FREE
HOT DOG HEAVEN PAGE 4
The Review October 22, 2013 DIXON SCHOOLS
Parents voice concerns Some worry about plan mixing younger kids with older ones BY DEREK BARICHELLO
DIXON – When Danielle Reed learned of the possibility of her fourth-grader attending Reagan Middle School with junior high schoolers, she didn’t like it. “No. No way,� the mother of three said. A proposal was made at Wednesday’s school board meeting to close Lincoln Elementary School, but no action was taken. More discussion is expected in the next 2
weeks. Before board members vote, a public meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Reagan Middle School for people to voice concerns and ask questions. District administrators say something needs to be done to cut spending, before district funds are depleted after next school year. The proposed closure would shuffle around students, transferring the district’s fourth- and fifth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School to the former Madison School portion of Reagan, and second- and third-graders at Lincoln to Jefferson. Bringing the younger
students into Reagan was the No. 1 concern among parents picking up their children from Lincoln on Thursday. Lincoln houses the district’s secondand third-graders. Parents, many of them hearing of the plan for the first time, worried about possible bullying and bad influences from having fourth- and fifthgraders attend with the older students at Reagan. “I don’t think my fourth-grader is mature enough to be with junior high schoolers,� Reed said. “There’s going to be way too many kids going there. I’d like there to be a little more separation between the older kids and the younger ones.�
One parent, in disbelief, said the closure would “never happen,� while others still are sour on the move from neighborhood schools to what are known as attendance centers, where all students in a certain grade go to one school. Decline in enrollment expected Paula Portner, mother of a Lincoln student, said the district needs to stop moving students around. “I’m not happy,� she said. “I live three blocks away, and my student only comes here for 2 years? Now the people on this side of town won’t have a school, period.� SCHOOL CONTINUED ON 2
Free Children’s Orthopedic Clinic
Philip Marruffo
Students leave Lincoln Elementary School at the end of the school day Thursday afternoon.
Halloween Is Almost Here
There are no
DOES YOUR CHILD: ‡ +DYH IHHW WXUQLQJ LQ RU RXW" ‡ &RPSODLQ RI OHJ NQHH KLS VKRXOGHU HOERZ RU ZULVW SDLQ"
TRICKS‌
‡ 6HHP FOXPV\ RU IDOOV" ‡ %HHQ 'LDJQRVHG ZLWK VFROLRVLV"
Just the
TREAT
Thursday, October 24th, 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM KSB Foot &Ankle Center 215 East 1st Street, Dixon
Dr.Tyler Gunderson & Dr. DavidYeager For Information or Appointment
Call 1-800-272-0074
Between 1:00–4:00 PM Monday through Friday for appointment Sponsored by Dixon Elks Lodge #779 and the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Program
of new flooring! Al & Angie Delhotal Owners
You can COUNT on Al for a Good Deal!
Buying new flooring doesn’t have to be Scary! Call Now! 2528 E. Lincolnway Sterling,IL 815-632-0675
We guarantee you will love your new floor!