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ISAT test scores go up in District 27

[SEPT. 20, 2001] The 2001 ISAT test scores brought encouraging news to Lincoln Elementary District 27 schools recently, and especially to Jefferson and Northwest.

Students at all schools have improved in almost every area of the Illinois Standards Assessment Tests, and those in Jefferson and Northwest have improved "significantly," according to Superintendent Robert Kidd. This means that Jefferson and Northwest are no longer in danger of being placed on the Academic Early Warning List.

Test scores are divided into four categories: exceeds expectations, meets expectations, below standards and academic warning. If 50 percent or more of the students in a school are on the below-expectations and warning lists for two years running, a school is placed on the State Board of Education’s Academic Early Warning List.

In 2000, more than 50 percent of Jefferson and Northwest students were on the below-expectations warning list. However, the Illinois State Board of Education had recently changed from the Illinois Goal Assessment Program to the new ISAT test, and it takes some time for both teachers and students to learn what is required for success on the new test, Kidd said.

Also, for state assessment purposes, special education students’ scores are averaged into the scores of all students. A small school with a number of special education students may thus have test results skewed toward the lower end of the scale. Both Jefferson, a small school, and Northwest have special education students, Kidd said.

For the 2001 school year, averaging in all special education students, Jefferson had 54.7 percent of its students that met or exceeded standards, and Northwest had 57.3 percent. Central had 60.5 percent; Washington-Monroe had 75.6 percent; and Lincoln Junior High had 58.1 percent. The district total for meeting or exceeding expectations, counting special education students, was 61.7 percent.

Tabulating scores without adding in scores of special education students brings totals significantly higher. With this scoring, at Jefferson, 68.3 percent met or exceeded expectations, and at Northwest 66.9 percent met or exceeded expectations. At Central, 71.4 percent met or exceeded, at Washington-Monroe 77.7 percent, and at Lincoln Junior High 65.1 percent. District totals for all non-special education students meeting or exceeding expectations was 69.4 percent.

Each year third-grade students take tests in reading, math and writing. Fourth-graders are tested in science and social science. Fifth-graders are again tested in reading, math and writing, and seventh-graders are tested again in science and social science. In eighth grade, students are tested once more in reading, math and writing.

Kidd said that even though the state is raising the standards students have to meet, overall scores in District 27 show improvement. Comparing the 2001 scores to the 2000 scores, third-graders improved in all areas, most significantly in writing. The year 2000 was the first year for new scoring on the writing test.

In science, fourth-graders also improved significantly, Kidd said. It was the second year the science test was given, so teachers and students knew better how it was organized. The district had also changed the science curriculum by 2001.

Fifth-graders showed improvement in all three test areas. The highlight was that 84 percent of students not in special education met or exceeded goals for reading.

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An area of disappointment this year was seventh grade, where scores for science and social science both dropped, he said.

Eighth-graders not in special education increased math scores significantly, from 49 percent in 2000 to 62 percent meeting or exceeding expectations in 2001, while 72 percent met or exceeded reading standards and 77 percent met or exceeded writing standards.

"I am happy with the improvements in the scores. We should be proud of what was accomplished," Kidd said. "Although the board and the administration can be cheerleaders, it was the teachers and the students who did all the work."

Kidd also reported that the district will receive a Closing the Gap technology grant of a little less than $56,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education. The district must match that with a little less than $21,000, but the district had already planned to spend that amount on technology, he said.

The grant will help get Adams and Jefferson schools connected to the Internet, giving all district schools Internet access, according to Kidd. However, he added, it will then be time to consider upgrading computers in schools already online.

Kidd also reported a drop in enrollment this year, from 1,241 students in 2000 to 1,188 this year. The biggest drop is in kindergarten enrollment, which dropped from 141 in 2000-2001 to 114 for 2001-2002. However, there is an increase in the number of special education students, from 90 last year to 111 this year.

The board passed the fiscal year 2002 budget of $10,442,826. The district will end the year in the black by $245,178, Kidd said. The bad news, however, is the low rates of interest on CDs and other district investments, generally under 4 percent.

Architect Dave Leonatti and Bill Ahal of the construction management firm of S.M. Wilson gave the board a brief update on plans for the new Central School. Leonatti said a computer virus had kept him from printing off detailed copies of documents for the meeting. He said he is "a little behind," but he still intends to have bid documents ready by the October board meeting.

Both Leonatti and Ahal said the slowdown in the economy caused by the World Trade Center disaster and other factors will not hurt the Central building project. In fact, they believe contractors will be eager to have work, and costs of supplies might also be down.

Ahal said he was getting about six calls a week from contractors interested in bidding on the project, and Leonatti said he also has a portfolio of interested contractors. Leonatti, whose firm is also the architect for the Lincoln College building project, said bids will be let for the Central School construction before they are ready for the college’s new Lincoln Center, which will include athletic facilities, new quarters for the Lincoln College museum and administration offices.

[Joan Crabb]

LCCS names gymnasium Henderson Hall

[SEPT. 10, 2001] Lincoln Christian College and Seminary has unveiled a name for its present gymnasium: Henderson Hall. The name is in honor of LCCS faculty member Dr. Marion Henderson.

Henderson has served on the faculty at LCCS from 1951 to 1976 and from 1986 to the present. On May 4, 1995, he was recognized as Distinguished Professor of New Testament, the only LCC professor to hold the title of Distinguished Professor.

He has a legacy as coach, mentor, friend and professor. He has sustained an eager audience of large numbers of students over the years. He has influenced thousands of students with his knowledge of and love for God’s word. He is a teacher of students, loved by students and appreciated by all.

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Henderson was one of the first Lincoln Bible Institute (later known as LCC) basketball players. He later became known as "Coach," and over the years he has served as athletic director, men’s basketball coach, baseball coach and women’s basketball coach.

The current gymnasium has been a versatile structure that has served a variety of purposes. From 1952 to 1973 the gym was also the place where the entire student body met for worship. It has been used as a lecture hall for seminars and special events, a banquet room for events such as homecoming, Ladies’ Day and student banquets, and as a classroom, to name only a few.

[LCCS news release]

Honors & Awards

H-E grads are awarded Behrends Scholarship at LC

[SEPT. 28, 2001] Nitashia Brown, Jean Cross, Beth Guy, Amber Eyrse, Larry Jones Jr. and Jim Sherwood are this year’s recipients of the Anna K. and Bernard E. Behrends Scholarship at Lincoln College in Lincoln. All are freshman and graduates of Hartsburg-Emden High School.

Nitashia, the daughter of Patricia Brown of Hartsburg, is studying veterinary medicine. Jean, daughter of Barbara Cross of Emden, is studying elementary education.

Beth, daughter of Tom Guy of Hartsburg, is active with the LC volleyball team and is studying fashion merchandising.

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Amber, daughter of Sandra Eyrse of Hartsburg, is studying law enforcement.

Larry, son of Susan Jones of Hartsburg, is studying theatre.

Jim (picture unavailable), son of Connie and Jeff Sherwood of Hartsburg, is studying physical education.

The Anna K. and Bernard E. Behrends Scholarship is awarded to students who have graduated with good academic standing from surrounding county high schools.

[News release]

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Announcements

Notice to participants in the current GED program
[SEPT. 21, 2001] You are urged to pass all five sections of the present GED exam by Dec. 31. In January 2002, a new GED test will be given and it will be necessary to start over from the beginning. Make your plans now to finish all five sections and get your GED.

For orientation dates and registration information, call Heartland Community College, 735-1731.

Menus

Lincoln District 27 schools
Mount Pulaski Grade School

Lincoln District 27 schools

Breakfasts

(Milk served with all meals)

Monday, Oct. 1 — Cereal, toast with jelly, juice

Tuesday, Oct. 2 — Scrambled eggs, toast, potato rounds

Wednesday, Oct. 3 — Cereal, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, juice

Thursday, Oct. 4 — Sausage and gravy bagels, fruit

Friday, Oct. 5 — Cereal, cinnamon toast, juice

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Lunches

(Milk served with all meals)

Monday, Oct. 1 — Hamburger on bun with cheese, french fries, pork and beans, orange juice

Tuesday, Oct. 2 — Tacos with lettuce and cheese, peas, nachos with salsa, peaches

Wednesday, Oct. 3 — Sausage pizza, corn, carrot sticks, pears

Thursday, Oct. 4 — Corn dog, green beans, hash brown, cinnamon streusel cake

Friday, Oct. 5 — Oven-fried chicken, mashed potatoes, bread and butter, strawberry applesauce

Mount Pulaski Grade School

October lunch menu

Milk and condiments are served with all meals.

Students in grades three through eight may choose hot dog and bun or peanut butter and jelly sandwich in place of main entree.

Students in grades six, seven and eight may choose salad bar in place of main menu.

Monday, Oct. 1 — Cheese pizza, lettuce salad, carrots, peaches, rice crispy treat

Tuesday, Oct. 2 — Early out, 11:24; parent-teacher conferences

Wednesday, Oct. 3 — Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, pears, bread, oleo

Thursday, Oct. 4 — Breaded chicken patty, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, orange, jello

Friday, Oct. 5 — Chicken nuggets, corn, mixed fruit, brownie, bread, oleo

Monday, Oct. 8 — No school; Columbus Day

Tuesday, Oct. 9 — Chicken and noodles, lettuce salad, green beans, pineapple, peanut butter sandwich

Wednesday, Oct. 10 — Hamburger, bun, cheese, pickle, tri tators, corn, mixed fruit

Thursday, Oct. 11 — Corn dogs, mixed vegetables, banana, carrots, pumpkin bars

Friday, Oct. 12 — Taco salad, baked beans, pears, pudding pops, bread, oleo

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Monday, Oct. 15 — Brats, bun, potato rounds, corn, orange, rice crispy treat

Tuesday, Oct. 16 — Nacho chips, meat sauce, cheese, baked beans, peach cups, pudding pops, bread, oleo

Wednesday, Oct. 17 — Chicken noodle soup, cheese, crackers, celery, carrots, cherry crisp, peanut butter sandwich

Thursday, Oct. 18 — Breaded chicken patty, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, banana, bread, oleo

Friday, Oct. 19 — Sloppy Joe, tri tators, peas, apple, graham crackers

Monday, Oct. 22 — Hamburger, bun, cheese, pickle, tri tators, applesauce, vanilla wafer

Tuesday, Oct. 23 — Ham, mixed vegetables, 5 cup salad, fruit-nut trail mix, bread, oleo

Wednesday, Oct. 24 — Chicken legs, corn, banana, jello, bread, oleo

Thursday, Oct. 25 — Hot dog, bun, tri tators, green beans, pears, cake

Friday, Oct. 26 — Cheese pizza, lettuce salad, peas, pumpkin bars, ice cream

Monday, Oct. 29 — Meatballs, pasta salad, corn, apple, bread, oleo

Tuesday, Oct. 30 — Spaghetti, meat sauce, lettuce, green beans, peaches, bread, oleo

Wednesday, Oct. 31 — Early out, 11:24

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