{"id":354731,"date":"2010-02-23T16:47:47","date_gmt":"2010-02-23T21:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illinoiseducationassociation.org\/?p=6040"},"modified":"2010-02-23T16:47:47","modified_gmt":"2010-02-23T21:47:47","slug":"in-the-news-feb-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/354731","title":{"rendered":"In the News ~ Feb. 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below are<\/strong>\u00a0links to news stories of interest from\u00a0newspapers that came up during a search\u00a0today.\u00a0\u00a0These 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\u00a0your computer is recommended.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

State News\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\"\"<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

U-46 details cuts: Early childhood center, teacher layoffs on list<\/a>
\nArlington Heights Daily Herald – than $31 million in budget cuts for Elgin Area School District U-46 were announced Monday, with more to be hashed out in the coming weeks. Closing an early childhood center, laying off hundreds of teachers and cutting kindergarten art, music and gym time all will help the district pare down its $48.6 million deficit and deal with a likely reduction in state aid, board members heard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

U-46, teachers union move up contract negotiations<\/a>
\nChicago Daily Herald\u00a0 – With an eye on looming budget cuts, Elgin Area School District U-46 and its 2,500-member teachers union has announced it will begin contract negotiations several weeks earlier than originally scheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ax falls in Oswego<\/a>
\nBeacon News – The Oswego school board voted 6 to 1 to approve a $5.5 million reduction plan that would include 80 employee reductions, furlough days and program cuts, the first phase of reductions to help balance a\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dwindling education funds concerns many in Decatur<\/a>
\nDecatur WAND (NBC) 17 – Decatur’s dwindling education fund causes concern. The Decatur Education Association and the Federation of Teaching Assistants say at the end of fiscal year 2008, the balance was almost $18 million. They project the fund’s balance to be less than $3 million\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cuts wouldn’t hit classroom teachers, Milton says<\/a>\u00a0 No classroom teachers would lose their jobs under Springfield School Superintendent Walter Milton\u2019s budget-cutting plan, Milton said Monday.<\/p>\n

Our Opinion: Spare front-line workers from school cuts<\/a>
\nSpringfield State Journal Register – question is whether the lion\u2019s share of $5.3 million in budget cuts should come from removing front-line workers from our education system. We don\u2019t think so. We suspect Milton and the school board will hear as much when they meet with parents and other concerned citizens on Thursday night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our Opinion: 186, SEA must face new realities<\/a>
\nSpringfield State Journal Register – THIS WAS NOT going to be a kind year to school districts anywhere, but some of the problems the Springfield public schools are facing have roots that pre-date the current state budget crisis.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moline schools prepare for nearly $4 million in cuts<\/a>
\nQuad Cities Dispatch Argus Leader – MOLINE — Superintendent Cal Lee on Monday recommended slashing nearly $4 million from the school’s budget for the 2010-0 2011 school year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chatham schools may cut pre-kindergarten, increase fees<\/a>\u00a0 The Ball-Chatham School Board endorsed a plan Monday to eliminate the district\u2019s pre-kindergarten program until state funding is known and increase student registration and athletic fees.\u00a0 The reductions should save more than $1 million, which will help ease a projected $2.2 million loss in state funding for fiscal year 2011, which starts July 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

District 69: Board approves $1 million in spending cuts<\/a>
\nMorton Grove Champion – put together by interim Superintendent Kenneth Cull and Business Manager Crystal LeRoy, range from elimination of administrative and teaching staff, elimination of several support positions, freezing teachers’ contractual pay hikes and reducing spending for equipment and supplies. One of residents’ main concerns at the January board meeting was the planned elimination of the School Resource\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Time to reconsider school mandates<\/a>
\nChicago Daily Herald Editorial – A recent outcry from educators has made “mandates” almost a dirty word.The truth is, some of the state and federal school requirements are worthwhile, and some are obtuse and unneeded. Many come without any funding, and that’s unlikely to change.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

New state law has caused changes in driver’s ed program<\/a>
\nSpringfield State Journal Register -Bethany Williams is learning how to navigate street intersections and what it takes to drive a vehicle with a stick shift. But instead of sitting behind a steering wheel, Bethany is learning these lessons at a desk in Tom Johnson\u2019s classroom at Glenwood High School. The 15-year-old freshman won\u2019t receive her driver\u2019s license when she turns 16 in September,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

School districts ax teachers, blame state for financial meltdown<\/a>
\nChicago Tribune – Chicago-area school districts already struggling with multimillion-dollar budget deficits are warning of mass teacher layoffs and deep program cuts for the coming school year \u2014 an impending crisis they blame on the recession and the state’s chronic financial woes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Resolution calls for school-closing moratorium<\/a>
\nChicago WLS (ABC) 7 – A Chicago City Council committee is discussing a moratorium on the city’s planned school closings. It comes as parents, students and teachers rally against the board of education’s latest plan to overhaul several schools. Nine schools are slated to be closed, consolidated or turned around after this school year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Political News <\/em><\/h2>\n

Only big tax increase can dig out Illinois<\/a>\u00a0 Chicago Sun-Times\u00a0Editorial – The respected Civic Federation put it on the line today: Illinois desperately needs a major income tax increase to clean up the financial mess it’s in.\u00a0 That’s called leadership. Now let’s see if our elected officials in Springfield, from both political parties, finally are prepared to step up and lead as well. Or will they continue to skulk about in denial, displaying zero political courage, while our state circles the drain?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quinn: Duckworth rejects Lt. Governor offer<\/a>\u00a0 Journal Gazette and Times-Courier\u00a0– ? Pat Quinn says Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth doesn’t want to be considered for lieutenant governor. Quinn said Duckworth told him Tuesday she will keep …\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quinn To Launch Budget Website Tomorrow<\/a>\u00a0 WCIA-3 News\u00a0– Governor Pat Quinn is expected to launch a state website tomorrow that asks for the public’s opinion on his budget proposal to be unveiled …<\/p>\n

\u00a0Is Pat Quinn a frugal fraud?<\/a>\u00a0 Southtown Star (blog)\u00a0–\u00a0 Pat Quinn repeatedly touts his membership in Super 8 hotel’s VIP club as testament to his frugality,” the Daily Herald reports. But Quinn didn’t like being …\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cullerton asks Brady to reveal budget fix<\/a>
\nChicago Sun Times –\u00a0 a combination of budget cuts and a tax increase to right the state’s finances. Brady said he has laid out the broad parameters of his budget plan and will offer more details after Democratic Gov. Quinn delivers his budget address March 10, thus illustrating the difference between “what we’re talking about, what they’re talking about.” The Downstate lawmaker said raising taxes would\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ill Gop Governor’s Race Still Undecided<\/a>
\nChicago WFLD (Fox) 32 – Republican Kirk Dillard says he will wait for results from the state before deciding what to do after the GOP primary for Illinois governor ended in a virtual tie. Tuesday is the deadline for the state’s 110 local election authorities to declare their results and then report them to the state. State Board of Elections executive director Dan White says results from 32 election agencies \u00a0<\/p>\n

Lt. Gov Duties in Other States ‘Substantial.’ What Will Happen in Ill.?<\/a>
\nChicago WFLD (Fox) 32 – The larger-than-life cardboard cut-out is hard to miss amid the traditional ornate trappings on the third floor of the Indiana Statehouse. It’s a bold billboard of sorts that on one hand overtly informs Hoosiers they’re at the office of Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor, but on the other hand seems subtly designed to showcase Becky Skillman, their state’s second-in-command,<\/p>\n

National News <\/em><\/h2>\n

New York Times:<\/strong> Obama Pitches Education Proposal to Governors<\/a><\/p>\n

(Peter Baker & Sam Dillon, News, National)<\/p>\n

President Obama<\/a> kicked off a drive Monday to upgrade American education, unveiling a plan requiring states to adopt new reading and mathematics standards and committing his administration to \u201cbreaking down some of the barriers to reform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Education Week:<\/strong> House Committee to Hold Hearings on New ESEA<\/a><\/p>\n

(Michelle McNeil, News, National)<\/p>\n

\u201cCongress plans to kick-start the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this week with the first in a series of hearings in a key House committee, where members pledge a \u201cbipartisan, open, and transparent\u201d process in rewriting the version of the law enacted under President George W. Bush.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huffington Post:<\/strong> Arne Duncan And The State Of College Debt<\/a><\/p>\n

(News, National)<\/p>\n

\u201cDuncan says that by shifting savings into early childhood education, foundations are set for later educational success. “We want to be supporting students from birth until the ultimate goal of graduating from a two- or four-year college institution,” Duncan said. The legislature would also increase Pell Grants and Perkins loans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Denver Post:<\/strong> Colorado could be stuck in a race to the middle<\/a><\/p>\n

(Dick Hilker, Opinion, Colorado)<\/p>\n

\u201cA year ago, Obama issued a challenge to states: Evaluate teachers, reward the good ones and eliminate the bad ones, increase the number of charter schools and clear the way for the takeover of failing schools by non-profit groups. And here’s a whole bunch of taxpayer money to help you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seattle Times:<\/strong> Bill would ease way to demote Seattle principals<\/a><\/p>\n

(Linda Shaw, News, Washington)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn an effort led by state Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, the lawmakers hope to amend an education bill \u2014 one aimed at helping Washington compete in the federal Race to the Top competition \u2014 by adding a section that would lower the bar for removing Seattle principals from their jobs\u201d<\/p>\n

Sun-Sentinel:<\/strong> Three aim to lead Miami-Dade teachers’ union<\/a><\/p>\n

(Kathleen McGrory<\/a>, News, Florida)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever wins will face a wide range of challenges, including negotiating salaries in the middle of a financial crisis. This year, the Miami-Dade district built its bare-bones budget with the help of federal stimulus dollars. But that money will sunset in two years, likely leaving the school district with an even bigger budget gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

NEA Website:<\/strong> NEA applauds President Obamas health care reform proposal<\/a><\/p>\n

(Press Release, National)<\/p>\n

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: \u201cMillions of our nation\u2019s children have gone without health insurance and proper medical care for far too long.\u00a0 Over the course of the last year, the nation has watched as this political debate wound its way through a political obstacle course.\u00a0 A year later, far too many children in this country are still without critical medical attention.\u00a0 Now is the time to rectify this wrong.\u00a0 There has been enough talk. There has been enough blame and finger pointing.\u00a0 Now is the time for action.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Albany Times Union: <\/strong>Need money? Tax the rich<\/a><\/p>\n

(Rick Karlin, Blog, New York)<\/p>\n

(Albany, N.Y.) Members of the Better Choice Budget Campaign joined together today to urge the Governor and the Legislature to explore alternatives to state budget cuts that would further erode jobs and desperately needed services. The group, a diverse coalition of statewide and local labor, faith-based, human service, non-profit and environmental organizations, released an extensive list of revenue-raising and cost-saving options that can help New York State achieve a balanced budget without destroying vital programs and services.<\/p>\n

The Grio:<\/strong> Obama enlists governors to raise the education bar<\/a><\/p>\n

(News, National)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a release issued Sunday, the White House said the initiative will develop and implement new reading and math standards that prepare high school students for college and careers. State governors will call on Obama on Monday, as they wrap up their National Governors Association meeting, to discuss the blueprint to prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

TIME.com Today’s Top Stories<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Obama’s Plan Raises Stakes Ahead of Health Summit<\/a><\/h3>\n

If Democrats win this game, they may still be able to pass health care reform. If Republicans prevail, they will hand Obama a stunning defeat that could set the tone for the 2010 midterm elections<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Israel Faces Growing Fallout Over a Hamas Hit<\/a><\/h3>\n

Israel denies it was behind the assassination of a Hamas leader. But Dubai says it has the evidence and the U.S. may be drawn into the international furor<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Olympic Curling: Vancouver’s Strangest Obsession<\/a><\/h3>\n

Curlers scream weird instructions and dress funny. But it’s blood sport on the ice sheets of Vancouver<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Term Limits: No Magic Pill for Washington’s Woes<\/a><\/h3>\n

In theory, it’s a way to bring government back to the people. In practice, it doesn’t quite work out that way<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Mario Batali, Celebrity Chef, Gets Back to Cooking<\/a><\/h3>\n

Like most celebrity chefs, Batali wants to be a real working chef again, not just an empire builder, so he’s cooking up a storm for six new restaurants<\/p>\n

Most Viewed Articles on washingtonpost.com<\/em><\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1)<\/strong> The deadly plates under the world’s megacities <\/a><\/h3>\n

Megacities are something new on the planet. Earthquakes are something very old. The two are a lethal combination, as seen in the recent tragedy in Port-au-Prince, where more than 200,000 people perished — a catastrophe that scientists say is certain to be repeated somewhere, and probably soon, w…<\/p>\n

2)<\/strong> From the bluest of states, a red senator of a different color <\/a><\/h3>\n

So much for the Massachusetts Miracle. The election of Republican Scott Brown to Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat was supposed to bring a seismic change to national politics. It did just that Monday night, but not in the way Republicans had hoped.<\/p>\n

3)<\/strong> 1 dead, 1 wounded in shooting at military base <\/a><\/h3>\n

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Authorities say two men were shot by security officers after they drove a stolen car through a gate at an Air Force base outside Phoenix during a police chase.<\/p>\n

4)<\/strong> Replacing BPA in cans gives foodmakers fits <\/a><\/h3>\n

Major U.S. foodmakers are quietly investigating how to rid their containers of Bisphenol A, a chemical under scrutiny by federal regulators concerned about links to a range of health problems, including reproductive disorders and cancer.<\/p>\n

5)<\/strong> Golden ice dancers banish Canadian blues <\/a><\/h3>\n

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – A young pair of ice dancers lifted the host country out of its Winter Olympic gloom with a golden performance Monday just as Canadians were questioning their team’s medal-winning capability.<\/p>\n

6)<\/strong> Late in the game, White House isn’t playing defense <\/a><\/h3>\n

There had been rampant speculation that the White House would narrow its ambitions for health-care legislation after the loss of the Democrats’ filibuster-proof Senate majority last month. Instead, the president’s proposal is striking for the extent to which it hews to the basic scale and framewo…<\/p>\n

7)<\/strong> When a rout is path to parity <\/a><\/h3>\n

VANCOUVER, B.C. The United States and Canada have mowed their way through the women’s hockey field like the custom cutters who harvest wheat each year from Texas up through the plains to the Great White North.<\/p>\n

8.)<\/strong> Ready for an Iran war? <\/a><\/h3>\n

Barack Obama won’t launch it. But he should be ready to deal with whoever does.<\/p>\n

9)<\/strong> With GOP help, Senate advances job-creation bill <\/a><\/h3>\n

Aided by a handful of Republicans, Senate Democratic leaders on Monday kept alive a $15 billion job-creation measure and are poised to pass the measure later this week.<\/p>\n

10)<\/strong> Health reform: Act now <\/a><\/h3>\n

With or without Republican participation. Democrats must move forward on Obama’s health-care proposal.<\/p>\n

Word of the Day for Tuesday, February 23, 2010<\/em><\/h1>\n

fructuous<\/strong> \\FRUHK-choo-uhs\\, adjective<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Fruitful; productive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Below are\u00a0links to news stories of interest from\u00a0newspapers that came up during a search\u00a0today.\u00a0\u00a0These 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\u00a0your computer is recommended.\u00a0\u00a0 State News\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 U-46 details cuts: Early childhood […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4160,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-354731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=354731"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354731\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=354731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=354731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=354731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}