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Saturday, November 22, 2014
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SVE looks at behavior disorder program By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley Elementary School Board on Wednesday talked more about the potential idea of taking over Ohio School District’s behavior disorder program, which is set to close at the
end of this school year. Principal Kim Lisanby-Barber has been gathering details about the program to see whether or not SVE would be a good fit to host the program. The behavioral program, which includes kindergarten through fifth-grade students, would require one teacher and two aides who
had special training for crisis intervention. The cost of the program would include the room, teacher, aides, books, supplies, portion of the utilities, portion of administrative time, etc, she said. “Also, whoever is to take on the program — anything Ohio has built through the program, in terms of
supplies, would follow the program,” Lisanby-Barber said. She did call the program “a wash” in the sense that the district would not financially gain or lose from taking on the program. The costs are covered by student tuition. One item she continues to explore is the cost-per-student, which
she said is based part on the regular education district per capita. There will have to be re-figuring of numbers because Ohio’s cost in 2012 was more than $12,000, and SVE’s was sitting around $5,500. “We need to look at that,” she said. “The biggest savings to this district would be
the transportation costs.” A potential she does see in taking on the program is that the district is looking to send an additional two students to the program, so three Spring Valley students would make-up the program and not having to pay the costs to transport
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Taxing bodies working together Clawson: ‘This can do nothing but help us as we all move forward’ By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The all taxing body meeting held at the Ye Olde Underground Inn on Nov. 6 was a great success, according to Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson. “The all taxing body meeting was a huge step in making sure that all local taxing entities know what is going on with the other local entities,” said Clawson at this week’s Princeton City Council meeting. Clawson found the discussion to be proactive, adding that all involved felt confident of the good that would come from regular meetings. The meeting are now scheduled to occur twice a year with the next meeting planned for spring of 2015. “This can do nothing but help us as we all move forward working to make Princeton the best possible place for our existing and future residents,”
said Clawson. At the meeting, the different taxing bodies discussed the various ways in which to help one another. Each body was able to explain the issues they were currently facing. All present worked together to formulate a list of the top priorities. The meeting allowed for the different taxing bodies to discuss ways in which they could work together in the most productive manner, Clawson said. In other business, the farm rental at the Princeton Logistics Park was awarded to the highest bidder, Richard Eckberg. As reported previously in the Bureau County Republican, on the north edge of town in what is commonly referred to as the Logistics Park, is land generally farmed by the city. It was decided this property will be open for bid, so other farmers may have an opportunity to farm the land.
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BCR photo/Goldie Currie
Turning 90 together The Hanson twins of Tiskilwa, Geraldine Hanson-Pruitt (sitting) and Genevieve Hanson-Cummins, will turn 90 years old on Monday, Nov. 24. Throughout the past nine decades, the two have hardly left each other’s side and have made endless memories from childhood to today. Read about their story in today’s BCR on Page 2.
Park district closes skate park Board approves membership fee hike By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Issues related to deteriorating equipment have forced the Princeton Park District
to close Alexander Skate Park. Earlier this week, the park district board discovered the ramps at the park, along with the landing pads, have begun to wear enough to cause concern.
The park district had invested $14,500 about five years ago in Skatelight Pro panels that were used to repair the ramps, and those have all been used. “An epoxy glue has been used to repair smaller holes or divots, but that doesn’t last long and on occasion is picked out,” explained Princeton Park District Executive Director
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Elaine Russell. The equipment was “used” when the park board purchased it, and the base structures are now starting to weaken. Russell confirmed there are no current plans to replace or repair the equipment that is no longer appropriate for use. “All of the repair materials purchased for repairs
have been used, and structural repair is just not economical,” she said. Russell also reminded the board that several years ago the park district had to disconnect the electricity to the skate park due to vandalism. Even today, it takes an hour or more to remove leftover garbage in the area. “The Princeton Park
District wishes there were better answers for maintenance at the skate park, but over the years vandalism and lack of respect for the area have taken their toll,” she said. Increasing membership costs Also this week, the park district board approved
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