Worth Days will bring four days of family fun
REPORTER Pages 11-12
THE Volume LVIII, No. 23
Serving Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Worth
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Thursday, August 17, 2017
Illinois nears historic education funding reform Bipartisan group of Senators votes to override Gov. Rauner veto Staff reports SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted to advance an historic education funding reform Sunday afternoon, overriding a veto of the bill from Gov. Bruce Rauner. The Senate voted 38-19 to override the governor’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, a data-driven reform that replaces the state’s worst-in-the-nation school funding formula with an evidence-based adequacy model. The Senate’s successful override vote sends the legislation to the House of Representatives. If the House follows suit in voting to override
the governor, the historic reform will become law. If the House does not get the 71 votes necessary to override, the state will be unable to disburse general state aid payments to school districts. “Schools need long-term certainty and stability. Not only does SB1 provide this, it does so with a formula that directs the largest funding increases to the schools that need it most so that all students can succeed regardless of their zip code,” said state Sen. Steve Landek (D-12th), who voted for the override. Senate Bill 1 in its original form is backed by See SENATORS, Page 8
Local school district officials concerned about future funding
By Dermot Connolly Senate Bill 1, the education funding bill currently being haggled over in Springfield, is getting mixed reviews from leaders of local school districts. Local districts depend primarily on property taxes rather than state funding to balance their budgets. They have money in reserve, so they will open on time, even with the delay in passing the education funding bill. The Senate overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of SB1 on Sunday, which would have made some changes to the funding formula. But even if the House is able to get the four Repub-
lican votes needed to override the veto and pass SB1 in its original form this week, several local superintendents said the bill, at best, won’t hurt their districts this year. Dr. Robert Machak, superintendent of Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124, said SB1 “does not work” for his district. He said the bill’s ‘hold harmless’ clause, which ensures no school district will see a decrease in funding this year, leads to a drastic decrease in the amount of funds available for the new “evidence-based” formula. The superintendent, who oversees all four See SENATORS, Page 8
Hickory Hills residents welcome recycling service at their doors By Sharon L. Filkins
Photo by Anthony Caciopo
Sheila Sweeney, of Oak Lawn, holds aloft a sign outside Palos Township headquarters, 10802 S. Roberts Road, in Palos Hills. Sweeney and approximately 100 other people rallied there as part of continuing effort to force the resignation of Sharon Brannigan, a township trustee who posted comments on social media about Middle Eastern people that many found offensive. The monthly township officials’ meeting was cancelled moments before it was due to begin because of the inability of the meeting space to accommodate the number of people who wanted to attend.
Overflow crowd sees Palos Twp. meeting cancelled at last minute By Anthony Caciopo An overflow crowd of activists and concerned citizens broke into cheers at the Palos Township monthly meeting of board members Monday when the meeting was cancelled moments before it was due to convene. “This is a major victory to the people,” shouted Bassem Kawar, of the National Network for Arab American Communities, as he led the packed meeting room into a repeated series of calls and responses after hearing the official word of the meeting’s cancellation. “We’re going to continue to shut down every single meeting,” Kawar said. Attendees were present to continue their pressure on Trustee Sharon Brannigan and the
Palos Township Board following Brannigan’s now-deleted social media postings about Muslims and Middle Easterners, which many people have found offensive. “Everywhere you turn, from Orland Park Brannigan to Bridgeview, those numbers are increasing in leaps and bounds,” Brannigan wrote. “We are allowing these people whether they have peaceful intentions or not into our country without question.” Her comments also included questions about Muslim children enrolled in schools who she says lack proper documentation.
“What’s Palos doing? Why are all our schools filling with Middle Eastern students without proper documentation?” In another now-deleted post, Brannigan expressed admiration for President Trump’s family during their visit to the Middle East in May. “Watching President Trump and family this morning I am so proud that they represent us! Am particularly proud that our women are not wearing the headscarves. WE AMERICAN WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED WITH DIGNITY.” Citing fire code and the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Township Supervisor Colleen G. See PALOS TWP., Page 8
According to a report at the Hickory Hills City Council last Thursday night, there has been a steady increase in the number of residents participating in the At Your Door Recycling Service provided by Waste Management, Inc. Ald. John Szeszyci (2nd Ward), who chairs the city’s Finance Committee, reported that 8,000 pounds of electronics and hazardous materials were picked up in the month of July, reflecting an increase from 6,000 pounds the month before. “This is proving to be something good for the community and our residents are happy,” said Ald. Brian Fonte (3rd Ward), who chairs the Health/Environmental/Recycling Committee. “We started the program with Waste Management in January and we have seen a gradual increase in pick-ups each month,” said Fonte. “This is really a good deal for our residents at a very reasonable low fee. “It only costs $1.25 per month, which is included on the water bill, and the residents can schedule as many pick-ups as they need. The service comes right to your door to pick up your non-recyclable material,” said Fonte. Waste Management will dispose of TVs, computers, keyboards, speakers, cellphones, batteries, microwave ovens, as well as materials such as paint, motor oil, aerosols, pesticides and acids, according to Fonte. He added that this is a benefit because electronics and haz-
“ This program
saves our residents from paying hefty fees at drop-off locations ... We are hoping more residents will be signing up.”
— Hickory Hills Ald. Brian Fonte
ardous waste can no longer be disposed of for free. “This program saves our residents from paying hefty fees at drop-off locations,” Fonte said. “We have a one-year contract with Waste Management, which can be extended in January if the program continues to be successful. We are hoping more residents will be signing up,” Fonte added. Fonte recommended that residents wishing to sign up for the program contact the City Hall at (708) 598-4800. In other matters, the council approved a resolution authorizing disposal of high mileage city vehicles by public auction/ sale. A public auction, sponsored annually by the Southwest Conference of Mayors, will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 30. Aldermen Mike McHugh (1st Ward) and Tom McAvoy (3rd Ward) were absent from the meeting.
Worth Historical Museum has closed its doors By Sharon L. Filkins After serving 22 years as a valuable source for historical information, the Worth Historical Museum, located in the park district’s Terrace Centre, was officially closed on July 19. Robert O’Shaughnessy, director of the Worth Parks and Recreation department, said the museum was closed by a vote of the district’s board of commissioners. “The board’s decision was based on three major needs of the district at this time: a need for rental space, more office room and increased storage
space,” said O’Shaughnessy. “Having additional space to rent for various events will help increase our revenue.” O’Shaughnessy said he was presently contacting everyone who had donated historical items, documents and memorabilia to the museum, giving them the opportunity to pick up their items, if they wished. “If they choose to leave them, we will store everything with the rest of the museum contents. We will store all remaining items in climatecontrolled storage units in nearby storage facilities.
“Nothing will be thrown away. It is our hope that it will open again somewhere,” O’Shaughnessy added. “I have reached out to both the Worth Library and the school district to see if they could house the museum. Neither of them is able to take it on. I will be more than happy to talk to anyone; a business, or organization which may have the interest and the resources to care for the museum.” In early July, The Reporter ran a story on the possible closing of the museum. At that time, O’Shaughnessy
Clothes, signs and memorabilia were among the items found in the Worth Historical Museum that closed a month ago. Photo by Joe Boyle
See MUSEUM, Page 8
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