1 Front Volume 142 No. 24
Friday, May 20, 2016
Single Copy Cost 50¢
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Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
“They need to move us forward with a real effort. Members of both parties need to come together and not allow the leaders to dictate what happens with education funding.” Dan Marenda
LaSalle Elementary Superintendent Dan Marenda
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Hall High School Superintendent Mike Struna
“We’ve been spending less money every year since 2010, and we can’t cut expenses fast enough to keep up with reductions.” Mike Struna
“It’s difficult to change an education funding formula, but it’s incredibly important that when it’s done, it’s done correctly.” Sue Rezin
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Sen. Sue Rezin
Rauner/Madigan vs. Illinois children Superintendents and politicians call for compromise at IVCC meeting By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
OGLESBY — “There are people getting hurt. Both parties need to come together and stand up to Gov. Rauner and Mike Madigan and make a statement. It boils down to two people, and we all know it,” said Princeton Elementary Superintendent Tim Smith during the press conference held at IVCC on Monday, May 16. Area superintendents and politicians gathered to bring attention to the
effects of poor education funding and the impact of the two-man political fight in Springfield that’s well into its 10th round. Superintendents from DeKalb, Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and LaSalle counties used the event to outline the long- and short-term damage being done to area schools, students and families by the partisan stand-off and the continually decreasing funding for education. The problems listed included inadequate funding caused by an outdated funding formula; an
over-reliance on property tax; the pro-rationing of general state aid; federal fund reductions; the loss of several grant programs; the high percentage of funds used for pensions; there still being no budget; and the public battle between Rauner and Madigan. LaSalle Elementary Superintendent Dan Marenda said, “They need to move us forward with a real effort. Members of both parties need to come together and not allow the leaders to dictate what happens with
education funding.” State Representative Andy Skoog was visibly frustrated when he said, “We have to stand up for education. If we have to go against party lines then we have to go against party lines, but we have to get something done because this is making our children vulnerable. It’s on their backs, and it’s not right. There’s something wrong with our state, if education and the people dependent on social services are at the bottom of the list. Something needs to
be done, and it needs to be done now.” Hall High School Superintendent Mike Struna shared budget information and the results that poor funding has had on his school. The general state aid (GSA) foundation level set in 2010 has not been increased since, and it has not been fully-funded since 2009. The GSA has also been prorated at 89 percent since 2012-13. Struna went on to say Hall High School has lost more than $1 million in GSA in the past seven years. Throughout the past
three years, this lack of funding at Hall has reduced the equivalent of full-time English faculty from four to three; the librarian position to zero; the PE/health/driver education faculty from five to four; the custodial staff from four to three; and the cafeteria staff from four to three. There’s also a smaller foreign language department, less access to guidance counselors, and there was no principal during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.
Compromise Page 3
Connecting the circle EDCNCI aims to combine area forces to promote economic/social growth
By Eric Engel
news@tonicanews.com
PRINCETON — A key player can gain recognition, accolades and accomplishments through the distribution of their efforts, but if they forge forward alone, the chances of failure are greater. Combining forces as a team is what makes the characteristics of each individual shine that much brighter, and the commu-
nity members spearheading the Economic Development Cooperation of North Central Illinois (EDCNCI) are basing their approach around that notion. At a board meeting held Wednesday, May 11 at Central Bank in Princeton, Jim Riley, president of Hometown National Bank in LaSalle, said the goal of the EDCNCI is to market the tri-county area to the external area — the world so to speak — but primar-
ily in the Midwest through their Chicago connections. “We think of ourselves as a marketing and sales organization for the tri-county region,” Riley said. “We’re certainly not working against anybody who’s doing local work, but our focus is going to be some of the external work with the larger and more industrial commercial-type of opportunities.”
Growth Page 4
A ditch, a garage and a stop sign By Zachary J. Pratt
projects, as a couple of residents have requested permission to make TONICA — The village changes. The board addressed of Tonica could be undergoing various renovation one resident’s request to fill in a ditch and another’s to demolish and Vol. 142 No. 24 rebuild a garage. The ditch One Section - 12 Pages “He seems pretty conscientious,” Folty said of the resident who wishes to fill in his ditch. “I think he’ll do a good job.” “As long as he puts in the same size pipe that he’s already got under © The Tonica News news@tonicanews.com
his driveway, so it connects and the water can go through, that should be fine,” village President Kevin Sluder said initially. The discussion quickly gave way to the difficulties this particular project would present in the suggested area. “I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but as long as he has that pipe,” Sluder said. “It’s going to be tricky because that is a steep ditch.”
Projects Page 4
Tonica News photo/Mike Vaughn
‘When the red, red robin ...’ This young robin seems to be “bob, bob, bobbin’ along’ in this welcoming puddle. Warmer weather, spring rains, worms and more are this bird’s paradise throughout the spring. Do you have any great nature photographs you’d like to share with the Tonica News? Send them to news@tonicanews.com along with information, your name and telephone number, and we may print your photos for other readers to admire.