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Sterling man’s condition the same
OREGON HIGH GIRLS WINNING AS A TEAM
I-88 CRASH, A3
VOLLEYBALL, B1
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Monday, September 15, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
A CLOSER LOOK | ELECTION 2014
Rauner’s schools plan raises flags Education blueprint offers few details BY KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – Proposals to tie teacher merit pay to student test scores and alter tenure policies to make it easier to fire bad teachers are among the most recent education ideas being pushed in Illinois by Bruce Rauner, the Republican businessman challenging Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn this fall. The ideas, introduced last week as part of Rauner’s 26-page education blueprint, did not offer many details. But they raised some flags among reform campaigners and educators, who question whether the state needs to be immediately tinkering after the passage
of other significant reforms in recent years and while education budgets remain tight. Some note that teacher salaries norGov. Pat mally are left Quinn to local school districts, while others are concerned about teacher evaluations becoming too punitive. “Do we need additional tenure reforms in Illinois? I don’t know. We should probably see how (recently passed legislation) works,” said Jessica Handy, government affairs director for Stand for Children Illinois, a reform group that Rauner helped bring to the state. However, she added, “I’m not
saying it’s too early if there’s a good policy out there and there’s political will.” Rauner, a Winnetka venture capitalist, has contributed millions to school reform efforts in Illinois, including the funding of non-union charter schools and supporting merit pay for principals in Chicago. His new plan, unveiled last week, suggests tying “student academic growth to teachers’ compensation,” and he called for changing the way Illinois schools grant teacher tenure, suggesting something similar to a Florida practice providing annual contracts for teachers. Currently, state dictates that tenure can be granted after 2 to 3 years of high performance ratings on annual evaluations. SCHOOLS CONTINUED ON A4
AP
Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner answers questions Aug. 28 during the Metropolitan Planning Council’s Annual Luncheon in Chicago. Rauner is in the midst in one of the most competitive governor’s races nationwide against sitting Gov. Pat Quinn.
STERLING/ROCK FALLS
Fiesta Parade a mix of nostalgia and reality Residents still look forward to scaled-back event BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – The sirens got louder, and the exuberant kids who lined Fourth Street started screaming and jumping up and down. The 2014 Fiesta Parade finally came into the crowd’s collective sight line, but the adults weren’t nearly as excitable. The bright colors paid homage to Mexican independence and Latino culture, the bands bumped up the energy level, and red-and-green fiesta bead necklaces were handed out to help get people in party mode. Maybe everybody does love a parade, but seemingly on this day, just not quite as much as they used to. While the basic elements of the event that for years have been the cornerstone event of Fiesta Days are still there, many in the crowd were caught up in the nostalgia of past parades.
More photos inside Take a look inside to see photos of the following events: Tempo Velo Farmondo, A2 Rockin’ on the River, A3 Grand Detour Arts Festival, A9 Bridge the Community races, A9 Dathene Lopez of Sterling said she still enjoys the parade, but years ago the bar had been set pretty high. “I still look forward to coming, and I missed it when it was gone, but the parade just wasn’t as fantastic as it used to be,” Lopez said. “There aren’t nearly as many floats as there used to be.” Lopez said the streets along the parade route aren’t quite as festive as they used to be, as the parade made its way from Grandon Civic Center to Rock Falls High School. “I remember when the streets used to be full of people along the entire route,” she said. “People don’t come out for it like they used to.” PARADE CONTINUED ON A10
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Dancers make their way down Locust Street in Sterling Saturday afternoon during the Fiesta Day Parade, a main component of the Twin Cities’ annual celebration of their shared Latino heritage. LEFT: Dancers in colorful garb danced along the route, which this year began at the Grandon Civic Center in Sterling and ended at Rock Falls High School. More photos from the Fiesta Parade can be seen on A10.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 95
INDEX
COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD......B9 DEAR ABBY ......... A7
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1 STATE .................. A5
Today’s weather High 62. Low 38. More on A3.
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