Below are links to news stories of interest from newspapers that came up during a search today. These links were active at the time of this e-mail, but should you want to save a story, printing it or cutting and pasting the entire article and saving it to your computer is recommended.
April Fools’ Day: Origin and History In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day to Jan. 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.
State News 
How school, road construction spurred pension reform
Chicago Daily Herald – Illinois General Assembly, in one day, crammed through a sweeping reform of public pension systems. The plan, which was introduced in less than 12 hours, will require future government employees and teachers at all levels to work longer for smaller pensions than today’s public-sector work force receive. The proposal now awaits approval by Gov. Pat Quinn, who said he’ll support the reforms.
State officials insist school reform willl happen
Springfield State Journal Register – Whether Illinois wins federal money or not, state education officials have made one thing clear: school reforms are on their way. The state lost its bid for more than $500 million in Race to the Top grants Monday, when the U.S. Department of Education announced that only two of 41 participating states — Delaware and Tennessee — had good enough plans to win.
Area schools’ unfunded mandates a Springfield concern
Marion Daily Republican – But utopia costs a lot of money. And we don’t have any money right now.” Eddy’s proposal is now in the Illinois Senate, where he said he hopes he can finesse the legislation to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk this summer. Carterville Unit 5 receives state funds for driver’s education, but superintendent Tim Bleyer said it wasn’t enough. “We get $13,000 for it from the state,
Spending $3.9 million on artificial grass
Chicago Daily Southtown – Phil Kadner – There’s not much that’s fair about the way schools are funded in Illinois. Some school districts in areas with less property tax wealth than District 230 are forced to cut extracurricular programs and teachers and increase class sizes. Some people might also claim those districts are not managed as well. However, if people in Orland Park, Tinley Park and other towns within District 230 are wondering about the purchase of artificial turf, imagine how folks feel in districts that have eliminated sports programs or combined them with other high schools. Life isn’t fair. And in Illinois, that’s by design.
U46 may consider four-day school week
Elgin Courier News – It wouldn’t happen right away, but School District U46 officials say they may consider adopting a four-day school week in the future. In an effort to help financially struggling school districts save cash, the Illinois House last month approved legislation that would allow local school boards to enact four-day weeks for students.
Our Opinion: Give schools 4-day option
Springfield State Journal – WHEN THE Illinois House voted last week to allow Illinois school districts to adopt a four-day school week, our initial reaction was bemusement. We could not imagine any school district changing to such a schedule. Setting aside questions about the effect
Highland, Triad on state’s ‘early warning’ list Despite widespread cutbacks among regional school districts, the Illinois State Board of Education says more than two-thirds of districts are doing a good job weathering the recession. That’s according to an annual financial list released March 24, by the ISBE. The report is garnering a lot of attention this year because of the state’s financial crisis.
Homewood teachers union set stellar example
Chicago Daily Southtown – This is a rare example of a teachers union choosing cooperation over confrontation, and the students are the real winners. A lack of aid payments from the state and a proposed cut to education funding in Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget for next year has Homewood School District 153 along with Chicago Heights School District 170, Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210
More Cuts On The Table In Hillsboro
Hillsboro Journal News – The Hillsboro School Board discussed cuts in non-certified staff, the athletic budget, and those suggested by the Hillsboro Unit Education Association, but took no action on any of the proposals during a special board meeting Tuesday night at the unit office. The proposal presented to the board was to cut 13 teachers’ aides,
More D300 teachers may be released
Elgin Courier News – District 300 attempts to balance its budget for the 2010-2011 school year. The state already owes the district about $12 million in categorical funding, and Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed cutting all education funding by an additional 25 percent in the coming year. But Hanetho said the cuts the school board has made aren’t shared equally across the school district.
State budget handcuffs local school districts
Batavia Sun – that haven’t been paid, and some of those date back as far as Sept. 1, spokesman Alan Henry said. “We’re paying the things that have to be paid every month,” Henry said. education funding has to compete with other state priorities, including debt payments, Medicaid reimbursements and a working state government.
District 401 prepares for cuts proposed in Quinn’s budget
River Grove Messenger – “We hope to have material budget projections for the state within a reasonable timeframe.” Quinn’s proposed budget slashes more than $2 billion in spending, along with $1.3 billion in education funding from general state aid, special education, student transportation and grants at the K-12 grade levels. Mary Fergus, spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education said,
Sign of the times: District 34 posts signs to show state’s debt
Lake Villa Review – When they don’t come through, it leaves the community in a hard spot.” Thompson said District 34 has a little reserve money to help make ends meet, “but it’s a big blow.” He added that Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget would mean $835,000 less in funding for District 34 in the next fiscal year compared to this year, “and that’s on top of the $1 million they haven’t paid us.”
2 Illinois universities receive federal grants
Chicago WBBM 780 Radio – Chicago area are to share in nearly $19 million in federal teaching grants. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on Wednesday announced the grants for Governors State University and the University of Chicago. The teacher Quality Partnership grants come from Department of Education stimulus money. Durbin’s office says the funds are to be used to improve teacher instruction.
Triton faculty decries program cuts
West Proviso Herald – “You don’t know how the decision was made. Perhaps if people knew, they’d be less upset with it,” he said. Bill O’Connell, a member of the Automotive Sciences department and an official with the teachers union, said the faculty association “has gone on record recognizing that this financial crisis is real.” Sikora said he and Faculty Association President Debra Baker
Political News
New Lt. Gov. hopeful Simon says education is a priority everywhere
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – “It’s easy to get some agreement that this should be a priority. It’s a little bit harder to get some agreement on exactly what we do to address that issue.” In Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget, elementary and high school funding would be cut by 17 percent without an income tax hike. But Simon said the state’s pension reform, additional cuts and a 1 percent tax
Quinn Doesn’t Like Some Education Reforms
WGIL AM Radio 14 (Galesburg) – A measure giving vouchers to students in the 49 worst-performing elementary schools in Chicago, allowing the students to attend private and charter schools, has passed the Illinois Senate. The governor is opposed. “I’m not for vouchers. I don’t think we should go that route,” he said. “But I am for public charter schools. As a matter of fact this year, we doubled the number of eligible schools to be charter schools in [Chicago], the suburbs and Downstate. There are some very good results from the public schools that are charter schools.”
Gov. Quinn’s proposal passing the buck You would have to live a pretty sheltered life not to have heard about all the fuss Gov. Pat Quinn caused with his recent budget proposal. Among many other things, his proposed budget calls for a 1 percent increase in the state income tax, while at the same time reducing the amount of funding from that tax directed towards municipalities.
Illinois’ bond rating drops
Quad Cities Dispatch Argus Leader – in Springfield and on Wall Street. The problem itself is worrisome, but some of the proposed solutions to closing the gap for the next budget year also leave Illinois a risky investment. Gov. Pat Quinn proposed borrowing nearly $5 billion in his budget address. If that level of borrowing is approved, Illinois’ debt will increase to 6.3 percent of personal income from 4.4 percent.
Bernard Schoenburg: Jackson Jr. ‘red-faced’ about running of red lights
Springfield State Journal Register – Ask a tough question, and sometimes you get a straight answer. That proved to be the case with a situation involving U.S. Rep. JESSE JACKSON JR. Jackson, a Chicagoan representing the 2nd Congressional District, is a new member of the Democratic State Central Committee.
Bill Brady: A closer look
Windy City Times – After a tight and heated primary, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th District, conceded the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination March 5 to fellow senator Bill Brady, R-44th District. Since then, LGBT Republicans in Illinois have been coming to terms with the choices that await them Nov. 2: Don’t vote, vote Democratic or vote for a candidate who might try to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.
The day tea parties made sense Kristen McQueary – I admit: The whole tea party movement has bewildered me. While I appreciate the rebellion, I’m confused about the root irritant. Is it big government? High taxes? Health care for immigrants? A black president? All of the above? Then Wednesday, tea party activist Jim Tobin, of National Taxpayers United of Illinois, handed me a sheet of paper he distributes at rallies. The paper lists Illinois’ top 100 government pension payouts of 2008 and 2009.
National News
Rural ‘Dropout Factories’ Often Overshadowed While most of the attention is on urban high schools with low graduation rates, rural schools also struggle to retain at-risk students.
On schools, town has a message: Don’t mess with Texas MADISONVILLE, TEX. — As vendors sold yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flags nearby, Texas State Board of Education member Don McLeroy assured a gathering of Tea Party activists one recent evening that President Obama was going to keep his hands off the schools in the Lone Star State.
(By Michael Birnbaum, The Washington Post)
Colleges move to keep lid on tuition hikes
4% OR LESS IS NEW STANDARD
Many increases are lowest in years
(By Daniel de Vise, The Washington Post)
Reform tackled another crippling cost — college
Tucked inside the health-care reform law is significant financial relief for the millions of students who borrow to obtain a higher education. No longer will private lenders play the middleman in federal student-loan transactions. As of July, all new federal loans will come directly from the U.S. Department of Education.
Internet disruptions raise tensions for Google in China
Several Internet disruptions in Asia this week portend what could be a long standoff between China and foreign search giants.
(By Cecilia Kang, The Washington Post)
Teacher found not guilty at ‘dirty dancing’ trial
Belleville News-Democrat – A former high school chorus teacher was acquitted Wednesday of criminal charges in connection with a suggestive dance routine students performed in his classroom in 2008. Ending a two-day trial in Georgia’s DeKalb County State Court, jurors found Nathan Grigsby not guilty of five misdemeanor charges of contributing to the depravation of a minor.
Apple’s iPad: The Mothership Prepares for Launch A confessed Apple fanboy gets finger time with the iPad — and face time with Steve Jobs
Afghanistan’s New Bumper Drug Crop: Cannabis Afghanistan is already the world’s biggest producer of opium. Now, according to the U.N., the country can add cannabis to its growing list of major drug crops, too
Obama’s Drilling Compromise Pleases Exactly No One Environmentalists and conservatives are both unhappy, but his plan may ultimately provide the best way forward
Harvesting Democracy in Afghanistan With the Taliban uprooted from Marjah, will McChrystal’s “government in a box” bear fruit?
Guantanamo Detainees Collect Food for Haiti The U.S. military is using the Marine base as a staging area for humanitarian relief for Haiti. Though Guantanamo inmates can’t see the effort from their area, their lawyers are very familiar with it since it’s being done from next to where they stay
Word of the Day for Thursday, April 1, 2010
hugger-mugger \HUH-guhr-muh-guhr\, noun:
1. A disorderly jumble; muddle; confusion.
2. Secrecy; concealment.
adjective:
1. Confused; muddled; disorderly.
2. Secret.
adverb:
1. In a muddle or confusion.
2. Secretly.
transitive verb:
1. To keep secret.
intransitive verb:
1. To act in a secretive manner.