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GRADUATIONS 2014 Jacobs, Dundee-Crown, Woodstock and Faith Lutheran
‘WE HAVE POTENTIAL’
Schools wary of education funding fix Most area districts would lose under state-funding reform By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia
Jeff Krage for Shaw Media
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Kyle Grillot – kgriillot@shawmedia.com
ABOVE: Jacobs students, including R.J. Farina (left) and Andrew Heiserman (right) throw their caps at the end of the commencement ceremony Saturday at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. TOP LEFT: Hampshire High School graduate Jennifer Ogaban (left) shares a laugh before the start of Saturday’s graduation ceremony. TOP RIGHT: Woodstock North seniors Jack Versten and Anne Vogrine wait in line before Woodstock North’s commencement ceremony in Woodstock.
Amid questions about property tax increases and teacher cuts, school officials across McHenry County reiterated one response to a proposed school funding overhaul sitting in the Illinois Legislature: They don’t like it. That’s because the reform would cut most of the local school districts’ funding, under estimates recently released by the state education board. Even officials in districts that reportedly would see increases labeled the state’s estimates misleading. Whether the Legislature acts on the reform or not, supporters said it addresses an often criticized 17-year-old state funding formula and helps close the disparity between poor and wealthy districts in Illinois. But the shift in aid – primarily toward downstate districts – comes at a price for most McHenry County districts – small and large.
Thousands of students walked across stages Saturday to mark their graduation. Four of the McHenry County high schools that held commencement ceremonies Saturday included Jacobs, Woodstock North, DundeeCrown and Hampshire. Students, staff and families celebrated their graduates accomplishments. “We, as the Class of 2014, have the potential to go quite far – across the country, maybe even across the world,” Woodstock North’s valedictorian, Marina Besserud, told her classmates. “The possibilities are endless.” PAGES B1, B5
Jeff Krage for Shaw Media
The Dundee-Crown High School processional during Saturday’s graduation ceremonies at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.
INSIDE: More on McHenry County graduation ceremonies LOCAL & REGION, B1 ON THE WEB: Visit the McHenry County Graduation page at http://shawurl.com/167o MORE PHOTOS: For photo galleries of each school’s commencement Saturday, visit NWHerald.com.
LOCALLY SPEAKING
See EDUCATION, page A9
Ill. GOP elects Schneider as newest party chairman The ASSOCIATED PRESS
For Class of 2014, ‘the possibilities are endless’
“We understand that they are trying to equalize the playing field, which is difficult to do, but it’s also difficult to accept a $4.5 million loss in funding,” McHenry District 15 Superintendent Alan Hoffman said. “That’s a humongous cut for us.” The K-8 district would see the largest loss of state aid in the county. The $4.5 million cut represents 85.5 percent of the district’s state funding. If lawmakers do pass the reform, the district initially would be forced to operate at a deficit, Hoffman said, adding it “would be premature” to talk now about property tax increases or staff cuts as ways to make up for the possible revenue loss. On paper, Carpentersville-based District 300 would see a $2.05 million increase in state aid from its 2013 reimbursements. But Chief Financial Officer Susan Harkin said the state’s estimates actually would mean a $1.7 million
CHICAGO – The newest chairman of the Illinois Republican Party said Saturday the state’s reputation and budget are “in the gutter” and pledged to work “tirelessly” to defeat Gov. Pat Quinn and other Democrats in November. Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider received the unanimous support of the GOP’s state central committee during a meeting in Springfield. He was the only candidate for the job after his lone opponent withdrew from the race. Schneider, a small business owner from the Chicago suburb of Bartlett, said Illinois has become “a corrupt, one-party state in desperate need of a change.”
More inside Is GOP minority recruitment also affirmative action? Page A5
“We are going to work tirelessly between now and November to elect Republicans up and down the ticket to fix this mess, and fight for Republican values of smaller government, lower taxes, and less spending,” he said in an emailed statement. Schneider takes office as the party works to put a tumultuous phase behind it and build momentum heading into the November election. Republicans have called the election – and in particular
See GOP, page A9
CARY
ROUNDABOUT PROJECT GAINS SUPPORT The Cary Village Board has said it is supporting a proposed Algonquin Township roundabout project at Crystal Lake Road and Silver Lake Trail, and is offering to help try to obtain outside money for the work. The project is still several years away, the township said. The township also has support from Oakwood Hills. For more, see page B1.
Johnsburg’s Madelyne Hauck, (left) Sarah Weaver and Madelyn Peterson Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
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HARVARD: Weaver’s overtime goal gives Johnsburg girls soccer second straight regional crown. Sports, C1
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