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Saturday, November 15, 2014
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Illinois Report Card pleases PHS PHS beats state average on PSAE, but falls behind last year’s number By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Princeton High School (PHS) report card was released Oct. 31. Information on average class size, average teacher salary, student test scores,
student attendance levels and much more are available through www.illinoisreportcard.com. “In general, PHS is pleased with our report card results. However, we realize this is only one measure of student success,” said PHS Superintendent Kirk Haring.
Small wind power: Making a big deal By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Board is looking to loosen up its regulations on small wind power. The board’s Zoning Committee recently was approached by a Bureau County resident who was looking to get a conditional use permit for a wind generator less than 100 kilowatts. On Tuesday, board member Mike Maynard explained the resident was going through the lengthy three-step process required by the county to get the permit. The process includes a public hearing, zoning board of appeals approval and then to the county board for a final approval. “It’s going to take three months because of the process he has to go through for a conditional use permit. Every windmill that’s put up, regardless of its size, has to go through that process,”
Maynard said. “I think we need to re-look at that zoning from a standpoint of a homeowner wanting to put one up. I think it’s kind of extreme to have to go through those steps.” Maynard further explained he’s heard in other surrounding counties, a person can just walk into an office and get a permit for wind generators less than 100 kilowatts. Board member Loretta Volker, who also sits on the Zoning Committee, explained that in Bureau County it’s a lengthy process because the county’s ordinance is based on the “huge wind farms. “Unfortunately we didn’t see this trend hitting in,” she said. It seemed to be a consensus among the board members the ordinance be changed to allow a more reasonable process for residents seeking to purchase wind generators under 100 kilowatts. Board member Robert
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In the past, report cards indicated whether a school met the federally-mandated adequate yearly progress (AYP) standards. However, the 201314 report cards do not include AYP. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received a waiver for No Child Left Behind from the U.S. Department of Education, which means the state of Illinois no longer has to track AYP. According to the ISBE,
the U.S. Department of Education invited states to request flexibility for themselves, their districts and schools, so individual schools may better focus on improving student learning and instruction quality. Illinois’ flexibility request was granted in April of this year. Although there is no
mandated AYP in Illinois, PHS always has and always will strive for improvement and progress in all areas, Haring said. “PHS is proud of our students and staff for exceeding the state average on the PSAE (Prairie State Achievement Exam) and the measurement of Ready For College Coursework,” Haring said. The PHS report card
shows the school exceeded the state average on the PSAE by four percentage points with a composite (reading and math combined) score of 58 percent, which means 58 percent of all PHS students met or exceeded the state standards. While these numbers are above the state standards for the PSAE, PHS did fall behind last year’s
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Cup-stacking fun at LJHS
BCR photos/Goldie Currie
Students at Logan Junior High School on Thursday were among thousands of students across the United States and other countries participating in sports stacking in an effort to set a Guinness World Record for “World’s Largest Sport Stacking Event.” Read more about this event on Page 3.
BCUW dedicates 2015 campaign to Kennedy By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — In an effort to recognize the devoted service a longterm board member committed to her community, the Bureau County United Way (BCUW) Board has dedicated their 2015 campaign in memory of Year 168 No. 137 One Section - 20 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
Sandra Kennedy. Kennedy served the BCUW for 30 years before she passed away earlier this year in February at the age of 70. BCUW Executive Director Andrea Anderson explained how Kennedy strongly believed in the work of BCUW, and after her passing, the board felt the need to spotlight Ken-
nedy’s dedication to the organization. “Sandra embodied that volunteer mentality to service and felt the BCUW was the one because it touched so many. We felt she would make an example of what it takes to make things happen,” she said, Kennedy was the kind of person who was always
giving and trying to make an impact and difference, Anderson said. “There are needs out there, and our community thrives on resources that are there to help us in those ‘what if’ situations, and I think Sandra set the standards by showing us with just a few minutes here and there what a difference it really can
make,” she said. BCUW Board member Judd Lusher served on the board with Kennedy for nearly 17 years. He talked about her loyalty to the organization and how she knew every bit of history related to the BCUW. Kennedy’s copious notes provided board members with needed information at their fin-
gertips. “If we ever needed to know a detail from the past or wondered whether we did this or that from a past campaign, she would know the answer,” he said. “She was the secretary and took absolutely perfect minutes.” Jean Babcock, a former
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