Saturday, Oct. 5

 

Chester-East Lincoln School
seeks funds through referendum

[OCT. 5, 2002]  School administrators, concerned teachers and parents met Thursday evening to discuss more funding for Chester-East Lincoln School District. The kindergarten through eighth-grade school is looking for a "yes" vote on referendum set for the Nov. 5 ballot.

New Superintendent Robert Bagby said he talked to three area legislators this week and all three said the same thing: "Times are tough and next year is going to be a financial disaster in this state."

C-EL receives $100,000 per year from the state. Bagby has been told that the state will miss one or two payments of $5,000 each this year. The first will hit in June.

Not only that, but there are other losses through the state as well. The state compensates only about 82 percent on submitted bills, such as transportation and special education services.

 

Bagby laid out the grave facts for the school’s future. He said the board worked hard to cut the budget. They made hard choices. They cut one administrator, leaving only one remaining; reduced teaching staff; cut supplies and materials; cut the music program; and cut the reading recovery program. The cuts tallied $320,000.

They cut the budget down to just under $1.5 million for the education fund. There is now a projected budget of only $42,593 left.

If the referendum does not pass, there will be more cuts in the spring. Further cuts will be much harsher.

School Board President Jeff Brooks addressed the group. He pointed out that C-EL is known for its fine education and for being a good school. He asked, "How far do we have to go making cuts before you affect the quality of education at C-EL?"

The referendum requests an increase in the education fund tax rate from $1.40 to $1.90. Of that 50-cent increase, Bagby said that it is likely they will use only about 38 cents.

 

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CE-L holds the lowest comparative school tax rate in the area. West Lincoln-Broadwell is at $1.45, and District 27 is at an $1.93 education fund tax rate.

While it is not under consideration, a merger with any other school district would mean an assured increase in property tax.

An emphasis was made that this increase on property tax would stay right here and benefit our kids directly. It doesn’t go anywhere else in the state.

In other areas of Illinois, schools spend $10,000 to $15,000 a year educating each student. Approximately $5,000 is spent for each C-EL student.

Bagby was hired three months ago as superintendent. He comes during hard times for the school. Jerry Overby, who was interim superintendent, supports Bagby’s decisions. He hopes the year isn’t too tough on Bagby.


Volunteers supporting the C-EL referendum will be aggressively working to educate voters about the importance of approving this increase now. If the referendum does not succeed now, it will be readdressed in the spring election, Bagby said.

CITV, Channel 5 will host town meetings at 7 p.m. at C-EL on Oct. 17 and at Beason Firehouse on Oct. 29.

Questions can be addressed to Robert Bagby, (217) 732-4136.

[Jan Youngquist]


Lincoln College president
announces his retirement

[OCT. 5, 2002]  Lincoln College President Jack Nutt has announced his intention to retire from the college at the end of May 2003.

President Nutt says his decision is based on chronic health problems that he’s faced over the past several years.

Elvin Schmidt, chairman of the college’s board of trustees, says that during the transition, Executive Vice President Ron Schilling will assume full responsibility for the direction of the college. For the balance of the current school year Dr. Nutt will continue to direct the activities of the Advancement Office and work on special projects directed by the board of trustees.

Dr. Nutt recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with the college. He joined Lincoln College in September 1982. During Nutt’s tenure, Lincoln College has seen tremendous growth in building projects and enrollment numbers for both the Lincoln and Normal campus sites. Over 20 new building projects have been added under his leadership, and Lincoln College enrollment numbers have steadily increased over the past years.

Prior to appointment at Lincoln College, Dr. Nutt was president of Highland Community College from 1975 to 1982. He is a native of Dodge City, Kan., and holds a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hayes State University, a master’s degree from Kansas State University and a doctorate from Washington State University.

[Lincoln College press release]

 


Warm, dry summer follows
warm, wet spring

[OCT. 5, 2002]  "It was the 20th warmest and 21st driest September in Illinois and the 10th warmest and 40th driest July-September since 1895," says Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"Statewide, September temperatures averaged 69.2 degrees (3 degrees above average), and July-September temperatures averaged 74.2 degrees (2.3 degrees above average). September precipitation was 2.17 inches (1.01 inches below average), and July-September precipitation averaged 9.21 inches (1.45 inches below normal). The six-month period from April-September was the 20th wettest and 26th warmest since 1895. The year-to-date statistics also show this as the 26th wettest and 11th warmest January-September since 1895.

"The one bright spot was that southeastern Illinois benefited from rains from remnants of tropical storm Isadore. In fact, southern Illinois was the only region where precipitation was near average," says Angel.

 

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Hutsonville reported the warmest temperature, 100 degrees on Sept. 8. Princeville, Monmouth and Mount Carroll all reported the coldest temperature, 33 degrees on Sept. 24. Harvard reported the largest one-day rainfall total, 2.68 inches on Sept. 20. Grand Chain Dam reported the largest monthly total, 5.83 inches.

National Weather Service long-range outlooks call for an increased chance of warmer conditions in November-January continuing into February-April and an increased likelihood of drier conditions in December-February continuing into March-May. "These forecasts are based on past behavior of El Nino events. However, the current El Nino event has been weak, which means that warmer and drier conditions are less likely to occur in Illinois," says Angel.

[Press release from Illinois State Water Survey]


Articles from the past week

Friday:

Thursday:

  • Universal Internet disruptions

  • Local vigil marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Wednesday:

  • Scoop on the harvest: better than expected (Rural Review)

  • Crime Stoppers requests information in Brian Bobb death (Law & Courts)

Tuesday:

  • No new postings on Top Stories page

Monday:

  • No new information in the death of a Lincoln man

  • Committee finalizes county budget proposal

  • Governor announces federal grant for planning third Chicago airport

Saturday:

  • Body found in Kickapoo Creek Park

  • Here kitty, kitty!
    Tiger loose in Bloomington/Normal

  • ‘Day of the Dozer’ reaps benefits for cancer patients

  • Illinois River basin conservation program gets $8.5 million

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