Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 37
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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Looking for answers in school funding By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
The formula for state school funding in Illinois has not changed since 1997. Last year, Senate Bill 16 was proposed by state Sen. Andy Manar (Bunker Hill-D) to rectify that situation. The bill was intended to create more equity in the funding of school districts by directing state funding away from wealthier school districts and into poorer districts. The legislation passed the Senate but faced opposition in the House.
The bill died at the end of the 98th General Assembly. With the beginning of the 99th General Assembly, Manar refiled the bill on Jan. 15 as Senate Bill 1. The bill has been rewritten slightly with changes to the proposed school funding formula to increase its chances of passage. Among the changes to the bill is a provision which would take into account higher costs of living in some districts. That means some of the wealthier districts would lose less money than they would have under the previous bill.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and other Republicans had concerns about several of the directives in the previous legislation. Estimates of the new legislation’s impact on districts haven’t been released, but numbers for the previous bill indicated a negative impact on local school districts. According to Putnam County Schools Superintendent Jay McCracken, former Senate Bill 16 would have taken more than $874,000 in state funding out of the school district, a figure that represented most of the school’s state funding. McCracken does not think the new bill is much better.
“I continue to have concerns about Senate Bill 1, another version of the school funding reform movement in the State of Illinois,” he said. “While there have been some regional factors of consideration and the magnitude of the losses for specific districts have been reduced, the bill still relies on taking money from numerous districts and giving it to less fortunate districts. As school leaders, we desire to have all students receive a fair and equitable education, but the proposed funding formulas
Funding Page 5
Granville considers body cameras GRANVILLE — The regular meeting of the Granville Village Board was held Tuesday, May 5. President Doug Gimbal welcomed Troy Resetich from Troy Simplified Technologies, who explained some of the pros, cons and changes to police body cameras, as well as laws of using them still being worked on at a governmental level. Board Member Randy Borio asked village attorney Brad Popurella what legal issues the village should be concerned with. Popurella said until there is a firm policy at the state level, the village is opening itself up to risk. The board agreed Police Chief Kevin Moore should evaluate the current version of the body camera, which should be available in the next 30 days The board would re-address the issue after the trial period. Cost of the unit with set up and software included is $400 per camera. The board also asked Resetich about adding cameras to the board room for meetings. The camera system the Village Hall currently has is not big enough to add cameras to, but a new system could be put into just the boardroom with an on/off switch. The board asked that a proposal be put together, and they will re-address at a later time. According to meeting minutes, new board member Jared Baker and returning member Jim Pettit were sworn in by Village Clerk Kari Moore for a four-year board term. In other action: • Mike Richetta of Chamlin had the Motor Fuel Tax preliminary submittals ready for signature. Richetta told the board the well upgrade at the waste water treatment plant is being scheduled. The board at an earlier meeting authorized $2,500 for the test pumping and pump upgrade. Vessel no. 3 at the treatment plant is repaired and is waiting test results to be put online. In regards to the fire hydrant repair/replacement program, Richetta has found the company The Hydrant Doctor to repair the hydrants without excavation. Three of the four hydrants earlier in question can be repaired. The hydrant located at the alley on South
Granville Page 2 Vol. 147 No. 37 One Section - 16 Pages
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PCR photos/Ken Schroeder
Hanna Hundley is removed from the scene of the mock prom accident presentation at Putnam County High School Friday, May 8. In the scenario, Hundley was a passenger in the car driven by drunk driver Colton Washkowiak. The drill, sponsored by Community Partners Against Substance Abuse, was aimed at showing students what can happen when someone drinks and drives.
Mock crash shocks PCHS students By Ken Schroeder
kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The Putnam County High School parking lot was the scene of a two-vehicle accident Friday, May 8, that resulted in one death and sent two people to the hospital. But don’t worry, everyone was actually unharmed. The accident was part of a dramatization by Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) with the help of the Putnam County Emergency Medical Services, Granville Fire Department, Granville Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Standard Fire Department. CPASA last presented the mock accident four years ago. The scenario includes two cars of prom-goers involved in a broadside collision after a student who had been drinking runs a stop sign. This year, Colton Washkowiak played the part of the student who was drinking
Mock Prom Page 2
Matt Conerton slumps behind the wheel during the mock prom accident presentation while in the background, assistants apply make-up and fake blood to his date Lauren Colby.