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Strong start for Rock Falls pantry
SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
RIVERSIDE CHAT, A3
SPORTS, B3
dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, October 29, 2013
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING SCHOOLS | BI-COUNTY DECISION
Withdrawal worries shared Decision on appeal expected in first week of December BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
STERLING – After fielding questions Monday night from parents on the Sterling Public Schools’ request to with-
draw from the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative, Superintendent Tad Everett recapped their top concern. “Concerns about staff training came out loud and clear,” he said, as the group of about 55 parents and grandparents of special needs children began to leave the Sterling library. The more than 2-hour informational meeting was the next step in a timeline that began in December 2012, with the Ster-
ling district’s formal notification of its desire to withdraw from the Bi-County co-op effective the 2014-15 school year. This spring and summer, the other 10 districts in the co-op voted on the request. Four districts voted in favor of Sterling’s request and six were against it. In September, the district formally appealed the decision to the Regional Board of School Trustees. To win its appeal, Sterling needs the vote of 70
percent of the 14 trustees. A decision is expected in the first week of December. The district now provides services for 435 special needs students. The plan would bring 88 additional Bi-County students into their home schools. The experience of staff in the Bi-County system was cited by several parents. “A special ed certification can’t replace 20 years of experience in life skills classes,” one
parent said during the question-and-answer session which took up a majority of the meeting. Everett said the district is looking for experienced teachers, with a master’s degree plus 6 years experience being a staffing goal. “This will be a highly effective staff,” Everett said. “We won’t just pull people off the streets.” WITHDRAWAL CONTINUED ON A4
DIXON
EDUCATION | SCHOLASTIC BOWL
Burke says no to more Crundwell questions Mayor: No purpose served by further public inquiries BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Newman students (from left) Matt Wagenecht, Elliott Frankfother, Jakob Frank, and Todd Nelson are all smiles as they answer a question Monday night during the Rock Falls Optimist Club’s 38th annual Scholastic Bowl at Sterling High School. Newman won for the second consecutive year.
Bowling with brain power Newman wins Scholastic Bowl again over Rock Falls, Sterling BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
STERLING – Twelve students sit in the front of Sterling High School’s cafeteria – three tables with four students at each. They’re members of the varsity scholastic bowl teams from Rock Falls, Sterling and Newman high schools. Most wear uniforms, some wear glasses, all are clearly excited. At 7:11, the 38th annual scholastic bowl sponsored by the Rock Falls Optimist Club officially begins. Rock Falls is the first to get points on the board after a question about excommunication, and then three 10-minute rounds follow, a series of questions and answers volleyed back and forth between students and moderator. The questions were sealed in a packet until the evening begins. This year, Tim Propheter is the event’s chair. “These kids are the best and the
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brightest of our community,” he says. “They’re our next leaders.” At the end of round one, Rock Falls leads with 100 points, followed by Newman with 90 and Sterling with 50. There are about 40 people in the audience – friends, family, Optimists and fellow team members; nearly every one visibly straining to not blurt out the answers to the questions before the players do. Questions cover practically every topic. The students are asked to define “beefcake,” solve equations, name historical periods and events from the life of Jesus. A question about the kama sutra, answered correctly and without hesitation by Rock Falls Captain Blake Shipman, is met with more than a few giggles. After the second round, Newman is up 140 to Rock Falls’ 110 and Sterling’s 70. BOWLING CONTINUED ON A2
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B11
DIXON – There was going to be a time for questions. Not anymore. Dixon Mayor Jim Burke said Monday he doesn’t plan to publicly answer questions about Rita Crundwell, the former comptroller now in federal prison for stealing Dixon Mayor nearly $54 million Jim Burke in city funds over 2 decades. “I don’t know what questions need to be asked,” Burke said. “And I guess I don’t know what purpose it would serve.” Earlier this month, Burke said he and other members of the City Council would answer questions during their Oct. 10 meeting, but he later changed his stance, instead saying the questions would be answered after all the settlement documents were signed. That was done Oct. 15, finalizing the $40 million out-of-court settlement with the city’s former auditors CliftonLarsonAllen and Janis Card and Associates, as well as its former financial institution, Fifth Third Bank. BURKE CONTINUED ON A4
SVM reporter at Books on First tomorrow
Rock Falls’ Zion Little holds on to the buzzer Monday during the 38th annual Scholastic Bowl.
DEAR ABBY ......... A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
DIXON – Sauk Valley Media reporter Matt Mencarini will have “office hours” from 1 to 2 p.m. tomorrow at Books on First, 202 W. First St. Feel free to stop by and let him know what’s on your mind. Is there a story in Dixon you think should be reported? Stop by to share or just to say hi.
Today’s weather High 57. Low 48. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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