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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 52
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Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Don’t rely on funding, schools told Putnam County School Board OKs tentative budget By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — The tentative budget for the 2016/2017 fiscal year was the main focus of the Putnam County School Board
meeting on Monday, Aug. 15. As during last year, state funding, or the lack of it, continues to remain a question mark for the district. “While funding was provided by the stopgap budget, we were told at the new superintendents’ conference in Springfield to not rely on that funding after the elections. So funding will continue to be an issue this year for the district, and we’ll have to continue to try and be more conservative,” Superintendent Carl
Carlson said. Carlson presented, and the board approved, the tentative budget. He said the budget is a flexible review document that’s a work in progress, and he’s still waiting for some final figures. The budget will be available and on display in the district office for 30 days and is set to be finalized at the next school board meeting on Sept. 19. The FY16/17 budget hearing will be at 6 p.m., before the regular
board meeting at 6:30 p.m., on the same day. The state still owes the district $228,331.96. The largest amounts owed are for the special education and transportation funds. The district’s Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) allocation for this budget cycle is $2.3 million, which is down from last year’s $2.8 million. Funding from Lostant tuition and the General State Aid (GSA) are
Rain or shine at Magnolia Days
also lower than last year. The tax extension, Title 1 and Title 2 funding and estimated earnings from investments are higher than the amounts in last year’s budget. In other news, the board approved the hiring of Michelle Edens as the district’s Pre-K services coordinator and family educator. The board also approved the non-renewal of maintenance supervisor Chris Uzella’s 2016-2017 contract.
Slow down for students
Motorists need to keep eyes on the road in school zones By Eric Engel
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
the planned improvements. Shafer also said the seal-coating would be completed soon and that the streets were marked off. At the end of his presentation, he announced his partial retirement. Shafer, village engineer for 38 years and an engineer for 47 years, said he was still going to be working part-time and looked forward to continuing his work with the village.
PRINCETON — With school starting back up across the Illinois Valley, local and state law enforcement officers will be vigilant in their dedication to student safety around commuters, as the children enter and exit the school property. Illinois State Police District 17 Commander Lt. Victor Markowski said the start of the school year means an increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic around schools. Motorists need to be watchful for children walking and riding their bikes to school and children darting out from between parked cars, and they also need to be on the lookout for slowing and stopped school buses. According to an ISP new release, Markowski said, “As parents drop off their children before school and pick them up after school, there will be an increase in vehicle traffic during the morning and evening commute. Extra travel time should be planned to allow for the increase in traffic.” Spring Valley Police Chief Kevin Sangston said everyone needs to heighten their awareness around school zones, especially during this time of year. Taking heed of the reduced speed zones, watching the school bus stop arms and just being extra patient will help scholars and staff members get in and out of school in an orderly fashion. Markowski said the speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour — in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. when children are present. Motorists should refrain from talking on cellphones in a school zone, and remember it is illegal to text while driving.
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PCR photo/Dave Cook
The darkness of the advancing clouds dampened the day, along with a few interiors, at the Magnolia Days car show on Saturday, but it didn’t keep those in attendance from enjoying themselves. This bright purple, 1954 Chevrolet COE truck was one of the more unusual vehicles at the show and it had a steady flow of people approaching for a closer look.
More art than science
Market Street drainage improvements approved in Hennepin By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
HENNEPIN — At the Hennepin Village Board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 17, village engineer Bill Shafer discussed needed improvements to the drainage system near 11th and Market streets. Shafer proposed possible improvements to the drainage tiles and work on a leach bed and dry well in the area. “This is more art than science because Vol. 148 No. 52 One Section - 16 Pages
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you don’t really know what you’re getting into underground. We can adapt the plan on-site easily enough once we see the soil condition. This is a situation that won’t get any worse, but it should be fixed,” Shafer said. Shafer said the work was a good off-season project and that the village could reduce the estimated $8,000 to $10,000 cost by using village employees when available. The board approved to proceed with
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