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dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, January 26, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON PROPHETSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Raising red flags Parents take superintendent to task over issues in the district BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
PROPHETSTOWN – There was a heated discussion at Monday night’s school board meeting, but it had nothing to do with the Confederate flag. A crowd of 50-plus expected to see students and their parents dressed in rebel flag apparel to protest discipline at the high school for violation of its dress code. Instead, they watched two residents question Superintendent Dave Rogers on his ability to lead the district, one of them giving him a “vote of zero confidence.” “Every day you’re here, I feel like you’re damaging our students,” said Pam Plautz, whose daughter attends fourth grade in the district. Turning to the audience, she said, “Tonight, I’d like to make a statement that I give a vote of zero confidence in you leading this district.” SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUED ON A5
Principal moves on, but won’t hang up the educator’s hat yet BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Superintendent Dave Rogers listens Monday as a parent brings up issues during a school board meeting at the district office in Prophetstown.
Heartache, help, hope Counselor calls in the troupe to deliver an important message to students STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5501
PROPHETSTOWN – Standing near a photo of her son, Joshua Wilson, on Monday, Jennifer Higgins told the story of what led the 12-yearold Geneseo boy to commit suicide in 2013. Higgins spoke during a stop by the traveling art troupe MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful!) at Prophetstown High School. The 90-minute presentation, “Religious Discrimination, Heroin Addiction, and Youth Suicide,” featured a mix of somber stories and upbeat numbers. It was followed by a 1-hour debriefing session in which students discussed the issues presented and how they and school staff members can work together to effectively deal with them. “It was wonderful,” said Prophetstown guidance counselor Kristie Cady, who coordinated the appearance. “We’re excited to have them again in the future.” “Based on the afternoon discussions that happened, I think they were very successful,” Cady said. “I heard a lot of students say they were hesitant about going, but they were so glad they did.” Six Prophetstown High students were also recognized as “heroes” for their leadership and having overcome personal challenges: seniors Megan Wetzell, Eden Buyno, Logan Marshang, and Chris Schempf, and juniors Dontae Johnson and Brittney Bender. Cady worked with the school’s faculty to form the list.
The next chapter in her textbook
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Jennifer Higgins tells the story Monday of what led her son, Joshua (seen in the photo in background), to commit suicide in 2013. Higgins spoke during a stop by the traveling art troupe MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful!) at Prophetstown High School.
Students listen as Higgins tells her son’s story. MWAH! troupe member Levi Ballard serenades Prophetstown senior Claire Milnes during a lighter moment in the program. The troupe, whose members are ages 9 to 17, prides itself on finding ways to engage students with real-life drama, contemporary music and audience interaction. Read this story at saukvalley.com to see more photos.
DIXON – Sister Marcianne Bzdon is a career educator, having put in 52 years either as a primary teacher or principal. She’ll never be done teaching, but her time as principal at St. Anne School in Dixon is nearing its close. Bzdon, 73, came to the school via Belvidere and Chicago in 1981. Today, she says she “never would’ve believed” that, 35 years later, students would be learning predominantly on iPads. But the junior high kids have them, and kindergartners and first-graders are using them for some classes. In the fall, students in second through fifth grades will get them, too. Sister “ I t ’ s t i m e Marcianne Bzdon for a person who’s more of a techno-native, rather than a techno-immigrant, to take over,” she said. That’s a microcosm of changing times. The Rockford Diocese also is going through strategic planning. “It’s a good time to make the exchange, so the new person can lead off whatever decisions they come to,” Bzdon said. She actually considered resigning a couple of years ago, but stuck around to help the Rev. Antoni Kretowicz settle in. “I felt I couldn’t just leave him in the lurch, because the transfer had happened during the summer,” Bzdon said. “So I decided to stay on another year … and another year … and it’s just time.” She’s urged the school to continue some studies in textbooks. “We want children to realize that a book in your hand is worth something,” she said. Bzdon grew up on the northwest side of Chicago; she got her bachelor’s degree at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee and her master’s in education and administrative certification at Illinois State University. She lived with Sister Lorraine Pratt in Belvidere before coming to Dixon, when Pratt was the principal at St. Anne. She mentored Bzdon who, after 9 years teaching at the school, spent the next 25 as principal. “I stepped into her shoes, and she set a wonderful example for me,” Bzdon said, adding that, during those 34 years, the school and church went through six priests. SISTER CONTINUED ON A9
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 33
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A10 COMICS ............... A8
CROSSWORD......B9 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 30. Low 18. More on A3.
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