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Endress retires from Bureau Valley Tom Mott, BV transportation director, does the same By Terri Simon tsimon@bcrnews.com
MANLIUS — After a closed session of the Bureau Valley School Board on Tuesday, Oct. 25, the board returned to regular session to hear its superintendent render his resignation. Superintendent Stephen Endress read a prepared statement to the board and those in attendance at the meeting, announcing his retirement from “educational administration, and more specifically, Bureau Valley superintendent.” Endress’ last day is Jan. 9, 2017. “Leading the Bureau Valley School District has been a valuable experience for me, and I appreciate all the time and work that each of you have invested in me, the district and the students here at Bureau Valley,” Endress said. “This is my third superintendency and my most rewarding one. We have made so much progress, and I count many in this community as dear friends and respected colleagues.
“Just a month ago, I had informed you of some opportunities that had surfaced that my wife and I are excited about pursuing. After prayer and consideration, we have the faith that God is moving us toward these opportunities, though we plan to continue being a supportive and loyal family of Bureau Valley, my alma mater,” Endress said. “I am extremely grateful to be retiring at this time where I have a positive relationship with each of my seven school board members, respect and love for my three principals, and thankfulness for our teachers, staff, students and community members,” he said. Endress said he will do whatever he can to make the transition to the next superintendent as smooth and successful as possible. Endress told the Bureau County Republican he feels finance is his forte, and he hopes to develop a consulting firm to help assist and mentor new superintendents in the state, especially when it comes to working with their budgets.
Bureau Valley Board President Rick Cernovich said the announcement came as a surprise and shock to the board. He said the board hates to see Endress go, and he wants the public to know Endress made the decision on his own; he was not forced out of the district by any means. The board unanimously accepted his resignation with regret. In other personnel decisions, the board: • Accepted the retirement of BV Transportation Director Tom Mott. • Approved the resignation of Karen Peters, BV North cafeteria staff. • Hired Dawn Michlig and Kristy Aukes, BV North parttime cafeteria worker. • Approved additions to the 2016-17 extracurricular positions, including Cooper Frank, BVHS boys basketball volunteer coach; P.J. Baker, BVHS assistant girls basketball coach; Brian Humphrey, BVHS softball head coach; Kelsey DeSchepper, BVHS spring musical head stage director; and Jordan Riddle as BVHS spring musical head musical director. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
The check is in the mail PES owed more than $700,000 from the state By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Shannon Serpette
The six Illinois Valley Living 2016 Women of Distinction were honored Tuesday at an awards luncheon at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens. Pictured from left are Deb Wood (from left), Sheryl Churney, Joy Kauffman, keynote speaker Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin, Nancy Heiden, Monico Huber Nunez and Barbara White. See more photos on Pages 2 and 3.
Women of Distinction honored State Sen. Sue Rezin offers words of inspiration grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Six women from the Illinois Valley were honored for their outstanding service and dedication to our area communities at the fourth annual Illinois Valley Living Women of Distinction event held Tuesday at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens. Nearly 200 people — mostly women and a handful of men — attended the event to hear the Year 170 No. 129 One Section - 24 Pages
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stories of Sheryl Churney of LaSalle, Nancy Heiden of Princeton, Joy Kauffman of Tiskilwa, Monico Huber Nunez of Princeton, Barbara White of Cherry and Deb Wood of Princeton. The honorees shared stories about what led them to successful careers and willingness to led a helping hand. The women also shared secrets to overcoming challenges, told of their inspirations, thanked their encouragers and motivated fellow
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women in the crowd to go above and beyond in their own lives. This year’s keynote speaker was Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin, who was also a 2015 Women of Distinction Award winner. Rezin’s message to the crowd of women was to never let their surroundings limit them. She got personal when she shared a story of her mother, who to this day continues to serve as Rezin’s role model and inspiration.
“Don’t look at a challenge as a setback, look at a challenge as a positive to make yourself better.” Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin Rezin’s mother worked on the family farm, raised a family, managed a household and went to night school, which led her to college, a career as a teacher and eventually a school superintendent. “Nothing would limit her. No matter how difficult it was, she pressed forward,” she said. “Don’t
look at a challenge as a setback, look at a challenge as a positive to make yourself better,” she said. Rezin shared her own success story of when she was first stepped into the Senate. Coming from being a stay-at-home mom, Rezin described
PES Page 4
Women Page 2
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By Goldie Rapp
PRINCETON — Last year, when faced with the danger of statewide school closures created by the inability to pass a state budget, Illinois legislators relieved the tension with a stopgap promise to provide schools with a fully-funded year. What they failed to say, however, was that while they’d be increasing general state aid funding, they’d be falling even further behind on the rest of their obligations. The state owes Princeton Elementary School (PES) District $707,255, most of it for special education funding. There is more than $85,000 owed for regular transportation costs and more than $160,000 for early childhood funding. By now, the district should have received $236,924 for the fourth quarter of last fiscal year and $470,331 for the first quarter of this year. “Our concern is that we are actually now farther behind than we’ve been in quite some time. Last fiscal year we had received prior year revenue by July,” Superintendent Tim Smith said. Smith acknowledged the Spring Valley Elementary Board had recently had this same conversation, and that it’s