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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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this article] |
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] |
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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] |
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"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] |
