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Tuesday, December 8, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON
Mayor: Let the voters decide City Council votes 3-2 to put park board dissolution question on March ballot BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – In a narrow 3-2 vote, the Dixon City Council approved an advisory referendum that will allow voters to give their input on a possible Dixon Park Board dissolution.
The non-binding referendum, which will appear on the ballot during the March primary election, will ask voters whether they support dissolving the park board and absorbing the park district as a city department. The measure wouldn’t dissolve the board; it simply gives voters the chance to weigh
in on the matter without any action being taken. Councilmen Mitch Tucker and Chris Bishop voted against the referendum. “We are coming to the table and saying, ‘Let’s explore this,’” Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said. “If we get to the end of the exploration and we conclude this
make no sense and there will be no savings from the consolidation and the public won’t be better served, then that will be the conclusion. What I’m not going to do is come to that conclusion because the park district does not want to engage in that conversation.” VOTE CONTINUED ON A5
Dixon cop is pulling double duty
Flexing their muscles
He’ll serve his city, and its schools, as new board member BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Independent PE gives students more flexibility with their schedules, teaches life lessons, and even helps school districts’ bottom line, too BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – With independent physical education, students can give the adage “Work smarter, not harder” a whole new meaning. At Sterling High School, students can fulfill their PE requirement outside the confines of the school schedule. Milledgeville High School will add independent PE in January. The program has been a slam dunk for
Ron Pritchard
SCHOOL BOARD
EDUCATION
Students work out in the Sterling High School cardio room on Monday afternoon after school.
Liandro Arellano Jr.
Sterling High students and administrators alike since it was implemented 4 years ago. Sophomore Tyler Willman, a three-sport athlete, aspires to play college football, and knows how much academics and extracurriculars factor into his resumé. “I’m trying to separate myself as a threesport athlete,” the 16-year-old said. “I take pride in getting straight-As in my accelerated classes. I’m proud to say I’m able to manage my time well and do my homework – correctly, even.”
DIXON – Lt. Brad Sibley likely would have been at tonight’s public forum on the school district’s conceptual plan, even if he hadn’t been appointed the newest School Board member at Monday night’s meeting. A member of the Dixon Police Department since June 21, 1993, Sibley has a vested interest in the city’s schools, which his sons, Brady, 17, and Jacob, 13, attend. In fact, by the time the city has a brand new or newly renovated high school, Jacob will be attending it. So, should anyone have any questions at the forum, Brad Sibley won’t shy Sibley away. “If anybody has any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them,” he said. “Tonight’s meeting was very informative.” The board spent about 2 minutes appointing Sibley. He’ll be sworn in next Wednesday, but went through some rite-of-passage ribbing Monday night when Jim Schielein, serving as president pro tem with Pam Tourtillott absent, asked for any discussion before Sibley’s appointment. “Do we need to do a background check on him or anything?” board member Scott Johnson joked.
Online extra
Click on this story at saukvalley.com to see Tyler Willman talk about the independent PE program at Sterling High School.
PE CONTINUED ON A10
Sterling High School senior Jacob Mohr uses the treadmill Monday in the school’s cardio room, where dozens of students fulfill their independent PE requirement.
High school plans After dispensing of Sibley’s swearing-in, the board spent the next hour and a half hearing and reacting to a presentation by architectural firm Green Associates, which has drawn up plans for a renovated Dixon High School that the public is urged to see tonight. The firm’s principal, George Reigle, said three renderings of what the renovated high school would look like will be at the forum. Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 155
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A10 COMICS ............... A8
CROSSWORD......B8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 49. Low 38. More on A3.
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