Romeoville 11-28-13

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NEWS Community donates time, food during Harvest Saturday

PAGE 3

Our Community, Our News

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Vol. 8 No. 21

WILL COUNTY

By laura KatausKas staff reporter Editor’s Note: Common Core Standards, Career and College Readiness, Measures of Academic Performance (MAP) testing, data-driven accountability—almost chanted like a mantra, these are the terms educators and parents are hearing on a daily basis when it comes to the business of educating students in Valley View School District 365u.

In the final installment of a three-part look at how Valley View uses assessments, what parents need to know and what the ramifications are as a district, the Bugle Newspapers breaks down how assessment fits in with the district’s design for change holding the district, schools and its teachers accountable.

SEE GRADE • PAGE 8

Divided county board approves budget Striking workers picketed just outside the County boardroom

By Nick Reiher Managing Editor

A divided Will County Board narrowly approved the 2013-14 budget at a Nov. 21 meeting that beforehand seemed like a high school basketball game.

Striking Will County union workers took a few hours off from the picket lines they have been walking since Monday to set up a rally See BUDGET, page 2

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THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

News we wiLL haVe a Large Presence, inside and out, to urge aLL the PoLiticians on the county board to comPromise and reach a fair agreement, but we can do that without Picketing.

-afScme SpoKeSman anDerS linDall

buDget Continued from page 1 just outside and in the gallery of the Will County Boardroom.

Although many had left by the time the County Board approved the $500 million total spending plan, their presence was felt in a few of the motions that preceded the tally.

Board Member Chuck Maher, R-Naperville, suggested eliminating an $80,000 line item to hire an assistant chief of staff in the county executive’s office. Nick Palmer assumed the main job when Matt Ryan died of cancer three years ago.

That was defeated on a bi-partisan 18-8 vote. But another move suggested by Board Member Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, to use a little more than $4 million in RTA sales tax revenues to purchase the First Midwest Building for county use instead of using reserves.

Fricilone said it would be good to have more in cash reserves, especially considering all the “green shirts” (union members) who had been in the audience. But opponents, all Democrats, believed it was

better to keep on hand the RTA funds as the county looked to such projects as the Illiana Tollway and the Interstate 55/ Weber Road interchange, the county’s portion of which is nearly $50 million.

That measure failed with County Executive Larry Walsh having to break a 13-13 partisan tie.

The vote on the full budget was approved 14-12, with Republican Tom Weigel of New Lenox again crossing over the aisle to vote with the Democrats.

At last month’s meeting, Weigel forced Walsh to break a tie when he said he would support including new construction in the county’s property tax request during the past year.

He said the county had done so up until the last four or five years, and he saw no problem including it now.

The $900,000 increase in the levy would amount to about an extra $3 of $4 each year in property taxes toward the county for owners of homes valued at $200,000.

During a lengthy public comment portion of the meeting, union officials and members urged the county to return to the bargaining table.

Union members went on strike Nov. 18 after county officials said they had budged as much as they could on salaries and benefits during 15 months of negotiations.

One of the main issues is the county changing from requiring employees to pay 1 to 2 percent of their salaries toward their health insurance to paying a portion of the premium of the plan they choose.

Six Democrat Will County Board members reportedly were ready to not cross the union

picket line Thursday, meaning they would miss voting on the county’s 2013-2014 budget.

With a 13-13 split on the board as far as Republicans and Democrats, the missing Democrats would have allowed the Republicans to gain control of the final budget discussion.

Figuring they had a better chance of getting the budget they wanted with all the Democrats there, AFSCME 1028 officials representing more than 1,000 county union employees decided instead to call off the strikers who had been at each entrance and exit to the Will County Office Building much of the time since the strike began Nov. 18 and call in the moms.

AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said there would be no picket line before or during the Nov. 21 Will County Board meeting.

Instead, the union offered “Moms for a Fair Contract” news conference outside the county office building before the county board meeting, followed by public comment during the meeting by AFSCME 1028 President Dave Delrose.

Of the press conference, Lindall said in a press release it would feature striking Will County employees who are mothers, many with their children and “colorful homemade signs.

“Mothers in the county workforce will urge the politicians who control Will County to respect their service, compromise and settle a fair contract that restores county operations.”

Asked if the press conference had anything to do with the six Democrats threatening to honor the picket line, Lindall said: “Our focus is on the moms delivering a strong message at the news conference, and our members and community supporters testifying during public comment. We will have a large presence, inside and out, to urge all the politicians on the county board to compromise and reach a fair agreement, but we can do that without picketing.”

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

3

Community donates time, food during Harvest Saturday else besides ourselves,” said volunteer Marta Wysocki. “It’s nice to see this. We have so much diversity and everyone comes together for one purpose — simply to help others. It’s great.”

Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Church, the Rev. Gregor

the whole community coming together at large,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing and we are One element rang true the so grateful.” most during the 20th annual Drivers traveled through Harvest Saturday food drive — every neighborhood in town community. gathering food from collectors Close to 500 volunteers came who knocked on countless together from throughout doors asking for donations Romeoville and d e s p i t e five different unseasonably Look around and see this parishes including cold weather.

St. Andrew Whether it is the whole community the Apostle, was a can of coming together at large. green beans, C o m m u n i t y C h r i s t i a n trimmings It’s a wonderful thing Church, Good or an entire and we are so grateful.

Shepherd, United Thanksgiving Presbyterian dinner, people -Scott Knollenberg, pastor of Community Christian Church Romeoville Church and The opened their Rock Church to doors and collect donations opened their for the community’s largest Gorsic, was in delight of the hearts. volunteer food drive. turnout for the food drive.

Bags of food lined the Approximatley 1,000 boxes “Praise God for this beautiful entrance to the collection site at of food were collected in one harvest provided for by the good St. Andrew the Apostle Church, afternoon thanks to the spirit people of Romeoville and their where in assembly-line fashion, of volunteers who banded generous giving,” said Gorsic. items were sorted, shopping together to support their “There are people here from carts whizzed through hallways neighbors. Some 100,000 items every part of the community— and hope was rebuilt as boxes will be packaged and donated here to give back.” upon boxes of food were to area food pantries for the Scott Knollenberg, pastor packaged and ready to send Thanksgiving holiday and of Community Christian to those families in desperate beyond.

Church Romeoville, echoed his need.

“We need to take one day comments.

Harvest Saturday is held every and take care of someone “Look around and see this is Saturday before Thanksgiving.

By Laura Katauskas Staff Reporter

PHOTOS BY LAURA KATAUSKAS/BUGLE STAFF

In assembly line fashion, shopping carts of food were collected from drivers who combed the area collecting donations for the Harvest Saturday food drive.

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THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

News

New city manager urges council to prioritize spending

future goals, Hock said. Once that work was done, the Councilmen could decide the best way to spend the money while in pursuit of those goals.

The current version of the 2014 proposed budget includes the hiring of new police officers and firefighters.

But Hock told the Councilmen to delay hiring until the completion of the strategic plan, adding that one new firefighter would have to

be hired to abide by the rules of a federal grant.

Hock also suggested hiring a consultant to lead the strategic planning process. The city manager’s departmental budget was revised to include an additional $247,000 to pay for the consultant and other expenses related to creating a strategic plan and implementing it.

Councilman Jan Quillman asked Hock if he would make any recommendations for the budget. Hock replied that he would do so as an “outgrowth of the strategic plan.”

The budget is simply a plan for spending, Hock said. It’s not carved in stone.

“You can change priorities,” Hock said.

Councilman Larry Hug asked if the strategic plan would affect the city’s spending next year on capital projects. Hock noted that the city’s department heads had requested the completion of projects totaling $7 million but just $3 million in work was included in the budget.

“The ones that are in here, we’ll start doing right away,” Hock said.

Once the strategic planning process was completed, the Councilmen might, for example, decide to spend all of the money on one kind of capital project such as roads, Hock said.

ROTC program is taking part in the National Wreaths Across America program by sponsoring the sale of wreaths that will be placed on graves at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood on Dec. 14.

Orders for the $15 wreaths must be placed and paid for

by Nov. 30 if the donor has a specific gravesite on which the wreaths should be placed or by Dec. 1 if there are no placement instructions.

Order forms are available by e-mailing bhs.afjrotc@ live.com, by calling 630-4509332, or by going to www.

WreathsAcrossAmer ica.org.

But it’s important to remember to use the BHS JROTC group

Current version of the 2014 proposed budget includes the hiring of new police officers, firefighters

By Stewart Warren For the Bugle

Although the city of Joliet is discussing a new budget of about $287.8 million, the plan could change next year.

Jim Hock, the new city manager, urged the members of the City Council to first create a strategic plan and then decide exactly how to spend the money. The plan would establish the council’s

• Hock noted that the city’s department heads had requested the completion of projects totaling $7 million but just $3 million in work was included in the budget • The city of Joliet is discussing a new budget of about $287.8 million, but the plan could change next year • Hock also suggested hiring a consultant to lead the strategic planning process. The city manager’s departmental budget was revised to include an additional $247,000 to pay for the consultant and other expenses related to creating a strategic plan and implementing it

News Briefs Nov. 30 order deadline for BHS JROTC wreath fundraiser To honor fallen members of the military, Bolingbrook High School’s Air Force Junior

number (ILROTC091) and location number (ILALNE) when ordering on-line.

The BHS JROTC hopes to receive enough orders to place See BRIEFS, page 18

News

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

5

Holidays a time of promise for Sue Staehely Staehely said of distributing the toys.“No matter how sick he was the day before, the day-of—boy— It’s that time of year again. he could take on the world.”

It’s the time of year when This year, Staehely is expanding Shorewood resident Sue Staehely her efforts to provide toys to starts to feel the pressure of a children at University of Chicago promise she made to her son Medicine Comer Children’s Mark before his death from a rare Hospital in addition to her form of brain cancer in 2006. regular efforts at Lurie Children’s She promised him she Hospital in Chicago and Presence would continue St. Joseph a tradition M e d i c a l he began of Center in providing toys Joliet.

New, unwrapped to children “Comer has toys for children from newborn to 18 years who were a great need, old can be dropped off hospitalized so I promised

by Dec. 14 at the Troy during the I’d send some Fire Protection District holidays. there,” she Station No. 1 “Every year, said. “It’s a lot I get a pain in of work, but my stomach around Dec. 1,” when you see what those toys Staehely said. “I always say that I mean to the kids at the hospital, thought after Mark died, people it’s worth it. It means everything would lose interest, but we’ve to them and their families.” done wonderfully. We’ve been Staehely said there’s extra blessed.” pressure to make this year’s toy In its 13th year, the Mark drive a success because of how Staehely Toy Drive has provided late Thanksgiving falls in the toys to countless children. Mark, month. who was 12 years old and “What I’ve learned over the undergoing cancer treatments past years is people don’t shop when he started the toy drive, until after Thanksgiving,” she sought to bring happiness to said. “I had to push the deadline children who were dealing with back, and it puts the pressure the worst at what otherwise on me to get it done in time (for should be the most joyous time Christmas).” of year.

The toy drive doesn’t have any “It meant so much to Mark,” corporate sponsors and relies on

By Clare Walters For the Bugle

HOW TO HELP

the goodwill of the community for toy donations.

“It solely depends on the people in the community,” Staehely said.

“It’s a true labor of love. It’s what Christmas is all about.”

New, unwrapped toys for children from newborn to 18 years old can be dropped off by

Dec. 14 at the Troy Fire Protection District Station No.1,700 Cottage/ Route 59, or any of the D’Arcy Motors dealerships—2861 W. Jefferson St., 2022 Essington Road and 2521 W. Jefferson St. Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks can be made payable to the Mark Staehely Toy

Drive and mailed to 21005 Ron Lee Drive, Shorewood, 60404.

Monetary donations are used to purchase gift cards for the teenagers.

For more information or questions, contact Staehely at 815-741-8750 or Roger Damyen at 815-823-5130.

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THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

The following items were compiled from the official reports of the Romeoville Police Department. Appearing in the police blotter does not constitute a finding of guilt, only a court of law can make that determination.

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Angelica Bryant, 31, 171 S. Highpoint, was arrested at 8:48 p.m. Nov. 10 and charged with retail theft on the 200 block of S. Weber Road.

2

Ryan Kropsch, 18, 1955 Whitmore, was arrested at 1:12 p.m. Nov. 11 and charged with possession of cannabis on the 400 block of S. Weber Road.

3

Diego Rivera, 34, 218 E. Bailey Road, Naperville, was arrested at 1:05 a.m. Nov. 12 and charged with possession of cannabis, no insurance, and failure to reduce speed on the 600 block of North Weber.

4

Kevin Davis Jr., 30, 1111 Nicki Court, Joliet, was arrested at 2:29 a.m. Nov. 12 and charged with driving with a suspended license, no insurance, and one taillight near Frontage and Airport Roads.

5

Rafael Gil, 33, 1319 S. 59th Ave., Cicero, was arrested at 4:32 a.m. Nov. 12 and charged with no valid registration, driving with a suspended license near Weber and Taylor Roads.

6

Oscar Felix, 18, 168 Fairwood Drive, Bolingbrook, was arrested at 6:26 p.m. Nov. 12 and charged with no valid driver’s license near Belmont Drive and Montrose Drive.

7

Victor Jimenez, 32, 149 Thomas Road, Bolingbrook, was arrested at 11:08 p.m. Nov. 12 and charged with no valid driver’s license and driving without lights near Weber and Romeo Roads.

8

Luis Quintero-Contreras, 45, 480 Seneca Lane, Bolingbrook, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Nov. 13 and charged with no valid driver’s license, no insurance and an expired registration near Route 53 and Normantown Road.

Police Blotter

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Rafael Ortega, 32, 1022 William St., Joliet, was arrested at 2:59 a.m. Nov. 13 and charged with no valid driver’s license, no plate light and illegal use of lighting near McKool and Route 53.

A delayed retail theft report was taken from the 0-100 block of South Weber Rd at 6:53 p.m. Nov. 13. An unknown person entered the business and took several cartons of cigarettes. Estimated cost of the items taken is $1650.

10

Ma del Carmen CelazquezQuiroz, 52, 430 Dalhart, was arrested at 6:09 a.m. Nov. 14 and charged with no valid driver’s license and disobeying a traffic sign near Belmont and Montrose.

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16 19 13 22

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Austin, 27, 3 12 Rebecca Honeybear Lane, was arrested at 8:34 a.m. Nov. 14 and charged with no valid driver’s license near 600 block of Dalhart.

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15

6 11 7 21 2

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Dante Webb, 34, 6733 S. Emerald, Chicago, was arrested at 10:07 p.m. Nov. 14 and charged with driving with a suspended license and no plate light near Route 53 and Honeytree.

13

An attempted burglary was reported in the 0-100 block of Phelps Avenue at 1:16 a.m. Nov. 15. An unknown subject attempted to gain entry into the business by breaking the glass door. Estimated cost to repair the damage is $500.

5

14

A residential burglary was reported in the 900 block of Brassfield at 2:13 p.m.

Nov. 15. Unknown person(s) entered the residence through a broken window and took a laptop computer, I-pad and cash. Estimated cost of the items taken and to repair the damage is $1705.

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17 18

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1 20 10

3

15

Acosta, 30, 123 North 16 Elvis Ave.,Addison, was arrested at 4:55 a.m. Nov. 16 and charged with no valid driver’s license and speeding near Route 53 and Chambers.

Cristian Arreola, 19, 281 Traverse, was arrested at 11:58 p.m. Nov. 16 and charged

17

with disorderly conduct and underage consumption on the 200 block of Traverse Court.

Adriann Arreola, 44, 281 Traverse, was arrested at 11:58 p.m. Nov. 16 and charged with disorderly conduct on the 200 block of Traverse Court.

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Flores-Segundo, 30, 19 Susana 220 Gordon, was arrested at 5:38 a.m. Nov. 17 and charged with no valid driver’s license and speeding near Route 53

and Enterprise.

Road and 135th Street.

Ma Diaz, 49, 1807 N. Broadway, Crest Hill, was arrested at 3:07 p.m. Nov. 17 and charged with retail theft on the 200 block of S. Weber Road.

Luis Catzin, 20, 730 Delta, was arrested at 7:14 p.m.

Nov. 18 and charged with an instate warrant on the 700 block of Delta.

20

Bertha Reyes, 31, 554 Liberty, Joliet, was arrested at 1:18 p.m. Nov. 18 and charged with driving with a suspended license and an expired registration near Weber

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Augusto Chacon, 47, 906 Oakland, Joliet, was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 19 and charged with no valid driver’s license and disobeying a traffic signal near Route 53 and Murphy Drive.

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ForuM Post your thoughts!

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Column

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

7

Peace, not pieces, the key to happiness A week or so ago, I was washing dishes when a ceramic Northwestern stein I bought years ago fell off the windowsill right above the sink. I checked it over, and it was fine. So I put it right back up on the sill where it has sat for years.

A couple days later, same thing. Except this time, it broke. Sometimes I have gotten the glue out and put stuff like that back together … several times.

This time, without much thinking, I just threw it away.

Later, I went on the ‘net pretty confident I could find another one. I couldn’t. And I started to feel kind of sad that a portion of my college life, one that I really hadn’t given much thought to in a while, was gone and likely was not going to be replaced.

Then I saw the image on TV of a guy in Washington, Ill., who literally collapsed in tears when he saw the rubble that once was his home. After the shock of what he had seen wore off a bit, he said he was thankful none of his family was hurt among those ruins.

I know I spend more time worrying about what I don’t have than being grateful for what I do have. And I bet you do, too.

Worrying is different from preparing. Preparing means to take that worry, figure the best plans you can, and then relax and see what happens. I even reminded Jillian this morning what Mom says happens when she prepares: “Nothing!” Jillian said.

So as you prepare this holiday season, do the best you can do have a great time, enjoying the family and many friends you have and the other blessings that we all too often forget about.

Remember those who have less this year for one reason or another. Yeah, the economy

worrying is different from PreParing. PreParing means to take that worry, figure the best PLans you can, and then reLax and see what haPPens.

has come back a bit, but not everyone followed along. Only a few weeks ago, those people in Washington and some even closer to home, weren’t thinking they would be picking up what’s left of their lives from a rare November tornado.

If you want to help them, here are just a few places taking donations: • PeopleFirstBank of Joliet established a benefit fund for tornado victims in Illinois.

Donations may be made at both PeopleFirstBank locations, 3100 Theodore St. in Joliet and 1226 W. Jefferson St. in Shorewood. Checks can be made payable to “PeopleFirstBank for benefit of 11/17/13 Relief Fund.”

Donations also can be mailed to PeopleFirstBank, 3100 Theodore St., Joliet, IL 60435.

For more information, call the bank at (815) 207-6200.

• The Three Rivers Association of Realtors (TRAR) is accepting donations for delivery to the Diamond, Coal City and Manhattan and other areas where there is need.

Items can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the TRAR Board Office, 303 Springfield Ave., Joliet. Items most in need include: non-perishable food items, bottled water, large garbage bags, toiletries, work gloves, bleach, buckets, sponges, mops, paper products and infant care items.

• Thomas Nissan of Joliet is collecting canned food,

bottled, water, toilet paper and baby care products to give to tornado victims in Will County.

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the dealership, 1427 N. Larkin Ave. • Aaron’s Furniture, 1418 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, is accepting donations from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, call (815) 7440100.

• A drop box was set up at the Joliet Park District’s Inwood Athletic Club, 3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Items can be donated between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. For more information, call (815) 7417275.

In Shorewood, tornado collection boxes are available at: • Conrad’s Harley Davidson, 19356 NE Frontage Road, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (815) 7252000.

• Remax Ultimate Professionals, 576 Brookforest Ave., open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call (815) 725-4545.

• Troy Fire Station 1, 700 Cottage Road.

Do what you can. And please have a great Thanksgiving and a safe holiday season.

Nick Reiher Managing Editor

8

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Schools GRADE Continued from page 1 School districts across the state face the ramifications of an accountability system deemed as admittedly ineffective while grappling with how to ingrain a new system of checks and balances that ensures students are successful.

As Illinois revamps its educational system,school districts are expected to comply and Valley View is no exception, marking the premise for the district’s journey to a new view and its design for change.

Reason for Change Based on the federal government and the state’s belief that the bar has been set too low in education, based on international tests, with the U.S. falling behind, an initiative to increase rigor and develop systemic change through school districts has been in the works for the past few years, including the likes of the adoption of Common Core Standards in 2010.

Within education circles, it has long been understood that there has been a disconnect with the Illinois Student Achievement Test and the PSAE, the pre-test given to junior high school students in preparation of the ACT test given for acceptance into college.

“There’s always been the perception that when students leave eighth grade there is a much greater percentage of them meeting and exceeding state standards, but then there is a significant drop off junior year when they take PSAE,” explainsValleyView School District 365u Superintendent James Mitchem. “There is a perception that somehow kids got dumber as they progressed through high school when in reality the testing mechanism is flawed and leads the public to believe kids know more than they did and then they falter when they go on to take an assessment that is more rigorous.”

To remedy the situation, beginning with the Spring 2013 scores, the state increased scores on the ISAT to align with the standard for the ACT, putting many students who once were considered exceeding now in the meeting category and those meeting in the below or academic warning category.

State Report Card Such standardized test scores are part of the annual report card,

which was recently released. The Illinois Report Card spells out how well a district is performing and is used as part of the state’s accountability system.

The overall ISAT scores show Valley View numbers below the state average. In reading, 57 percent of Valley View students are considered meeting or exceeding compared to the state average of 59. In math, Valley View is at 51 percent and the state is at 59 percent. Overall scores show Valley View at 54 percent and the state average at 59 percent.

However, other factors should play into consideration says Mitchem.

A newly revamped state report now displays student academic growth, indicating Valley View is three points behind the state average of 101 in math and is on par with state average score of 102.According to the Illinois State Board of Education, education experts believe this approach will improve understanding of student learning and provide a more nuanced accountability system that reflects progress as well as achievement.

But that Student Academic Growth score is only being used on an advisory basis this year as is not being used as part of the state’s accountability system.

“We have made growth in reading and are one point below the state in math and the comparison for the last three years would indicate that we are exhibiting the same growth patterns,” said Mitchem.

“Clearly we are not proud but again you need to look at those numbers different than in the aggregate for a district such as ours.The greater the heterogeneity of the district the more difficult it becomes for a district to meet state standards in the aggregate— that is the whole notion of the achievement gap.”

Mitchem contends that it becomes more challenging to close the achievement gap when dealing with every demographic measured by the state, including black, Hispanic and special needs, but says the district needs to do so without making any excuses.

He says coming from a public perspective when you see the report card, you may think Valley View is performing lower than a neighboring district—but it’s all perception. He calls attention to the fact that school districts that are more affluent and have larger numbers of similar students tend to score higher.

“For those districts in neighboring towns who on See GRADE, page 9

schools graDe Continued from page 8 paper look like they are better think about this–if we flipped our students would our students in that district automatically be high performing and would their students immediately be lowperforming in our district. I would tell you, unequivocally no.”

“If you compare the same Valley View demographics to that of any other district we would be highly competitive...take scores from Hispanic to Hispanic, low income to low income, special needs to special needs, you get a whole different picture. We make no excuses in fighting this historical achievement gap—that is the whole reason the design for change was made to address—but it requires copious amounts of change and energy and the belief to the degree that it will affect the outcome of our kids so we can mirror those affluent districts.”

No Child Left Behind fails The state’s accountability system is inevitably tied to funding and if a district continues to fail, dollars historically have been threatened to be cut but the likelihood is slim.

Most often states are given an option to choose from a means to try to correct the deficiency by incorporating various programs, which comes in the form of Valley View’s new view.

Yet the standards as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act has more than 50 percent of Illinois schools not meeting adequate yearly progress, said Mary Fergus of the Illinois State Board of Education, causing the state to offer a waiver to districts looking to get out from under the No Child Left Behind Act. Mitchem said the district is not ready to engage that waiver.

“It’s like peeling that onion— there is far more than meets the eye and there are significant accountability factors attached to that waiver as well. I am aware of it but it is something that our district has not entertained as an option.”

NCLB still applies in Illinois so Fergus said the state still has to ensure that schools are offering SES, or tutoring, and submitting school improvement plans, restructuring, etc.

“We’re working with low performing districts in a number of ways; developing new systems

of support via the Center for School Improvement. More are getting funding through federal School Improvement Grants,” said Fergus. “But note that when schools are failing, we are also not afraid to step in as we have done in two districts in Illinois in recent years such as North Chicago and East St. Louis.”

Fergus continued to note that the state is moving forward with higher learning standards adopted in 2010, a new emphasis on measuring student growth, new comprehensive teacher evaluations, a new report card to offer more transparency and useful data for families and community members and more.

When it comes to programming, Mitchem said the district is stringent upon only putting in place programs that are researchbased and statistically validated to work.

Mitchem said the district holds schools accountable based on the growth model rather than the achievement model, suggesting that using achievement, the expectation that all students, not taking into account their cognitive ability, should all be in the same place at minimum proficiency.

“I don’t perceive achievement as a realistic measurement to define a school’s or district’s worth. What is a more accurate assessment of a school’s worth would be growth and that requires some assessment tools that sets an appropriate goal for where you expect a student to be at the conclusion of learning, and you measure to the extent that you reach that goal. That goal should be for every single kid in your district and in your school.”

Mitchem believes that there shouldn’t be a situation where students are not growing.

“From the Valley View perspective, it is part of our system to ensure that we have frequent formative assessments in place that are designed to access our teaching to learn if we are effective and we should be able to make those adjustments in real time,” said Mitchem.

Theoretically the district is mapping curriculum from the 12th grade backwards—so that the standard is set in kindergarten for what is needed to get students to graduation.

“That is a significant change and a place where Valley View wasn’t two years ago,” said Mitchem. “All day kindergarten and the increase of rigor is all part of it; if we have all our student’s meeting minimum proficiency and they continue that through 12th grade, they should be ready for college without any

intervention.That is our goal.Then we brake curriculum down day by day, week by week; and teachers should be formatively assessing students almost on a daily basis.

Assessment is what drives instruction.”

“In Valley View, we don’t espouse to any excuses, we expect that when kids walks through our buildings that they are going to be prepared to graduate, at number one, because we believe that they can—which is a shift in the American education system—and two, because we have the capacity to do it, based on the efficacy of our teachers and systems. If we do this right, eventually that will happen,” continues Mitchem.

Evaluating teachers As Illinois follows new initiatives to strengthen its education system it is also taking into account, new,higher standards for teacher and principal preparation aimed at improving classroom instruction and educational leadership.

In addition, the development of a new principal and teacher performance evaluation system that takes into account student academic growth is beginning to emerge.

Mitchem reports that across the country as ranked by evaluation,93 percent of all administrators and teachers are considered excellent.

“At Valley View, we have about

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

50 percent of our students that are classified as prepared when they leave here. But 93 percent of us are excellent,so the question becomes this. If 50 percent are meeting standards, and 93 percent of us are excellent, where would we say the problem lies? If it’s not us, what’s left, your children. We’ve said that, without saying it, for forever,” said Mitchem. “The trepidation lies in, not just for the teacher but myself included, how we rectify calling ourselves excellent in the face of mediocre results. How do we do that without excuses designed to buffer us from being held accountable for teaching all of our students.”

And that he said is the whole crux of the district’s design for change—standards based reporting, 90/10 grading, doing away with compliance issues and excuses that a child didn’t participate or do home work so therefore if he or she fails, it isn’t

9

the teacher’s fault.Those issues that get in the way of holding teachers and administrators accountable are finding their way out of the system, he said.

In 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA), which requires all schools in Illinois to change how teachers’ and principals’ performance is measured. PERA requires districts to design and implementperformanceevaluation systems that assess teachers’ and principals’ professional skills as well as incorporate measures of student growth.

In addition,student achievement will become a significant factor in every evaluation by the 2016-17 school year. However, Valley View has already begun to put some measures in place but is currently using the evaluation plan/tool that was negotiated during the previous See GRADE, page 27

10

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

News

WILL COUNTY

Leaders urge parents to start drug talks at home Suburban counties like Will, DuPage, Lake are seeing record number of deaths and near fatal overdoses related to heroin

By Suzanne Baker Enterprise reporter

At times, the words coming from the young woman’s lips were rushed as she nervously recalled her teen years. She had a lot of information to recount, and this was her first attempt at public speaking.

Isabelle Triezenberg had her first drink of alcohol and first hit of marijuana at party when she 14 years old. Now 21, the young adult explained how in a matter of a few years she gradually spiraled out of control from good student, cheerleader and an athlete competing in track and crosscountry to a heroin addict who nearly died from an overdose.

Her story plays out every day throughout suburban communities.

Although Triezenberg has been able to put her life back together with the help of Will County’s Drug Court, that often is not the case for others in Will County where heroin fatalities have risen in the past few years.

Triezenberg’s account of tragedy, triumph and a work in progress was part of a “Heroin – What Parents and Students Need to Know”forum Nov. 20 hosted by local legislators and Will County leaders at Creekside Elementary School in Plainfield. Despite the rainy weather, a crowd filled the school’s media center to learn what parents, neighbors, educators and the community can do to fight what has become an epidemic in Will County.

State task force State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, said heroin use is no longer just an urban problem.

Suburban counties like Will, DuPage and Lake are seeing a record number of deaths and near fatal overdoses related to heroin.

“I’m afraid of what’s going on out there. We have a killer out there, and it doesn’t have a face,” Manley said. She urged parents, teachers and local officials as well as county and state leaders to

band together. “We are stronger together than apart,” she added.

To do her part, Manley joined with state Sen. Jennifer BertinoTarrant, D-Shorewood, in cosponsoring legislation passed by both houses and approved by the governor to create a Young Adults Heroin Use Task Force.

The mission of the task force is to study the heroin use problem in high schools and suggest programs for high schools to use to address the problem. The group will send its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and governor by June 30.

Bertino-Tarrant said the task force needs to look at more than prevention,but also at intervening through programs such as Drug Court.“It is good to hear a success story. Isabelle is going to struggle the rest of her life,” she said.

“Sometimes it takes tough love, like that provided by Drug Court.

“We need to broaden this out to make this available statewide.”

Pain of Drug Court Even Triezenberg admits Drug Court is no cake walk. However, had it not been for the program, she likely would not be here today.

Despite three months of sobriety and a stint in rehabilitation after her first arrest, Triezenberg had the urge for heroin again. “I told myself, ‘Just this one time,’” she said.

That impulse nearly cost Triezenberg her life when she overdosed on heroin in July 2012 while sitting in a sibling’s car.

She was lucky a passerby called emergency personnel when she was seen passed out in the car.“I thought it would never happen to me,”Triezenberg said.

It was August 2012 when she entered Drug Court and was forced to change her life.“They’re a pain in the (butt) sometimes,” she said. “I still have my days, but now I know how to challenge myself to do what is right.”

Triezenberg said people like Julie McCabe-Sterr, coordinator of

the Will County Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts, now are like family to her.

Sterr said the age of kids participating in drug court is becoming younger. She sees drug abusers as young as 12 and 13 years old.

The rigorous regime requires drug testing, appearances before the judge, rehab, counseling, mental health assistance or whatever services necessary to help kids and adults kick their habits.

While many contacts last 12-18 months, sometimes with heroin addicts the program lasts three years. “It is not a quick fix,” Sterr said.

Target heroin dealers Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow said so far this year, 31 fatalities were reported from heroin overdoses in the county and another seven are still under investigation. While that figure is less than the 53 reported last year, Glasgow said the county has a long road to forge before reducing that number.

One big step is removing the local supply chain, which is what local law enforcement is doing.

Glasgow said just five years ago, his office prosecuted 10 cases of heroin dealing in the county.

Last year that number rose to 50.

“If you’re dealing heroin in Will County, we’re going to find you and take you out,” Glasgow said.

For those already hooked on heroin, Drug Court can be salvation. Glasgow said the program has a 90 percent success rate. Because heroin is so addictive, even Drug Court can’t help everyone. Glasgow said three kids died of overdoses while participating in the program.

Stop kids before they use Preventing children from ever trying heroin in the first place is imperative, according to Joan Drummond Olson, interim director of the Robert Crown Center for Health Education.

Olson said her organization was approached about the heroin issue by a benefactor whose grandchild had overdosed.

The mission of the Robert Crown Center for Health

AT A GLANCE

Will County communities where at least 1 heroin overdose was reported in 2013

Beecher Bolingbrook Braidwood Crete Homer Glen Lockport Joliet Naperville Minooka Plainfield Peotone Township Shorewood Wilmington Education has been to lead, educate and motivate kids toward healthy, happy and safe lives.

While most people remember the RCC for its puberty talks, the center has expanded to include drug use and obesity.

When asked why heroin use wasn’t part of the conversation, Olson said the RCC realized little research was available regarding use in the suburbs.

Olson said heroin use traditionally has been an urban problem, so the RCC embarked on a study of the suburban side.

Much different than the urban problem,Olson said suburban kids generally follow two pathways to heroin addiction.T he first are kids who experiment with any type of drug they can get their hands on and get hooked on heroin. The other pathway is through other opiates found in a family’s medicine cabinet.

Olson urged parents to destroy any extra pain killers left over from surgeries, dental procedures or other medical treatment.

Rather than dumping them the garbage or in the water waste stream, Olson said most police departments have drug collection boxes.

No one is immune

Kids also are most vulnerable to abusing drugs at transition periods of their lives, such as moving from middle to high school, and or during a social transition, such as making a team, joining a club or making new friends. Olson said these are the times when students need to learn about what drugs like heroin does to their bodies and learn coping mechanisms to deal with anxiety or depression they might be feeling.

Conversations about drugs between parents and children can start early by talking about when it is appropriate to take medicine (perhaps a child is sick and needs a cough remedy) and when it is not. The older a child gets, the more sophisticated the conversation can be.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh said heroin abuse affects all types of families, no matter their economic status, where they live, educational background or parents’ job.“Nobody is immune,” he said.

“We need to educate parents, teachers and most importantly our children of the dangers of what’s out there,” Walsh said.

“There is no second chance.”

For more information on drug education and prevention, visit robertcrown.org.

taKe 5 Crossword Puzzle

Across 1 Protocol 7 Dupe 14 Where seals are their least graceful 15 Script used to transcribe foreign words into Japanese 16 Low-tech calculator 17 Modeling job?

18 Drop shots, in badminton 19 Nearsighted one 20 Was into 21 Low 22 “Daniel Deronda” (1876) was her last novel 24 Regatta racer 26 Osiris’ sis 28 Speculate 30 Choir section 31 Wielding absolute power 33 Legal extremes?

35 He plays Andy Bernard on “The Office” 36 Tool that’s swung

Down 40 Letters in a prof’s email address 41 City where the first koala sanctuary opened 42 Term paper abbr.

45 Wild outing 47 14-time A.L. AllStar 48 Collection of plates 50 Isn’t industrious 52 Tag for some asis mdse.

53 Legend site 54 Get one’s goat, e.g.

56 It was once called Mission San Antonio de Valero 58 Underwater escape mechanism 60 Stories on stands 61 Enhances 62 Slim and trim 63 Ritual candelabrum 64 Cutie pies

1 Farm stand spot 2 Neutral 3 Flatter in a cajoling way 4 Pool convenience 5 Taken 6 Some investments, briefly 7 Writer who said “All literature is gossip” 8 Perched on 9 Campaign hot button 10 Word with jack or box 11 Settled 12 Cancels 13 Part of some golfers’ pre-shot routines 15 It has an allwhite scale 19 They show a lot of leg 23 Chem test paper?

25 Fruit named for a Turkish town 27 Maker of small suits 29 A pitcher may appear in it 32 Unlike spring

chickens 34 Porter’s “__ Girls” 36 Stationery shade 37 Algebraic uncertainty 38 Unfathomable size 39 Wooer’s buy 41 Tolerates 42 Penn movie with a Seussian title 43 Cubism pioneer Georges 44 Call into question 46 Statue base 49 Straphanger 51 21-gun salute, e.g.

55 Actress Merrill of “Operation Petticoat” 57 Bank security 59 Bit of blogger shorthand 60 It may be tapped off

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Horoscopes Power up to pass over pitfalls. Your executive abilities may come in handy in the week ahead. Loved ones might be too busy to give you attention when you need it, but you’re big enough to overlook it.

Passing the buck could cost you some dough. Don’t expect other people to take care of your work or other tasks in the week ahead. You could be careless, especially if money is involved.

One and one is two.

You can balance the books with the best of them and excel at organization. A special someone may not be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt this week, so don’t push your luck.

Money is like water and will drain away if there’s a hole in the container. Keep a sharp eye on small expenses in the week ahead. You can coast on your reputation as a team player at work or in your career.

Color your world. Get out the crayons so you aren’t tempted to delve into gray areas this week. Rather than imagining the worst that can happen, focus on the best that can happen and stick to it.

Fuzzy thinking fouls up the data feed. During the upcoming week, you might imagine things are one way when they are the other way. Concentrate on being accurate and pay attention to small details.

Fault finding fuels feuds.

In the week ahead, remain cool as a cucumber and ignore the nagging desire to pick apart a relationship. You might even take criticism from others to heart when it isn’t deserved.

Picky people might hide their picks. You should be sensitive to nuances, but not so sensitive that you imagine the worst. Count your change twice when shopping, especially in the first half of the week.

You can’t be an ace when you’re lost in space. Focus on enhancing your reputation in public in the week ahead and find ways to demonstrate that you’re true blue with family and loved ones.

You can climb your way to the top on the shoulders of those willing to offer support. In the week ahead, you should be circumspect about saying something that could be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Vagueness causes dissension. Avoid making promises in the first part of the week when people can be hard to pin down and money can evaporate. Guard against the impulse to shop until you drop.

You can only please some of the people some of the time.

This week, you may find yourself trying to please everyone and end up not pleasing anyone, including yourself. Stay true blue to yourself.

Sudoku

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency 2013

Previous puzzle’s answers

Previous puzzle’s answers

Previous puzzle’s answers

Jumbles: • USURP • APPLY • POWDER • BEHELD

Answer:

What the clerk got when she decorated the gift package -- “WRAPPED” UP IN IT

11

12

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Bugle Kids

INSIDE: Kingsmen open boys and girls basketball seasons, page 14; Federico tabbed Voyager Media Player of the Year, page 15

www.romeovillebugle.com

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

13

Youthful Romeoville refueling this year

By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

Stop me if you think you have heard this story before.

The Romeoville girls basketball program has a group of talented young players and there isn’t a senior in the bunch.

Yep, you’ve heard that story before just a few years ago and also saw the finish when that group was seniors last year and put the Spartans securely on the map in the area.

While they lost nearly their entire team from a year ago, coach Julio Carrasco is not ready to call this a rebuilding season.

“When you lose everybody, we lost seven of our top eight players, I am calling it a refueling,” he said. “I don’t want to call it a rebuilding, we are refueling, because we have some athletes, they just don’t have the game experience.”

Four players who were on the varsity roster are back this season in sophomore Skye Osborne and juniors Faith Heitman, Perla Gutierrez and Jamie Hopper.

“Last year we had the eight

seniors and we pulled up freshmen or sophomores and let them learn from them,” Carrasco said. “They all learned and that was nice, but now they are the ones making the mistakes and getting their butts chewed and they just have to learn from this and they will.

There is a bright future. We have no seniors.”

He knows he just has to get the team to work through the inexperience, which they did in their own tournament, going 2-1 in the first three games “The first few games showed (our inexperience),” Carrasco said. “In our game with Lemont we were in the game, we had a lead of four or five points and Lemont played well, but we feel like we gave that game away. We turned the ball over, we only scored three points in the fourth quarter. We took some bad shots and made some bad passes. (Against Rockford Guilford), we had a 19 point lead and we ended up winning by seven or eight. We are 2-1 and we could have been 3-0, so I’ll take that.”

Even the youth on the team is talented as shown in the

tournament as freshman point guard Alexis Marin led all scorers.

“We have a freshman point guard, but she has been developing, she has shown a lot of poise, she has been getting us into the offense and she led us is scoring (against Guilford) with 18 points,” Carrasco said.

“We have a nice balance. We have an inside game with Perla and Cherish (Smith) and we have some good outside shooters.

“We have some kids who can get the ball to them. Skye had a few nice passes that were dropped. I don’t know if that is nerves or what, but we will fix that. We are watching a lot of film before games and I tell them – film don’t lie.”

While the players understand they are young, they still carry over the same attitude as last year’s veteran group.

“We have a lot of work to do but everyone on the team is working hard and pushing each other and making sure we have the right attitudes,” Hopper said. “We have work to do, but we want to win. We want conference.” mark@buglenewspapers.com

Mark Gregory/Bugle Staff

Jamie Hopper is one of the few returning players for Romeoville.

14

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Sports

Kingsmen open basketball seasons Romeoville Christian (4-0) won two straight this Saturday in the FOFCA Tip-off Tournament to take first place defeating Lighthouse CPA of Gary, IN and the FOFCA Eagles.

In the opening game the Kingsmen of Romeoville

started slow, but an improved 2nd half helped them clinch a 47-38 victory. Freshman Jessie Perez led all scorers with 23.

Juniors Erica Ware and Casey Perez contributed 12 rebounds apiece toward their team total of 45 rebounds. Senior Lauren Johnson added seven steals.

The Championship game featured the Kingsmen versus the host Families of Faith Christian Academy Eagles.

Romeoville jumped to an early lead and coasted to a 33-

16 victory. Perez and junior Angelina Byers scored 11 and 10 respectively. Rebounding was again led by Erica Ware who pulled down another 12.

RCA will not be in action again until December 3 when they again play FOFCA. Prior to the tournament, The Lady Kingsmen rolled to a 2-0 start defeating the Minutemen of Marquette Manor 45-17.

Byers tallied 18 points and Perez added 10.

Ware pulled down 10

rebounds making this her second consecutive game with ten or more.

Freshmen Nicole Peterson and Perez had 6 and 9 steals respectively.

BOYS BASKETBALL The Kingsmen won their home opener in overtime over the Patriots, a homeschool group out of Monee. The Kingsmen jumped out to an early 17-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Patriots battled back to

take a 3 point lead in the fourth quarter. The game would need extra time to be decided, which the Kingsmen came out on top 49-40.Sophomore center,Patrick Miller, lead all scorers with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Kingsmen. The Kingsmen are now off for the Thanksgiving break.

Prior to that game, the Kingsmen fell 50-46 to Marquette Manor. Jake Janson and Robby Janson lead the Kingsmen with 22 and 14 respectively.

sPorts

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Federico tops All-Area list

By Scott Taylor Sports Editor

The setter position in volleyball, particularly in a 5-1 system, is a unique position.

Not only are you in charge of setting up your teammates for a kill in every rotation, you also need to be able to dig, block and offer a threat to throw down or tip a kill yourself.

Plainfield North’s Kate Federico mastered many of those skills, finishing the season with 1,090 assists, 183 digs, 116 kills and 68 aces.

For her accomplishments, Federico has been named the 2013 Voyager Media Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.

“Our coaches always tell us if we’re not good at one skill we have to become better at a different skill,” she said. “I’m not that tall so I’m not that strong of a blocker. So, I have to become a great defensive player and be able to pick up tips. I work on my jump a lot so I am able to hit or tip

on the second ball. Last year I head a little bit in club, but other than that I’ve always ran a 5-1.

Federico is known for her ability to throw down a kill at any point during a match but the kill she had against Naperville North in a sectional semifinal proved just how dangerous she was from anywhere on the court.

“There was that one ball where I hit from the back row,” Federico said of the play.“I liked that.”

Being able to do a lot of different things well is still only a part of the job though for a setter.

It is also important to spread the ball around to different hitters, something Federico had a knack for.

“Getting everyone involved is definitely a key point in volleyball,” Federico said. “If you just set one person, the other team is going to figure that out and start blocking

the one person.”

With her success on the court, it is difficult to see what she has had to overcome off of it.

Federico’s mom, Christine Rehor Federico, died two years ago after a battle with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Rehor Federico was a standout at Downers Grove North and Illinois State.

However, that has made Federico stonger.

“It has impacted me a lot,” Federico said. “Everything I do now has a purpose. My purpose now is to make her proud in everything I do. So I’m doing everything I can.”

Her hard work has paid off with player of the year awards, which makes it even more gratifying for her.

“It means a lot to me,” Federico said. “I’m kind of at a loss for words. Being a player of the year or having any great title like that means a lot because I know that See ALL-AREA, page 16

15

SOCIAL

HUB

Q & A with local athletes

Dakota Vostry, Romeoville

@DVostry10 Voyager Media

Voyager Sport

@Voyager Sport

How many followers do you have?

About 400 I think What do you use Twitter for?

Checking up with friends normally How often are you on Twitter?

Normally three times a day. I tweet a lot. I think I have 25,000 tweets.

Who do you like to follow?

There are some accounts with pictures that I like to follow. They tweet out some funny stuff.

16

THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

ALL-AREA Continued from page 15 my mom is proud and everyone is proud. It is something that I have been working hard for and to get an achievement like that is great.”

Federico will now move on to the college level, where she hopes to play right away and continue to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

She recently signed to play at Clemson University in South Carolina.

“I’m hoping to start,” Federico said.“When I went there I wasn’t too sure about it. But I ended up falling in love with the campus.

The coaching staff there is great.

The coach (Jolene Jordan Hoover) played with my mom, so there is a connection there.”

The rest of the members of the 2013 Voyager Media All-Area team are:

MARY HELEN BEACOM A sophomore, Beacom settled into her role during her second year as a varsity starter with

Downers North. The Trojans’ setter finished with totals of 751 assists, 199 digs, 29 aces and 25 kills while helping her club go 23-15 and reach the sectional semifinals.

“She is a great competitor with a high motor, constantly working very hard in every rep of every drill in practice,” Downers North coach Mark Wasik said.“She made great strides with her decisionmaking this year, running our offense with good efficiency.”

SKYLER DAY She posted 248 kills, 23 blocks and 27 aces this season for Minooka.

“Skyler came back from the offseason a more complete and selfconfident player,” said Minooka coach Chris Hoeschler. “She was always a strong attacker, but she was definitely a dominant attacker who had the ability to take over a match. Her ball control and serve receive were also much improved. In fact, she was just as valuable passing the ball as she was attacking it.”

RACHAEL FARA A commit to Northwestern, the junior posted 235 kills and 132

Sports blocks to lead Benet in both, as well as leading the team in hitting and kill percentage.

“As a blocker, Rachael is one of the most dominant we’ve had at Benet and she’s become our go-to player on offense,” said Benet coach Brad Baker. “When she connects she’s virtually unstoppable. Rachael has gotten better in every aspect of the game, and with her experience she has a great ability to read plays.”

HANNAH FARLEY The junior outside hitter was a leader for Maine East, which enjoyed a resurgence this season, winning 17 games. Farley had 212 kills, 167 digs and recorded a serving efficiency of 97.6 percent.

“She really stepped up through her work ethic at practice and games and taking on extra responsibility and duties,” Maine East coach Anne Bezek said. “She improved so much this year versus last year. She’s a great hitter and developed a lot of shots.”

KRISSA GEARRING Bolingbrook senior outside hitter and captain was a fouryear varsity starter. She was

all tournament at Waubonsie Valley and United Township tournaments as well as SWSC ALL Conference and team MVP. She posted 420 kills, 37 aces and 472 total points scored this season.

“She was named one of the sun times top 50 volleyball players in the state, I am nominating her for all state,” said Bolingbrook coach Andrea Bercot.

ELIZABETH HYLAND Plainfield Central junior totaled 303 kills, 47 blocks, 20 aces and 144 digs for the Wildcats. She has verbally committed to Lewis University.

“Elizabeth worked extremely hard this season to become a leader on the court,” Plainfield Central coach Erik Vogt said. “In our biggest matches she played her best. You couldn’t ask for a better player to coach. Elizabeth is going to be a dominate player in our region next year.”

ALLIE LINDROTH A sophomore from Plainfield North, Lindroth took her game to the next level in her second varsity season. She tallied 247

kills, 209 digs, 38 blocks and 22 aces.

KATHERINE MAHLKE The recent University of Michigan signee and four-year starter compiled 313 kills, 35 blocks for points and 215 digs as a right-side hitter for Downers North. Named to the Waubonsie Valley and Autumnfest alltournament teams, the 6-2 Mahlke also was listed among the top seniors nationally by prepvolleyball.com—No. 68 out of 150.

“Katherine put this team on her back and was a great role model for a young team,” Downers North coach Mark Wasik said. “I am looking forward to her continued growth at Michigan because as dominant as she was in high school, she still has a high ceiling when it comes to maximizing her potential.”

KATHERINE MILES Though listed as a middle hitter, the senior played multiple positions—including setter—this See ALL-AREA, page 17

sPorts

FOOTBALL

Passing Anthony DiNardo, Joliet West Tommy Galanopolous, Niles West Cole Kotopka, Plainfield East Kelvin Jones, Romeoville Kody Voda, Plainfield South Jake Czerniakowski, Minooka Matt Gurke, Plainfield Central Rushing Josh Harris, Plainfield South Chris James, Notre Dame Jordan Brown, Joliet West Jake Mayon, Plainfield East Christian Lopez, Maine East Nate Gunn, Minooka Alec Arvanitakis, Downers South Gill Whitaker, Romeoville Jaden Huff, Bolingbrook Miguel Ford, Romeoville Javed Lukovic, Maine East Quincy Woods, Bolingbrook Kody Voda, Plainfield South Tommy Galanopolous, Niles West Mike Valentine, Bolingbrook

1,898 1,867 1,596 1,537 1,164 1,099 635 1,814 1,734 1,021 1,001 866 860 851 817 814 802 722 676 605 615 504

all-area Continued from page 16 season for Maine South, which won their first regional title since 2007. “She played in every match, but depending on how healthy our team was really determined where she played,” Maine South coach Peter King said. “She started the season playing middle and setter, then had her fair share of swing from the outside.”

Miles ended up with 207 assists, 163 kills, 53 combined blocks and 21 aces.

MARY MURPHY JCA’s 5-foot, 10-inch junior setter posted 555 assists, 121 kills, 180 digs, 21 blocks this season.

She tallied 154 service points including 42 aces.

“Mary brings excellent knowledge of the game to the court and knows how to lead by her actions,” said coach Chris Scheibe.

KAYLA PFEIFFER Senior setter for Lockport, she has signed with Jacksonville St University in Alabama. This season, she posted 244 Kills for a .285 hitting percentage, 250 assists and 209 digs.

“Kayla is a three-year starter on varsity, and has shown great leadership in the role of setter and captain,” said Lockport coach

Brandon Costantino, Niles West Dom Sterr, Plainfield Central Receiving Charles Hunter, Romeoville Javon Turner, Downers South Niko Messino, Joliet West Ronald Banner Pat Cravens, Notre Dame Shederick Majors, Plainfield East Anthony Woods, Plainfield South Anthony Corrado, Minooka Brandon Rivera, Plainfield East Josh Harris, Plainfield South Quran Spillman, Niles West Zach Zamora, Minooka Andrew Mihulet, Niles West Chris Mack, Plainfield North Mozell Hargrays, Plainfield East Manuel Nartey, Romeoville Anthony Mack, Minooka Total TDs (non passing) Josh Harris, Plainfield South Chris James, Notre Dame Jordan Brown, Joliet West Nate Gunn, Minooka

448 428 923 903 879 582 478 469 447 393 384 350 327 297 291 282 279 276 273 26 21 14 14

Erika Lange.“She is a smooth and naturally athletic player, who is also a humble and committed student athlete. Jacksonville State University is lucky to have signed her.”

OLIVIA RUSEK Regarded as one of the top outside hitters in the Central Suburban League—if not the best—Rusek, who committed to Miami of Ohio during her junior year, finished her four-year varsity career as Niles West’s all-time kills leader with 1,009. The Wolves advanced to sectionals each of the past two seasons with Rusek leading the charge.

“She is a leader on and off the floor as well as a CSL Scholar,” Niles West coach Stacy Metoyer said. “She is one of the most passionate players that has come through the program and she will be missed dearly.”

DAKOTA SANTORE Plainfield North senior was the leading hitter on the regional champs. A four-year varsity player, Santore finished with 325 kills, 228 digs, 27 blocks and 44 aces. She was an all-tournament selection in three tournaments this year.

JULIA SHEMITIS The 5-9 senior outside hitter posted 232 kills, 27 aces, 126 service points, 170 digs and 19 blocks this season for JCA.

Charles Hunter, Romeoville Christian Lopez, Maine East Andrew Mihulet, Niles West Jaden Huff, Bolingbrook Mike Valentine, Bolingbrook Jake Mayon, Plainfield East Alec Arvanitakis, Downers South Javon Turner, Downers South Niko Messino, Joliet West Miguel Ford, Romeoville Kody Voda, Plainfield South Quincy Woods, Bolingbrook Pat Cravens, Notre Dame Dom Sterr, Plainfield Central Cole Kotopka, Plainfield East Jake Czerniakowski, Minooka Javed Lukovic, Maine East Passing TDs Anthony DiNardo, Joliet West Kelvin Jones, Romeoville Tommy Galanopolous, Niles West Cole Kotopka, Plainfield East Kody Voda, Plainfield South Jake Czerniakowski, Minooka Tackles

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Danny Sacracco, Plainfield South Clifton Garrett, Plainfield South Isaac Reinemann, Niles West Tuf Borland, Bolingbrook Mason Matesevic, Plainfield South Zack Tuzak, Plainfield South Jeffrey Klank, Minooka Adam Pignato, Niles West Nick Johnson, Niles West Kevin Coppin, Lisle Marty McGrail, Plainfield North Anthony Love, Romeoville CJ Clark, Bolingbrook George Corey, Maine East Woody Corey, Maine East Dan Proano, Notre Dame Axel Gonzalez, Plainfield South Justin Brandon, Romeoville Javed Lukovic, Maine East Omar Salazar, Plainfield East Jeremy Pignato, Niles West Cliff Krause, Lisle Julian Brummitt, Maine East Pat Cravens, Notre Dame Jesse Troyner, Minooka

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She was All-ESCC and was AllTournament at Autumnfest.

For her career, she tallied 427 kills, 88 aces, 356 service points, 422 digs and 28 blocks.

“Julia lives and breathes volleyball. She would so whatever it takes to win,” Scheibe said.“She is the only senior on this team who plays all six positions and she has had the weight of the world on her shoulders and has dealt with it beautifully.Any coach would love to have Julia on his or her team because she not only has fantastic talent but the heart and desire many athletes lack.”

194 digs on the season as the Benet setter. She is committed to the University of Chicago “Stephanie ran a 5-1 one this year and was the quarterback of our team,” Baker said. “She plays the position that has the chance to make the biggest difference on a team because she touched the ball on every play. All elite teams have elite level setters and Stephanie played at an extremely high level of us. She was also a very diverse player as she had almost a 100 kills on the years and was one of the best blocking setters in the state.”

ASHLEY SHOOK

LINDSEY VISVARDIS

A freshman from Plainfield Central, Shook did a little bit of everything. She finished with 145 kills, 59 blocks, 39 aces, 71 digs and 255 assists.

“WatchingAshley play volleyball you would swear she is a junior or senior,”Vogt said.“Standing 6’1, Ashley is the complete package as a setter. She is a big, physical blocker with no fear of any hitter.

She is developing quickly into one of the best setters in the 2017 class. Plainfield Central was 12-20 a year before Ashley came and we finished with a record of 18-19.

Ashley is a big reason Plainfield Central is back on the rise.”

STEPHANIE SINNAPPAN Senior posted 909 assists and

The junior libero paced Lockport with 400 digs and a 2.05 passing average.

“As a junior libero, Lindsey consistently demonstrates an amazing volleyball IQ,” Lange said.“She understands the flow of the game and how to read hitters, and she plays with the tenacious attitude that characterizes truly great defensive specialists.

Without her passing average or her digs our offense could not have found as much success as it did.”

MACKENZI WELSH The Plainfield East sophomore was tough for defenses to stop, finishing with 303 kills. Also had 49 block kills and 173 digs. Had

Jacob Huff, Bolingbrook Julian Huff, Bolingbrook Luke Derouin, Plainfield Central Caleb Rogers-Purham, Romeoville Sacks Anthony Love, Romeoville Julian Huff, Bolingbrook Daniel Jackson, Plainfield East Caleb Rogers-Purham, Romeoville Eli Carbajal, Bolingbrook Oscar Plascencia, Romeoville Shane Murray, Lisle Mark Tomac-Geers INT Andrew Mihulet, Niles West Jordan Dobyne, Plainfield East Omar Salazar, Plainfield East Joe Colon, Plainfield South Jacob Huff, Bolingbrook Zack Tuzak, Plainfield South Parrker Westphal, Bolingbrook Jack O’Connor, Plainfield North Donte Hartsfield, Plainfield East Charles Hunter, Romeoville Mark Hammond, Romeoville

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58 57 57 56 7 7 6 5 5 3.5 3 3 12 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

19 kills in a match twice during the season.

“MacKenzi Welsh has been a vital part of our varsity team since last season,” Plainfield East coach Emily Tonon said. “As a second year starter on varsity, she stepped into a big role as an outside hitter for us this year.

Her drive and motivation along with her love for the sport have helped her become the player that she is today. MacKenzi doesn’t leave the court and takes the lead in the back row to set our other front row players if our setters dig the ball. She possesses a positive attitude and stepped up as a leader for the team, which is why she was made a captain.”

CAROLINE WOLF Senior libero posted 562 digs this season, which is the most alltime in Benet history, more than 150 more than the next player and is committed to Wake Forest.

“Caroline is our emotional leader both on and off the court,” Baker said.“She’s in charge of our defense. She’s outstanding on serve-receive and she gets her teammates extra swings because she can get to balls other liberos can’t get to. Caroline has worked hard to improve every aspect of her game and she’s developed into one of the top liberos in the state.”

Mark Gregory and Mike Sandrolini contributed

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Real Estate & Business

How to cut unproductive conversations short Q. I’m a results-oriented guy, and I have often been told I’m intimidating or bossy.

I try to ask what people think we should do, but it takes forever for them to come up with a plan.

Is there a way to get people to take action without being accused of being bossy?

A. Yes, if you use advanced paraphrasing skills, you’ll be able to lead other people to the conclusion you’ve already drawn.

Start by rephrasing the goal you believe the group or the individual has - e.g., “It sounds like we want to finalize the 2014 budget.”Then state more than one way to arrive at this goal. “Did the group want to approve the numbers on the agenda or add a category before we approve it?”

People experience us as “bossy”

when we get busy telling them what to do. If it appears we are simply listening well and feeding back what we are hearing, people find us a pleasure to work with.

If instead of using paraphrasing, you appeared to be controlling the group - e.g., “Obviously we need to finalize the budget today.

If you want to add something do it now and then let’s approve the numbers and move on with our day” - you’ll get a bad reaction to your method, not your suggestion.

Most of us spend a fair amount of time in our offices these days feeling overworked, overwhelmed and invisible.

We can end up meandering

through our meetings and goal setting because we have too much data to shift through to see a conclusion.

Don’t take it for granted that you obviously have the talent to pierce the complexity of your workplace and distill all this data into an action plan.

When you do this feat of problem solving, people around you may feel inadequate.

If you can make them think that your conclusion was actually their idea, they get to feel competent and motivated rather than embarrassed that they didn’t think of your plan.

A certain amount of humility is required to not take immediate credit for your exceptional problem solving and goal setting skills.

Then again, it will not go unnoticed that when you are involved in any project, the productivity soars.

You’ll be sought out, promoted and given the best projects

BRIEFS Continued from page 4 200 wreaths. The program will use its portion of the fundraiser to purchase additional wreaths.

Officials hope to place wreaths on all 32,000 graves at the cemetery. Similar ceremonies will take place on Dec. 14 (National Wreaths Across Amercia Day) at national cemeteries throughout the country.

Zumba classes serving as fundraiser for Brooks cheerleaders Bolingbrook High School’s cheerleading team is offering community members the opportunity to get fit and help

People experience us as “bossy” when we get busy telling them what to do. If it appears we are simply listening well and feeding back what we are hearing, people find us a pleasure to work with. because results happen when you’re around.

You will also rarely have to fight to get anything done or hear the word “bossy” when people describe you. Instead you’ll hear the word “effective,” and you’ll be able to sit back while others implement your good ideas.

The last word(s) Q. I have a coworker who seems to thinks he has no limits to what he can do.

He brags, fails, and brags some more. People seem very impressed when they first meet him. Will his behavior ever catch up to him?

A. Yes, as Albert Einstein (who reportedly was a very smart guy)

the team at the same time.

The cheerleaders are sponsoring Zumba classes during December at Brooks.The $5 per class cost will go directly to the cheerleading team.

The 6 to 7 p.m. classes on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 will be taught by a certified Zumba instructor.

Library Holiday Closings in November The Fountaindale Public Library will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29. The library will re-open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.

DuPage Township wins top honors

once said, “The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” Stupid people always end up falling up a cliff of their own making.

(Daneen Skube, Ph.D., executive coach, trainer, therapist and speaker, also appears as the FOX Channel’s“Workplace Guru”each Monday morning.She’s the author of“Interpersonal Edge:Breakthrough Tools for Talking to Anyone, Anywhere, About Anything”(Hay House, 2006).You can contact Dr.Skube at www.interpersonaledge.com or 1420 NW Gilman Blvd., #2845, Issaquah,WA 98027.Sorry, no personal replies.)

(c) 2013 INTERPERSONAL EDGE DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

DuPage Township won top honors in a number of categories at the 2013 Township Official of Illinois 106th Annual Conference recently.

The township received recognition for Best Website, including the 2013 Message of the Year award for overall excellence for their website, social media presence, newsletter, and programs such as “Summer Bridge.”

“We are honored to be recognized by our peers for our efforts to effectively communicate to our constituents about township services and issues,” said Bill Mayer, DuPage Township Supervisor. “These awards represent the hard work and determination of our entire township board, staff, and volunteers to serve our residents well.”

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THE BUGLE NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Food FOTOLIA.COM

Sweet-tart Granny Smith apples add a healthy touch of sweetness.

Easy sweet potato and apple gratin makes a spectacular holiday side dish Yes, a perfectly roasted turkey is the unchallenged star of the Thanksgiving table, just as that same beautiful roast - or a ham, or a bone-in pork loin, or a prime rib of beef - makes the necessarily spectacular centerpiece for any of the holiday meals to come. But, just as the star of a great screen or stage production often shines even brighter when surrounded by outstanding supporting players, so does a festive entree become all the more memorable accompanied by beautiful and delicious side dishes.

In my experience, accompaniments are often the last choices home cooks make when planning their seasonal entertaining.

With that in mind, I’d like to share with you one of my alltime favorites: Sweet Potato and Apple Gratin. Not only does it taste delicious and look beautiful with any gala main dish, but it’s also very simple to make - and even more so because you can find all the ingredients easily, as well as do much of the preparation ahead of time.

Sweet potatoes are a popular holiday side for good reason.

When cooked, they have an earthy-sweet flavor that makes a perfect complement to roast poultry or meat. As a bonus, their deep, bright golden-orange color naturally decorates any table where they are served.

Too often, people default to cooking their sweet potatoes with an old-fashioned marshmallow topping. While I recognize that a touch of sweetness can heighten the tuber’s flavor, I prefer to go a more natural route. That’s why I like to pair them with sweettart Granny Smith apples, an easy-to-find variety that’s also

IF YOU LIKE, ADD YOUR OWN TOUCHES. FOR SLIGHTLY SWEETER RESULTS, INCLUDE A FEW SPOONFULS OF DARK BROWN SUGAR OR MAPLE SYRUP WITH THE CREAM, FOR EXAMPLE. a standby of the season. Add a touch of sweet spices, a little bit of butter and cream and golden breadcrumbs, and you have a pleasingly well-balanced combination of tastes and textures that everyone will love throughout the coming month-plus of parties.

You’ll also be surprised how simple this dish is to make in advance. You can saute the apples and layer them in the baking dish with the sliced sweet potatoes and cream as early as the morning of your special meal. Then, simply cover the dish with foil and keep it in the refrigerator. About an hour and a quarter before serving time, start baking the gratin; then, add the breadcrumbs and last dotting of butter and complete the baking a few minutes before dinner is served.

If you like, add your own touches. For slightly sweeter results, include a few spoonfuls of dark brown sugar or maple syrup with the cream, for example. Or add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the breadcrumbs; or replace the crumbs with crushed gingersnap cookies.

Just hold the marshmallows! (c) 2013 WOLFGANG PUCK WORLDWIDE, INC. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

SWEE T PO TATO AND APPLE GRATIN Serves 8 to 12 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 1 pound organic Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, quartered, and cut into 1/4-inch slices 1-1/2 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into thin slices 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Dash of freshly grated nutmeg 1-1/4 cups heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk 1/2 cup fresh brioche crumbs or challah crumbs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the apples and saute, stirring frequently, until they begin to turn golden, 6 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the sweet potatoes in a mediumsized mixing bowl. Add the salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour in the cream, half-and-half, or milk and toss the sweet potatoes to coat them evenly.

Grease a deep 10-inch gratin dish with some butter.

Evenly spread half of the sweet potato mixture on the bottom, overlapping the slices as neatly as possible. Spread the sauteed apples evenly over the potatoes, and then top them with a neat, evenly

overlapped layer of the remaining potatoes, drizzling with any cream, half-and-half, or milk left in the bowl.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven until the potatoes are tender enough to be easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 1 hour.

Remove the dish from the oven. Raise the temperature to 500 degrees F. Carefully remove the foil from the dish.

Sprinkle the brioche or challah crumbs evenly over the top and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.

Return the dish to the oven and bake until the crumbs have browned, about 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and serve.

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GRADE Continued from page 9 contract that doesn’t include a student growth component.

Therefore, the teachers are not directly being evaluated on how their students perform on an assessment at this time but stand to do so by 2016.

“When the time comes to meet as a formal joint committee, this entire process will be a tremendous undertaking in trying to develop a plan that will be fair, objective, attainable and measurable in determining the performance of teachers,” said Union Representative Vickie Sutterlin. “Adding the student growth component to a teacher’s evaluation could have very adverse affects and all options need to be explored thoroughly.”

She said although the idea of using data to determine whether or not the teacher was effective in his or her instruction seems philosophically logical, it doesn’t take into account the different variables or possibilities that can be beyond the teacher’s control that can affect the outcome of a

test that has nothing to do with whether or not the teacher was effective in his or her instruction.

“It is my hope that the state will see the errors of their ways and make significant changes in their requirements before our district’s joint committee will have to tackle this huge task,” said Sutterlin.

Mitchem said once assessment systems are fully aligned with common core, the concern over growth will diminish.

“Because you are accessing kids in real time constantly and adjusting your delivery system to meet those needs of those kids, they should be growing,” said Mitchem. “This is where beliefs, history and norms and all those things come into play.”

Under the new initiative, administrators, are being held the most accountable, with building principals now visiting classrooms to access good instructional classes based on a rubric, a set of standards set across the district.

“If they don’t see that, then they have to have those non-threatening conversations with teachers in real-time so that it will affect a change…It is a huge shift,” said Mitchem.“… The other thing is we always accessed a student’s worth

void student’s outcomes, which is a huge flaw in the system because that is where we give ourselves the illusion that you are excellent even though our kids are failing.

Then we had a grading system that supports that line of thinking because we can say, they didn’t do this or that and that’s why they are failing. In what world does that happen except in education?”

Programs like Odyssey, various push in and pull out programs, formative assessments, and retakes, are all things designed to offset student failure in the district.

“We have some teachers out there that are very effective at it.

You look at their growth and they all made typical growth and some exceeded it. If you have teachers out there that can do it, then they all can do it. It becomes an issue of efficacy and effort. Because let’s face it, if we want the same results of an affluent, homogeneous district in our district, the effort we have to put forth is going to have to be significantly greater.

But if a single teacher in a single classroom, expects to get that done by themselves, then shame on Valley View.

There is no way we should put our educators in a position that

they perceive that they are solely accountable that every kid should make typical growth with students from the 5th percentile to the

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95th percent without significant supports from administrators and professional development,” concluded Mitchem.

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