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EDUCATION | DIXON HIGH SCHOOL
Interaction speaks louder than words
Illinois colleges become a hard sell Budget taking its toll on enrollment
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Amid the hoopla, there were hugs – and plenty of them – during Dixon High School’s commencement Sunday, including these two students who congratulated each other on their once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment.
Students, principal urge graduates not to forget the importance of unplugging and staying connected – to people BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Dixon High School Class of 2016 president Lauren Piller poses for a photo before her speech Sunday afternoon.
DIXON – Adventure is out there. So reads the mortar board of newly minted Dixon High School graduate Katlynne Helfrich. If you’ve never seen the animated Pixar film “Up,” that’s where she borrowed the phrase. Her mom, Theresa, took her to see it back in 2009, just after she’d turned 11. On Sunday, her mom was back in town from Florida and joined by more family from Kentucky, Missouri, and even Dixon, to scream, cheer and blast an airhorn as Katlynne collected her diploma from Principal Mike Grady. INTERACTION CONTINUED ON A12
It’s time for some expert opinions Public invited to open house to learn more about Dixon High School plan BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – Before cars are packed, summer sports ramp up, and school slips out of mind, the Dixon School District is bringing in some experts to sneak in some education on its plan to build a new high school. Its Expert Open House will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the cafeteria at Dixon High School, 300 Lincoln Statue Drive,
where discussion topics will range from financing to school safety to what exactly a 21st century learning environment looks like. Superintendent Margo Empen, the school board and other district employees are seeking some education, too. They’ll ask for input on how they can best answer questions about the plan, and they’ve been pounding the pavement to get forms out to folks who can’t make the event. EXPERT CONTINUED ON A5
CHAMPAIGN (AP) – High school seniors’ unease over the lack of state funding for Illinois universities is contributing to a drop in applications at a number of campuses, and the problem appears to primarily affect schools facing some of the toughest financial struggles. A review of admissions data by The Associated Press found that applications for the 2016-17 fall semester are down for at least four of the state’s 12 public university campuses – all of them smaller schools that don’t have as much money coming in from things such as research grants and tuition and that have smaller endowments. At least three schools have seen an increase in applicants this year, including the University of Illinois’ flagship campus. Others did not provide complete numbers or declined to discuss their situations. Some schools in neighboring states, meanwhile, say more Illinois students are applying. Belleville resident Bryce Evans considered Eastern Illinois University, among other schools, but the Althoff Catholic High School senior is instead opting for Butler University, a private school in Indianapolis. He said one factor was the uncertainty over education funding in his home state due to the budget standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly that’s now approaching a full year. “The fact that the school I would be going to would be losing more funding took it off my list,” he said of Eastern, which is in Charleston. Evans’ classmate, Alana Reinhardt, ultimately decided to attend Eastern – despite warnings from her friends. “Everyone shook their heads and laughed at me,” she said. “They said, ‘You’re not going to have a school to go to next year.’” COLLEGES CONTINUED ON A5
INSIDE Randy Stroud (left) of Malden and Ryan Schulz of Freeport talk about Stroud’s 1923 Ford T-Bucket hot rod Sunday morning at the Sterling Main Street Car Show. Turn to Page A3 to see more photos from Sunday’s show.
Margo Empen Michael Krabbenhoeft/ mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 117
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............. A10 CROSSWORD....B10
LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2 POLITICS ............. A8
Today’s weather High 84. Low 61. More on A3.
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