,573 and the total cost with the trade-in is $167,573.
IHSA and IESA membership renewal was approved, allowing student athletes to participate in the state series for sports.
Overnight trips were approved for the junior high student council to attend the state convention in Springfield and for the high school softball team to attend a tournament in Jacksonville during spring break.
Crane presented a proposal for fees and stipends for the upcoming year. This includes anything from substitutes to food services and umpires. Crane recommends they keep teacher sub pay the same and bus driver physical drug testing has not changed while ticket taker pay has increased a bit.
The district is proposing keeping student registration fees the same. Lunch costs are required to increase every year through the federal program, otherwise there are few changes to food. No action was taken on the fees and stipends this month.
