Happy New Year

As 2007 comes to a snowy close I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of our success during this year. I am grateful for a supportive community, supportive parents, talented professional teachers, dedicated support staff and children eager to learn! I hope that everyone enjoys the last week of vacation and returns on January 7th rested and ready for 2008. Happy New Year!

Winter Cleaning

Several people have asked what we do over the winter break? Basically we work with our custodial crews to thoroughly clean the buildings so that they are refreshed and ready for students to return in January. This year, as always we will focus on renewing the tile areas such as hallways and gymnasiums, carpet cleaning in high traffic areas and classrooms. Due to the continuing concern regarding staph infections, we will expend extra efforts to sanitize all washrooms, lunchrooms, locker rooms, as well as student desks. Our staff will be working very hard to insure that our children will return to clean and healthy facilities after the winter break.

Springfield Update

The indictment last week of Christopher Kelly has apparently shut down any hope for the expansion of gambling to support a capital construction plan. If you recall the Illinois General Assembly is deadlocked on passing a state budget (they passed a budget but the governor has not signed it), deadlocked on a solution for the mass transit crisis and deadlocked on a capital construction bill to avoid losing millions of federal funds. The House was to meet today to consider HB 4194 which would have expanded gambling but also brought additional oversight to school finance and accountability.
The indictment of Kelly for allegedly concealing income and using funds from companies he operates to pay large gambling debts brings further shame on the Blagojevich administration. Speaker Madigan and Minority Leader Cross decided on Friday that with no support for reforms in gambling oversight from the governor or Senate President Jones that there was no need to meet and the scheduled session was canceled. Therefore, any hope for school construction funds and mass transit remain in limbo along with the signing of the BIMP. Merry Christmas to all!

Downers South Holiday Concert

As always, this year's Downers Grove South High Holiday Concert and Art Show held last week was a great success. The large gym was packed with a large and appreciative audience who came to celebrate the fine and plentiful young musicians. The combined Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony performed their three selections, including the bi-annual performance of the Alfred Reed Russian Christmas Music, in fine style demonstrating great talent and musicianship. The Combined District 99 Orchestra performed highlights from the Nutcracker Suite, as well as other selections. The various choirs also performed and, as is traditional, concluded the concert with a performance of the Handel, Hallelujah Chorus featuring orchestra and choirs, this year under the direction of Belford Hernandez.
I enjoyed the opportunity to see the many fine musicians that began their musical careers back in District 66 performing in high school. It is amazing to see and hear how their talents and skills have been enhanced by the years. This is always a great night for the arts in Downers Grove. If you missed the performance, watch for the broadcast on cable channel 6 over the holidays.

Tis the Season to be Thankful

One of the greatest gifts children can receive is to learn to share and give. To raise children who are thankful for whatever they have and who receive satisfaction and joy from sharing those things is a gift to our society. In this season, we see this in action in the response our students have shown to many “service” opportunities that are presented at this time each year. Students at Lakeview have already completed their annual Toy Drive and are now collecting funds to support our soldiers serving abroad. Prairieview students have adopted families fighting cancer and are providing gifts for each member of their family. This had been organized by homerooms. Students have also handmade blankets for children fighting cancer. Students at Ide will begin their project in January to support our troops in an effort to provide support all year long rather than just during the holidays. I am so proud of the kindness and sharing shown by our community!

Winter Break Hours

Winter break begins with the close of school on Friday, December 21st and extends through January 7th when classes resume. During that time, all buildings, as well as the District Office will be open on Wednesday through Friday each week. Individual school offices will be closed during the break, but the District Office will be manned on those days from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Should you need to contact the school district please call the District Office at 630-783-5000.

Springfield Update 12/10/07

Nothing of importance happened last week with regard to the BIMP or mass transit funding. It is almost a certainty that no action will be taken with regard to the BIMP until the January 5th deadline. Governor Blagojevich has said that they (his team) was still looking at the BIMP and that “there could be a way to actually put more money into education.” This further delay will now have an impact on some school districts across the state that have had drastic enrollment, attendance or EAV changes that could reduce their GSA payments.
The Governor and legislative leaders minus Speaker Madigan met last Monday to discuss a Capital Plan to be funded by additional gaming, to be used to support public schools and mass transit. No agreements were reached during these discussions.
To further add to the lack of direction in Springfield rules have been posted for comment regarding the new “Green Cleaning Schools Act” that goes into effect on May 9, 2008. Information about this fine bill may be found at www.standingupforillinois.org/green.

Referendum Rumors

I have recently heard from community residents that the talk on the street is that Center Cass District 66 is planning a tax increase referendum. I want to assure you that no such action is planned or even contemplated at this time. Given the state of public support for public education in the State of Illinois, it is certainly only a matter of time before every school district will need to go to their community and ask for additional funds.

At this time, Center Cass is operating a balanced budget and being very fiscally conservative to maximize the impact of the funds we have available. The Board of Education has no plans to ask for a referendum at this time. I am wondering if people may be confusing Center Cass with Cass School District 63 which has just announced a plan to go to referendum in February 2008. Information about the Cass referendum can be found here: www.chicagosuburbannews.com/darien/homepage/x540390128

Let the Music Ring!

Joyous sounds of the Holiday Season were ringing through the Yorktown Mall last evening as the Lakeview Junior High Chorus and Prairieview Chorus presented a concert for mall shoppers. The students did a great job and were supported by a large group of parents as they performed. The snowy evening added a nice winter feeling to the event. Congratulations to Directors, Jeannie Wyse and Jennifer Berman and the choirs for their fine work. Thanks also to Tom Tedeschi and Brian Ohlsen for transporting and operating the PA system. Both choirs will be performing their Winter Concert programs next Wednesday evening, December 12th at Lakeview beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Springfield Update

It is depressing to watch the stalemate in Springfield continue although the last week has been somewhat entertaining even though nothing has been accomplished. Governor Blagojevich called two more special legislative sessions last week to solve the transit crisis but to no success and he returned home to Chicago to attend a Blackhawks' game while legislators were still working in Springfield which made great new clips! There was also an interesting expose on the Governor's work habits last week on CBS Channel 2 that showed our Governor spending most of his time “working” from his Chicago home. His staff assures everyone that the Governor is always working regardless of where he is and I feel comforted by that news.

Apparently there is a meeting of the legislative leaders scheduled for this week as they continue to search for a solution to the crisis facing our state. It is now almost 30 days since the BIMP was sent to the Governor and he still has until January to deal with it. We still have an impending transit crisis that will need some action and many legislators are holding out for a “capital funding “ bill. All three of these items have become firmly weaved together and I doubt there will be much action on one issue without the other two. The fact that a capital bill seems to involve gambling expansion also makes this a more complicated issue for many of the legislators. At some point some strategic plan to put our financial house in order is going to be addressed before out state is bankrupt!