1 Front Volume 140 No. 31
Friday, September 27, 2013
The Tonica News
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TGS approves deficit budget Suarez: ‘I planned for the worst but hoped for the best’ By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA – After some last minute cuts, the Tonica Grade School Board approved the 2013-14 budget, which still includes more than $40,000 in deficit spending The board approved the budget at a special budget meeting on Sept. 23.
Cuts included eliminating attendance at a superintendent/board member seminar and a cutback on available overtime for the maintenance staff. The board determined they could not make any other cuts without affecting the students or the community. Superintendent John Suarez also cut most of his discretionary and travel budget.
“I low-balled any income and overestimated any expenditures I could. I planned for the worst but hoped for the best,” said Suarez. “We have some wiggle room. It depends on what the state throws at us.” One of the new expenses this year is the special education program the district picked up when the county program was in jeopardy.
“We have all the special ed programs; $200,000 worth of revenue that isn’t showing there at all,” said Jessica Schneider, school bookkeeper. “We don’t get that ‘til next year because it’s always one year behind, but we’re still paying for it this year.” Other programs that were considered for cancellation included community projects and
transportation to extracurricular activities. The board felt that those programs could not be cut at this time but will fall under scrutiny again for next year. As consolation, Schneider included information on other districts locally in the budget report. Most schools of comparative size are operating at a deficit of $100,000 or more.
In other action, the board: • Heard a presentation on a program called Alateen, which is geared towards helping students who are struggling with a family member who is an alcohol abuser. The program is intended to be an anonymous program for students to seek help. The board tabled
See Budget Page 2
‘Families just cannot make ends meet’ By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that 22 percent of households have felt one or more possible hardships in fulfilling their families’ basic needs in the past year. The hardships include trouble in meeting basic expenses: Rent or mortgage, utilities, phone service cut off, being unable to see a doctor or dentist when needed and not having enough food. Of this 22 percent, 9 percent had at least one of these hardship issues, while 7 percent had at least two of the hardships and 6 percent had gone through at least three or more hardships. The report comes from the study called “Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States.” The report has measured well-being for families based on housing conditions, neighborhood conditions, community services offers, what appliances and electronic goods a household owns and the ability to meet basic needs. Locally the Illinois Valley Food Bank (IVFB) agrees the working poor are still struggling. Donna Hess of IVFB said that their numbers have remained high. “All I know is what my numbers tell me and what I see first hand at our panVol. 140 No. 31 One Section - 8 Pages
“Many families are asking for more food to help them get through the month. Our pantry can only do so much.” Donna Hess, Illinois Valley Food Bank try. The number of families served (also individuals) have remained about the same as last year. (Average 750 families per month, 2,100 individuals per month,)” said Hess. “The percentage of employed clients has increased slightly, but the jobs are minimum wage; families just cannot make ends meet in this economy. Many families are asking for more food to help them get through the month. Our pantry can only do so much.” Many households (in the report) have looked to get help from family or other community agencies. Often this cannot be counted on. According to the study, when a household had trouble, only 5 percent was able to get financial assistance from friends, 17 percent from family members and 10 percent from other sources.
Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
It’s harvest time Farmers hit the fields at Sherman Grain Farms of Tonica. Harvest is getting underway throughout the Illinois Valley. Despite the flooding and wet fields during the spring, many farmers in the area are already fully-consumed with this year’s harvest
LGS adapts for common core Students in two groups for math, literature By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — Last year fourthand fifth-grade students at Lostant Grade School were part of a pilot program called Fluid Grouping. This type of teaching or instructional model had students grouped by like ability levels to be taught in the mathematics subject area. After reviewing test scores in this program, it was decided to expand the program throughout the school in select subject areas.
This year, Lostant Grade School will take students and put them into two groups in math and literacy classes. The first group of kindergarten through third-grade students will be taught by Cindy Boldt, Amy Roach and Angela Wenskunas. The second group, fourththrough eighth-grade students, will be taught by Amy Olson, Jill Newbold, Melissa Einhaus, Alisha Bennent and Angela Wenskunas. Patty Bernardoni will continue to work with the special education courses to select students.
The staff approach is to have flexibility for the students to move between levels in either group. It is hoped this knowledge-based learning model will support the strengths and needs of all students. Lostant Grade School Superintendent/Principal Sandra Malahy said students will stay with their grade level in other subject areas. “Fluid grouping is designed to support the new Common Core Standards and prepare students for the rigor of the new state assessments which are college and
See LGS Page 2
Inside Read more about Lostant Grade School’s pilot program
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