ANNUAL REPORT 4
TUESDAY, March 20, 2012
Barry Reilly
District 87 embracing high-tech he role of technology in society is becoming increasingly more important. In addition, it is clear that the use of technology in the education of children is essential to their future success in a globally competitive environment. Given this fact, our schools must embrace the use of technology and be forward-thinking in terms of its uses to help improve student achievement. District 87 is embracing this challenge by taking steps today to prepare for a tomorrow that promises to have technology as a critical component of student learning. This entails a well thought out plan that includes preparing for a one-to-one environment for students and staff in the not too distant future. There are many considerations that must be taken into account prior to implementing any oneBarry to-one device initiative. Technology inReilly frastructure, preparing for students to bring their own and/or district-supplied devices, professional development for staff and access to the Internet from outside the school walls are several items that must be thoroughly analyzed. A robust, reliable and secure wireless network must be in place across the district in order for students and staff to maximize the learning opportunities a one-to-one environment has to offer. District 87 is taking full advantage of the Central Illinois Regional Broadband Network to provide high-speed, low-cost Internet access. CIRBN provides a strong backbone that in turn provides dependable wireless access throughout all school buildings. The cost savings realized by moving to CIRBN allows us to shift efforts to provide anytime, anywhere access to all students. In addition, the technology department in District 87 has been nationally recognized for efforts to provide cost-effective cloud computing services that not only benefit our own schools but over 200 other districts across Illinois. The number and type of technology devices continue to grow and expand each year. Tablets, netbooks, laptops, smartphones and hybrid devices continue to evolve and become a part of our everyday lives. Students in our schools today look at these devices as an extension of who they are rather than a tool that is used for a specific purpose. Because of this, we believe that in the near future many of our students will bring their own devices to help with the learning process. We must be prepared for this. It is also necessary for us to consider students and parents who cannot afford to purchase their own device. The district will have a detailed plan for supplying those students with a device to ensure that all have an equal opportunity to succeed. Once students leave the school building, it is imperative for them to have access to the Internet in order to continue the learning process at home. Students who currently do not have access are at a clear disadvantage to their peers who have access inside their homes. Working together, this community has made great strides to reduce the achievement gap between low income and non-low income students. A one-to-one environment that does not account for access outside of the school will likely widen the achievement gap. Perhaps the most important aspect of moving to a one-to-one environment is that of professional development of staff. Our teachers have been and always will be our greatest resource to help students achieve to higher levels. The district will tap into this expertise and engage staff in comprehensive professional development designed to improve student achievement in a one-to-one environment. Change is inevitable. The days of students carrying several textbooks around school all day are numbered. Digital textbooks and other technology resources are fast becoming the wave of the future. District 87 is well prepared for a future that embraces technology for student learning.
T
Reilly is superintendent of District 87.
The Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER
Bloomington Councilmen Jim Fruin,Ward 9, left, and Rob Fazzini,Ward 8, look over the redistricting map at Gaelic Park in 2011.
Changes at the top Bloomington again looking for finance director but some improvements seen By Rachel Wells rwells@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — Now on its third finance director in the last 12 months, the changing faces in the city’s finance department is the first major signal of what’s to come. In October, the city moved Tim Ervin from the head of the finance department so he can take the lead on a project that could completely change the way the city does business. He’s now the city’s performance auditor, a new position that will study city services and the potential for private sector outsourcing. As a result of the change, by early January 2012, the city was on its second interim finance director as it continued its search for an experienced candidate. Though City Manager David Hales said the turnover has meant a lack of some long-term stability, he said fresh eyes brought new perspectives and the move to establish a managed competition program could mean substantial savings down the road. “What it would mean is reducing our cost of operations, thereby helping to minimize the need to raise revenue in the future,” Hales said. Meanwhile, the city’s finances are, in general, better than in recent years. Bloomington’s reserve fund holds about $14.3 million, more than last year and the $12.5 million sought under city policy. In 2008 the account balance was in the red. “We have developed the reserve, but if you look at the overall city
Jonathan Reding, the new Miller Park Zoo curator, meets one of the zoo's alpacas Nov. 29. Reding formerly worked at the Oklahoma City Zoo. there’s still some significant concerns we have to address,” Ervin said, naming the struggling storm water fund and parking fund. Revenues remain essentially stagnant with property values expected to drop in the coming years and sales tax revenues increasing only slightly, Ervin said. Three-quarters through its fiscal year, the Coliseum’s expenditures in February were outpacing revenues by about $9,700 but operators expected to end the fiscal year with an operating profit of about $66,000. The city
still owes about $2 million each year in interest on the facility, which depreciates at a rate of about $928,000 each year. The city made progress on other debt early this year by retiring early about $1.2 million in debt related to a Market Street tax increment financing project and refinancing nearly $7.9 million in debt owed the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for a 2008 early retirement incentive. Ervin said he was hopeful those moves would result in boosted credit SEE CITY / PAGE 3
Signs point to rebound in local economy By Karina Gonzalez kgonzalez@pantagraph.com
The Pantagraph/DAVID PROEBER
Gary Brown of Trunk Bay Construction works on a house in Royal Links subdivision Feb. 21. Housing construction across the Twin Cities remains slow.
BLOOMINGTON — Signs that the local economy is on a rebound from a national recession began to surface during the final quarter of 2011, and experts anticipate the recovery will continue. “It generally looks good for the next year” said Mike Seeborg, economics professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. The area’s largest employer, State Farm, earlier this year announced that it would begin filling about 300 positions locally that had remained vacant for several years. “The news … is very good news for the local economy,” said Seeborg, adding that the new hires will impact the economy because they will make purchases at area store,
visit local theaters and rent or purchase homes here. Another sign of improvement within the local economy is the start of a $16 million construction project to build a new 48,700-squarefoot classroom complex that will house the business administration and economics departments at IWU, said Diego Mendez-Carbajo, chairman for the economics department at IWU. “Both (area universities) are doing much better at building back their endowments,” said Mendez-Carbajo. “They have more resources to pay for their operations … Both have an economic impact in town. They bring thousands of students and both are increasing their engagements with the community.” SEE ECONOMIC / PAGE 3