Thursday June 29, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 18
The Weekly Post
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“We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion” Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Douglas, Duncan, Edwards, Elmore, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
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Parents, teachers go the extra mile to meet needs By BILL KNIGHT
In a perfect world, school kids would have all the resources they need, and state lawmakers would have to earn their pay selling candy door-to-door. But nothing’s perfect, so behind the scenes throughout the five school districts in The Weekly Post area, parents and teachers work together to help provide books, classroom supplies and computers, plus a little fun from time to time. “PAT [Williamsfield Schools Parent And Teacher Club] started many years ago with my mother and Marsha Stiers holding bake sales to raise money for curtains and blinds for For The Weekly Post
classrooms,” says PAT president Jolene Tucker. “Other moms started calling to see if they could join and help. Marsha and my mom made homemade fudge and caramel and sold sundaes at the ICAC basketball tournament. Other moms joined in, like Susan Mackie and Sandy Smith. They started a carnival as well. They were able to raise enough to put ceiling fans in the rooms and then they also worked with the Women's Club to raise money for playground equipment. “Today, needs are much different,” Tucker continued, “and PAT has supplied needed items such as online educational resources and Chromebooks for classrooms. Our
group tries to be in touch with teachers and understand what these needs are and how we can help to fill them and support the students and teachers.” The story is similar in Brimfield, Elmwood, Farmington and Princeville. The Farmington Elementary PTO gave $2,500 to the school for a new audio-visual system, $4,500 for picnic furniture for the courtyard to let teachers occasionally bring classes outside, plus iPads and assistance for field trips, says its president Lisa Rutz. In Brimfield, the Grade School Parent Teacher Organization undertook an ambitious project that Continued on Page 10
Property tax freeze?
FREE VEGETABLES
School districts not excited by the prospect
Williamsfield students maintaining garden for all
school districts to collecting no more than its most recent collection. ELMWOOD – The Introduced by Senate Maprospects of a statewide jority Leader John Cullerton property-tax freeze don’t faze Elmwood Superintend- Jan. 24, the measure is popular with the public, Cullerton ent Chad Wagner. concedes, but it may not be For the moment. good policy. “At this point, I don’t “There are some very care,” he said Monday, when well-off school the Board of Eddistricts and ucation met. “I Inside some really poor just want a • Williamsfield Sudistricts,” Cullerbudget passed.” perintendent Tim ton said. “We’re If a budget or a Farquer explains concerned what property-tax why he thinks a this property-tax freeze passes – or property tax freeze freeze could not – “we’ll have is a bad idea. mean to them.” to decide what to Page 5 Already, local do,” he said. governments in Senate Bill the state are limited by a 484, which passed the SenTruth-in-Taxation provision ate May 30 by a vote of 37that limits annual increases 11, with 9 abstentions, to 5 percent without a referwould impose a two-year endum. property freeze on school SB 484 would exempt districts except for Chicago. taxes needed by a taxing disIf passed by the House and trict to pay debt service, and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, the law would limit Continued on Page 2 By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post
By JEFF LAMPE
WILLIAMSFIELD – Chase Howell had his handful of weeds Tuesday morning in a large garden plot east of Williamsfield high School. But Monday night, he had a mouthful of brocoli. Howell will gladly take that trade. “I’ll eat anything from the garden,” said Howell of Laura, who will be a sophomore at Williamsfield High School. “I ate some lettuce during the school year and it was pretty good, if you ask me.” Howell and other members of Williamsfield’s ag classes planted the garden this spring, as
Williamsfield's parent-teacher has a March carnival that puts the “fun” in fund raiser. Shown is art teacher Eric Bell doing face-painting on student Owen Rigg, with parent Patty Burgin of Dahinda (in yellow at back) assisting.
Weekly Post Staff Writer
Williamsfield FFA members spent Tuesday weeding a community garden on the east side of the High School. Produce in the garden is free for the taking for community members. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
they have for several years, said ag teacher Kent Rigg, who supervises the project. He credits Billtown graduate Ava Alford with “getting it going.” The goal of the garden is to give students a chance for some hands-on learning, while at the same time providing free fresh
vegetables for the community. On Tuesday, Williamsfield FFA officers gathered at the halfacre plot to weed and till before heading off to an FFA officer’s retreat in the Wisconsin Dells. The wet spring has created weed problems, said Rigg, who Continued on Page 2