May 3, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Teachers pension funding favors wealthy districts, group says | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — The notion of Illinois school districts shouldering more of the costs of teacher pensions has small town administrators preparing for deep cuts, but the lack of legislative action is making preparing tough.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson added that Quinn wants the school districts to have a stake in the contracts they negotiate.

The governor’s proposal came ahead of a $5.2 billion public pension payment next year, which is about $1 billion higher than this year’s payment. For the upcoming pension payment, three-fourths would go toward downstate and suburban teachers, as well as community college and university employees, Anderson said.

At this time, the Legislature has not drafted a proposal about shifting the costs to local districts.

Districts could increase property taxes, but small town administrators said raising taxes isn’t always an option in a rural district.

“If you have a bigger tax base, you’re bringing in more money and you may be able to cover it,” said Green. “If we were a growing community, with a growing business tax base, it would be different.”

Without tax increases, school administrators said they’ll have to make cuts in the classroom.

Years of underfunding, the Great Recession and pension sweeteners, such as cost-of-living increases have caused the state’s unfunded pension liability to jump to $83 billion. The Teachers Retirement System is responsible for $44 billion of that.

For Mendota, this cost shift would mean finding an extra $144,000. This comes when the district is operating a budget deficit and owed nearly $300,000 by the state in overdue bills.

Cuts so far for the Mendota district include limiting the working hours of teacher aides and custodians and having current teachers take over classes and duties handled by educators who leave or retire. At risk next are bus rides for sport teams and preschool education.

“It’s an evil stew so to speak. You have all these type of things that go into the stew from late state payments, cuts in transportation and now possibly pensions,” Green said. “You put all the parts in, make necessary changes to the recipe, and hope it tastes good locally.”

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Rural school districts prepare for cuts | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

TAMPA—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Robert L. Williams (68, Winter Haven) to two years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bribery. He pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in March 2011.

According to court documents, from December 2004 through at least January 2009, the School Board of Polk County administered the activities of the school district, including the construction of schools, through a school superintendent and a number of assistant superintendents. Williams was the assistant superintendent of facilities and operations. He was an influential official in the procedure for awarding school construction contracts, and he was in a position to influence and to make recommendations in that process.

According to the plea agreement, Williams exercised his authority as an agent of the Polk County School Board to benefit alleged conspirators. During the conspiracy, alleged conspirators provided Williams with numerous things of value, including vacation trips, fishing and sporting excursions, airline travel, and construction and remodeling work at Williams’ residence.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Department of Education-Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Monk and Antitrust Trial Attorney Bill Dillon.

Former Assistant Superintendent of Polk County School Board Sentenced for Bribery Conspiracy | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Release Date: April 20, 2012

For immediate release

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the formation of the Model Validation Council, which will provide the Federal Reserve with expert and independent advice on its process to rigorously assess the models used in stress tests of banking institutions. In addition, the Federal Reserve announced it will host a two-day symposium to discuss best practices in stress testing. 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act required the Federal Reserve to conduct annual stress tests of large bank holding companies and systemically important, nonbank financial institutions supervised by the Board. The Model Validation Council will provide input on the Board’s efforts to assess the effectiveness of the models used in the stress tests. The council is intended to improve the quality of the Federal Reserve’s model assessment program and to strengthen the confidence in the integrity and independence of the program.

The 2012 Model Validation Council members are: 

• Francis X. Diebold, economics professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania (chair)
• Peter Christoffersen, professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto
• Mark Flannery, professor at the Warrington College of Business Administration at the University of Florida
• Philippe Jorion, professor at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California at Irvine
• Chester Spatt, professor at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University
• Allan Timmermann, professor at the Rady School of Management at the University of California at San Diego

Formation of the council is one part of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tap outside expertise in the stress testing process. In another step, the Federal Reserve will host a symposium on stress testing models on September 13 and 14 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Discussions will focus on the design and implementation of stress testing models, and cover topics including the relative merits of different modeling frameworks, best industry practices, and key challenges. Participants will include experts from academia, industry, and the Federal Reserve.  

Also on Friday, the Federal Reserve released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses regarding models used in the stress tests in the recently completed Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review based on industry outreach calls held last month. The FAQs cover a wide range of topics including methodologies to project losses for mortgages and other consumer portfolios, mortgage repurchase risk, and wholesale portfolios.

For media inquiries, call 202-452-2955

Frequently Asked Questions: Supervisory Methodologies in CCAR 2012 (463 KB PDF)

Federal Reserve Board announces the formation of the Model Validation Council | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

April 17, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Education commision recommends ways for schools to save money | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

SPRINGFIELD — Today, Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim honored a group of distinguished Illinois fifth and sixth grade students selected for their creative skills used to express environmental awareness, as part of the Agency’s 25th annual Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest. This year’s theme focused on storm water pollution and ways to prevent it with Going Green to Keep Your Storm Water Clean!

The writers and artists selected from throughout Illinois were recognized at a reception in the Howlett Building in downtown Springfield.

“The environmental decisions we make today will affect these students in the future,” said Director Kim. “Part of environmental stewardship is educating others. These students will be able to help others in their communities to make good environmental decisions.”

Poetry/Prose Top Award Winners

Grace Braden, Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston

Max Calk, East Lake Academy in Lake Forest

Karly Coffey, Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston

Lauren Elias, Pleasant Lane in Lombard

Jason Gluzkin, Washington School in Glenview

Angela Rauch, Prince of Peace School in Lake Villa

Posters Top Award Winners

Alycia Bhargava, Nancy Young Elementary in Aurora

Alondra Cervantes, Hermes Elementary School in Aurora

Jennifer Ilc, Washington School in Glenview

Aditi Prabhu, Nancy Young Elementary in Aurora

Isreal Sandoval, Simmons Middle School in Aurora

Darija Stanojevic, Washington School in Glenview

A panel from the Illinois EPA judged all entries and selected the finalists, whose entries were then judged by an outside panel of authorities, to determine the top 12 winners. 

Each spring, students learn about environmental protection of the air, land, and water through the Agency’s environmental education guide, “Environmental Pathways –Youth Investigating Pollution Issues in Illinois.” Following the completion of the guide, students use their creative talents to visually articulate, in the form of a poster or a written work, their ideas of how they can protect our precious resources – air, land, and water. Special emphasis is given to one of those three areas on an annual, rotating basis with this year’s focus being on preventing water pollution.

Following the ceremony, the winning entries will be on exhibit in the atrium at Illinois EPA’s Springfield headquarters from April 2 through May 2; the top 12 entries will be featured on the Illinois EPA’s web site. 

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Illinois EPA Honors Young Environmentalists in 25th Annual Poster, Poetry and Prose Contest Ceremony | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

BOSTON—A former 11th grade teacher at West Bridgewater High School was convicted today in federal court of possession of child pornography.

Paul J. Teves, 35, of Fall River, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to possession of child pornography. Teves was charged and arrested in September 2011.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that Teves portrayed himself online as a mother willing to “pimp” out an 11-year-old daughter. After a search warrant, Teves admitted to trading and possessing child pornography.

From 2002 to 2005, Teves was a tennis coach at Bishop Connolly High School. From 2005 until his arrest, Teves was a teacher at West Bridgewater High School, and a coach for the boys and girls track team.

Judge Tauro scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2012. Teves faces up to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Note: The defendant is not in federal custody.

Former West Bridgewater Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance to identify the “Bearded Bandit.” He has robbed five banks since 12/22/11 with his latest robbery on 02/22/2012, at the Chase Bank located at 4924 E. Shea Blvd.

His is described as a white male, late 20s to early 30s, 6’0”-6’2” tall, thin to medium build. It is possible his hair and beard are not real.

Anyone with information please contact the FBI at (623) 466-1999 or contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

He has robbed the following banks:

• 12/22/2011, Chase Bank, 10585 W. Indian School Rd., Avondale, AZ.
• 01/04/2012, M&I Bank, 9035 W. Union Hills Dr., Peoria, AZ.
• 01/18/2012, Washington Federal, 1744 N. Litchfield Rd., Litchfield Park, AZ.
• 01/24/2012, M&I Bank, 1481 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert, AZ.
• 02/22/2012, Chase Bank, 4924 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix, AZ.

Seeking Public’s Assistance in Phoenix Bank Robbery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The FBI, the Sidney Montana Police Department, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Williston, North Dakota Police Department are requesting assistance from North Dakota and northeastern Montana property owners in the case of missing Montana school teacher Sherry Arnold. Based on investigative evidence gathered over the last few days, it is believed that Ms. Arnold may be deceased; her body has not been recovered.

Law enforcement is requesting North Dakota property owners in Williams County, McKenzie County, Mountrail County, and extreme northeastern Montana check shelter belts and vacant farmsteads on their land for disturbed soil. The surrounding grassy area may also appear to be matted. A shelter belt is a line of trees that protects soil from the wind. Ms. Arnold’s body may be buried in a shelter belt that contains mature or rotted trees.

It is important to note, law enforcement is only requesting help from property owners and is not requesting volunteers to come search. Property owners are advised not to put themselves at risk. Property owners who discover something unusual are asked not to disturb the site and immediately contact the Williams County Law Enforcement Center at (701) 774-9191.

Ms. Arnold went missing Saturday, January 7, 2012, at approximately 6:30 a.m., while on her morning run in the community of Sidney, Montana. Two adult males are in custody in connection with this investigation.

Seeking Assistance from Property Owners in Sherry Arnold Case | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

DARLINGTON, Wis., Dec. 6, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ – Wisconsin- and Illinois-based CITGO Marketer, Saunders Oil, and CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently launched the Saunders Oil “Be a Star. Buy a Star.” campaign to support Wisconsin- and Illinois-area schools. From Thursday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 16, participating CITGO stations are selling “Stars” for $1 each. All of the proceeds will go toward new books for school libraries at five local elementary schools. The goal is to raise $1,000 during the campaign, which will allow Saunders Oil and CITGO to donate 350 books.

“All of our local school districts are battling budget cuts. We wanted to find a way to ensure that the schools have the tools they need to help kids fall in love with reading,” said Karlene Saunders, secretary and general manager of Saunders Oil. “I hear from our customers about the challenges the schools are having, and we wanted to provide a solution. A single dollar can go much farther than people realize.”

Through the Saunders Oil “Be a Star. Buy a Star.” program, local CITGO customers can show their appreciation and support for five local schools: Riverdale Elementary School in Muscoda, Wis.; Darlington Elementary in Darlington, Wis.; Southwestern Elementary in Hazel Green, Wis.; Shullsburg Elementary in Shullsburg, Wis.; and Stockton Elementary in Stockton, Ill.

“In such trying times, every bit of help can make a difference. I speak for the teachers and the students when I say that we are all so thankful for the help of Saunders Oil, CITGO and, of course, the wonderful people in our community,” said Dr. Denise Wellnitz, school district curriculum director. “Without basic supplies like these books, the road to education becomes very difficult to navigate. But, thanks to the help of everyone involved in the ‘Be a Star. Buy a Star.’ campaign, our kids are going to have exciting new opportunities to expand their horizons and imaginations.”

In addition to the “Be a Star. Buy a Star.” fundraising effort, the participating stations will offer a series of activities for customers, including coloring contests and book readings at these participating locations:

• Muscoda Mini Mart
  102 North Wisconsin Avenue, Muscoda, WI 53573
• Darlington Mini Mart
  11981 State Road 23, Darlington, WI 53530
• Southwest Mart
  3525 North Percival Street, Hazel Green, WI 53811
• Miner Towne Mart
  101 Miner Way, Shullsburg, WI 53586
• Stockton Travel Center
  601 E North Ave # 2, Stockton, IL 61085

CITGO is committed to giving back to the local communities it serves through its network of locally owned CITGO stations. Local CITGO Marketers and Retailers in Wisconsin and Illinois own and operate more than 750 CITGO locations and are proud to support their local organizations. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations in your community, visit www.CITGO.com.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation

http://www.CITGO.com

Saunders Oil and CITGO Raise Funds to Support Local Schools | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

State Farm today announced the second half winners of Friday Night Feats, a national video contest highlighting the biggest moments from this year’s high school football season. Twenty-six winners from across North America were awarded $2,500 for their schools and now have a chance at the $15,000 first prize.

The videos that win $2,500 and advance to become “Finalist Nominees” of the fan-fueled football contest were determined by fan votes on www.FridayNightFeats.com during the second half of the contest from October 10 through Nov. 28th. State Farm now turns to its panel of judges to narrow the field of “Finalist Nominees” down to the top 10 videos based on the “wow” factor, athleticism, impact of the play, and creativity of the video. The panel includes MaxPreps football experts Stephen Spiewak, Steve Montoya, Andrew Puccioni, Chris Stonebraker, Blake McFarland, as well as SI Kids reporter Evan Trimas.

Click here to read the complete press release.

State Farm® Friday Night Feats Video Contest Closes Second Half with High School Football’s Biggest Moments | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Nov. 28, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ – A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis of long-term effects of violent video game play on the brain has found changes in brain regions associated with cognitive function and emotional control in young adult men after one week of game play. The results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The controversy over whether or not violent video games are potentially harmful to users has raged for many years, making it as far as the Supreme Court in 2010. But there has been little scientific evidence demonstrating that the games have a prolonged negative neurological effect.

“For the first time, we have found that a sample of randomly assigned young adults showed less activation in certain frontal brain regions following a week of playing violent video games at home,” said Yang Wang, M.D., assistant research professor in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. “These brain regions are important for controlling emotion and aggressive behavior.”

For the study, 22 healthy adult males, age 18 to 29, with low past exposure to violent video games were randomly assigned to two groups of 11. Members of the first group were instructed to play a shooting video game for 10 hours at home for one week and refrain from playing the following week. The second group did not play a violent video game at all during the two-week period.

Each of the 22 men underwent fMRI at the beginning of the study, with follow-up exams at one and two weeks. During fMRI, the participants completed an emotional interference task, pressing buttons according to the color of visually presented words. Words indicating violent actions were interspersed among nonviolent action words. In addition, the participants completed a cognitive inhibition counting task.

The results showed that after one week of violent game play, the video game group members showed less activation in the left inferior frontal lobe during the emotional task and less activation in the anterior cingulate cortex during the counting task, compared to their baseline results and the results of the control group after one week. After the second week without game play, the changes to the executive regions of the brain were diminished.

“These findings indicate that violent video game play has a long-term effect on brain functioning,” Dr. Wang said.

Coauthors are Tom Hummer, Ph.D., William Kronenberger, Ph.D., Kristine Mosier, D.M.D., Ph.D., and Vincent P. Mathews, M.D. This research is supported by the Center for Successful Parenting, Indiana.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2011 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press11 beginning Monday, Nov. 28.

RSNA is an association of more than 48,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)

For patient-friendly information on fMRI of the brain, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

AT A GLANCE

• Using functional MRI, researchers have found that playing violent video games for one week causes changes in brain function.
• The brain regions affected by violent video game play are associated with cognitive function and emotional control.
• The change in brain function was reduced after game play was discontinued for a week.

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)

http://www.RadiologyInfo.org

Violent Video Games Alter Brain Function in Young Men | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Nov. 15, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP (SFG), the institutional broker-dealer of the Susquehanna International Group of Companies (SIG), announced today it has hired Dan Hirsch as a Senior Salesman in the Fixed Income Group.  Mr. Hirsch will cover clients in the Midwest and is based out of SFG’s Chicago office.

“Dan is a fantastic addition and will significantly help our coverage of the Midwest market.  Dan marks the second hire in as many quarters for our Chicago office which continues to expand,” stated Frank Gilroy, SFG’s Head of Fixed Income Sales, Trading and Strategy.

Dan Hirsch joins SFG with over 25 years of experience in the fixed income industry. Prior to joining SFG, Mr. Hirsch was a Managing Director in the Fixed Income Sales group of Citadel.  Before joining Citadel, Mr. Hirsch worked as a senior salesman for Barclays and DLJ.  Mr. Hirsch earned his MBA at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.  He also holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Michigan.

SFG continues to seek select top-tier debt professionals with diverse backgrounds to round out its institutional fixed income brokerage business.

About Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP

Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP (SFG), a member of the Susquehanna International Group of Companies (SIG), is an innovator in global finance, servicing the needs of clients worldwide in the areas of sales, fundamental research, and market intelligence. Building upon SIG’s command of the options marketplace and its quantitative trading capabilities, SFG has cultivated a robust service offering that provides liquidity, industry-leading insights, and execution services. SIG employs approximately 1,500 individuals located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

For additional information, please visit

www.sig.com.

SOURCE Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP

http://www.sig.com

Dan Hirsch Joins Susquehanna Financial Group as a Senior Salesman in the Fixed Income Group | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Rosemont, Ill. — November 03, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Riddell, the official helmet of the National Football League®, is taking an in-season time out to educate coaches, players and parents about how to properly inspect helmets and shoulder pads. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, football is the most popular sport for high school boys with more than a million participants.

“Between regular practices and games, a player’s equipment experiences hours of use,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell. “Inspecting equipment throughout the season helps ensure it’s prepared to perform its job – protecting players on the field.”

Riddell’s five-point, checklist is designed to keep proper fit and protection top of mind for all young football players:

• Inspect Exterior Shell – Take a close look at the outside of the helmet for any cracks or dents and run fingers over the helmet to feel for any cracks the human eye may miss.
• Check Hardware and Internal Helmet Padding – If pads feel too loose or too tight, inflate all necessary inflation pads to achieve a snug fit. The skin of the player’s forehead should move with the helmet’s front pad. There should be no room for twisting.
• Proper Helmet Fit – A secure fit ensures the equipment is positioned on the head properly to best protect the athlete. When properly fit, the front of the helmet should rest approximately one inch above the player’s eyebrows. He should feel pressure on the crown of the head, instead of the brow, when pressing the helmet down. A player should never wear a helmet that is positioned too low or too high.
• Assess Chin Strap – The cup should be centered and snug over the chin to hold the helmet in place. The top strap should go underneath the face mask, not above it, before snapping it in place while the lower strap should pass through the notches at the bottom of the shell and snap securely.
• Shoulder Pad Fit – Periodically check accessory attachments, condition of underarm straps, laces, and arch padding. The pad fit should be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

At the end of the season, Riddell recommends annual reconditioning and recertification to prolong the life of the product and ensure it meets performance standards. When next season arrives, players will enjoy clean, sanitized, inspected and repaired equipment.

For more information about proper equipment fitting, visit www.riddell.com/fitting-guides.

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

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Riddell® Calls "Time Out" for In-Season Equipment Check | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Over the past 20 years, Chicago Public Schools has experienced tremendous growth in graduation rates, but learning gains have been modest, according to a new report from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research.

The report, “Trends in Chicago’s Schools Across Three Eras of Reform,” tracks elementary and high school test scores and graduation rates in Chicago since 1988, when U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett proclaimed the city’s public schools to be the worst in the nation. Key findings from the report include:

• Graduation rates in Chicago have improved dramatically, and high school test scores have risen; more students are graduating without a decline in average academic performance.
• Math scores have improved incrementally in the elementary/middle grades, while elementary/middle grade reading scores have remained fairly flat for two decades.
• Racial gaps in achievement have steadily increased, with white and Asian students making more progress than Latino students, and African American students falling behind all other groups.
• Despite progress, the vast majority of CPS students have academic achievement levels that are far below where they need to be to graduate ready for college.

“The tremendous gains in high school graduation should be celebrated, and the growth in high school ACT scores and elementary math scores do indicate progress,” said Stuart Luppescu, chief psychometrican for the Chicago Consortium and the lead author of the report. “Unfortunately, we also found reasons for substantial concern: Racial achievement gaps are growing, and average achievement across the district remains very low.”

Many of the findings in this report contradict trends that appear in publicly reported data. For instance, publicly reported statistics indicate that CPS has made tremendous progress in elementary math and reading tests, while this analysis demonstrates only incremental gains in math and almost no growth in reading. The discrepancies are due to myriad issues with publicly reported data—including changes in test content and scoring—that make year-over-year comparisons nearly impossible without complex statistical analyses, such as those undertaken for this report.

This leads to another key message in this report: The publicly reported statistics used to hold schools and districts accountable for making academic progress are not accurate measures of progress.

A grant from the Chicago Community Trust funded the research that formed the basis for the report.

Report: Chicago school achievement remains low, despite 20 years of reform | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Each week high school football teams across the country are making bold plays – their own Friday night feats. From now until November 28th the biggest moments of the season as captured on video by players, parents and fans can win up to $17,500 for their high school.

The 26 first half winners will each receive a prize of $2,500 for their respective school, and be entered for a chance at the grand prize of $15,000! Through Friday Night Feats, State Farm recognizes the hard work and effort of high school students to get their community and their school to a better state. Make sure to check out our media player which includes the three winning videos from 2010 and some other key facts about the program!

State Farm Friday Night Feats First Half Voting Ends Oct. 6th | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO – September 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today continued his commitment to improving education in Illinois by joining students, parents, advocates and community leaders to open the United Neighborhood Organization’s (UNO) newest charter school on Chicago’s West Side. The state provided a $27 million Illinois Jobs Now! capital investment to build UNO’s Soccer Academy Elementary School, which employed nearly 400 workers during construction and is now creating 42 full- and part-time permanent jobs.

“Making sure that every child in Illinois has access to a quality education is a top priority of my administration and parents throughout Illinois,” Governor Quinn said. “This project is the next step of many we are taking to give parents more good options to ensure their children have opportunities to succeed.”

The UNO Soccer Academy Elementary School is based on an innovative concept of integrating the game of soccer into a traditional curriculum, including science, social studies, math and physical fitness, with the goal of using sports as a motivational tool to make sure students are academically well-rounded. The school will eventually be a part of a larger campus that includes a high school, stadium and community plaza.

“This school will help alleviate overcrowding on Chicago’s Southwest Side and bring a quality option to parents and their children,” Juan Rangel, CEO of UNO said. “I thank Governor Quinn for his commitment to improving public education throughout our state.”

The school will serve approximately 575 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and help relieve overcrowding that has plagued schools in many Chicago communities. The new 63,000 square foot facility located at 5050 South Homan Street was designed to meet LEED Silver Certified Standards. More than 46 percent of the firms that participated in construction of this project are minority-owned businesses and 10.3 percent are female -owned businesses.

“Funding through the state’s capital plan will allow UNO to devote more resources to improving classroom education, while also allowing them to remain on the cutting-edge in terms of efficiency and sustainability,” said Warren Ribley, director of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the state agency in charge of administering the grant.

Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital program includes nearly $100 million for UNO charter schools that will alleviate school overcrowding and provide quality education options for Illinois children. To date, the state has invested more than $30 million for green, capital and digital literacy initiatives at UNO schools. In addition to UNO’s new neighborhood school, DCEO has provided support for a number of other UNO projects, including a new green roof and solar heating system at Veterans Memorial Charter School Campus, as well as capital funds for construction of the facility. The state also provided $369,000 from the Digital Divide Grant Program to help provide computer training for more than 2,600 low-income individuals.

Governor Quinn Opens Innovative Charter School on Chicago’s Southwest Side – UNO’s “Soccer Academy Elementary School” Will Relieve Overcrowding, Provide More School Options | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD —  After a hearing where the judge asked a question with a “plfftt” of his tongue, serious constitutional issues are expected to decide if Illinois’ regional superintendents will be paid soon.

“What if I issue an order, and the governor says, ‘Plfftt’?,” Schmidt pondered in court Thursday.

Illinois’ 44 regional school superintendents are asking Schmidt to issue a temporary restraining order that would force Quinn to pay them. The superintendents have not been paid since July 1, when Quinn zeroed out $11 million from the state budget that was supposed to pay their salaries.

Schmidt is expected to render a decision Friday.

But her work on the 1970 Illinois Constitution, specifically her backing of the amendatory veto, has her interested in this case. The state constitution gives the governor strong power to shape the state budget, but he cannot increase it. He only can cut or amend, under the amendatory veto power.

“I think this is pushing the power of the veto beyond what it was meant to be,” Netsch said. “Can he effectively eliminate a statutorily created office by using his fiscal veto to wipe out its appropriation? That’s quite a substantial question.”

“As long as there is very clear legislative direction to pay certain amounts of money, that suffices for the issuance of state checks,” Schmadeke said.

But attorneys for the state say the issue is about the constitutional right of the power to spend, not how a governor uses that power.

“Just because the power may be abused doesn’t mean the power does not exist,” Assistant Attorney General Terence Corrigan said Thursday in court.

Netsch said Quinn should have tried to frame paying the superintendents as a policy issue.

“Are the regional superintendents worth the money given the state’s economic woes?” Netsch asked.

But she is quick to say that Quinn “should have gone through the Legislature.”

“I was legally placed in this office by the voters,” said Vose. “We’re mandated by law, by school code.”

Illinois’ regional superintendents all earn about $100,000 a year. They are tasked with a number of jobs that fall somewhere between the State Board of Education and local school districts. Regional superintendents, for example, must oversee new teacher certification, GED testing, and truancy programs. Vose and the others are quick to say they are often stuck enforcing state mandates created by the Legislature.

Quinn has said repeatedly that he wants to see the superintendents paid, but the money should come from local taxpayers, not the state.

The General Assembly is expected to either act on Quinn’s pay shifting proposal or his veto in the fall veto session in October. 

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Constitutional questions at heart of superintendent pay case | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –   Some exceptional young people from the Springfield area who volunteer their time to serve others have been selected as this year’s Twilight Parade Grand Marshals.  The 2011 Grand Marshals were selected for their commitment to serving others through the Serve Illinois Commission, whose mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing traditional volunteer activities and supporting national service programs. Eight of the grand marshals are AmeriCorps members from the Springfield Urban League and serve as tutors and mentors for afterschool programs.  The others are students from Springfield Public School District 186 who volunteer their time by serving food to the hungry at St. John’s Breadline and by working at the Springfield Ronald McDonald House.

“This year we decided to recognize the impressive volunteer efforts of Illinois youth,” Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said. “Keeping in line with the state fair theme, ‘We’ve Got a Good Thing Growing,’ these grand marshals demonstrate that Illinois continues to grow responsible and dedicated young men and women who will become future leaders of our state.”

The 2011 Grand Marshals are:

Springfield Urban League AmeriCorps                     Springfield District 186 Youth

Brandis Holloway                                                         Lance Boozer               Corey Todd

Janette Stewart                                                             Justin Palmer                Dennis Shannon

Saraya Curry                                                                Ben Patton                   Kendall Murdock

Uniquika Boyd                                                             Cameron Drake            Rachel Ray

Karson Moore                                                             Monica DeVault           Zach Wilson

Aaron Slater                                                                 Kristin Coogan            Camren Sisti

MorrQuem Hobson                                                      Taylor Lanctot

Lamond McCrary                                                         Lyndsey Stoutamyer

The Twilight Parade is held on Preview Day, Thursday, Aug. 11.  It will begin at 6 p.m. at the corner of 9th Street and North Grand Avenue and end inside the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  The Illinois State Fair runs Friday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 21.  For more information, please visit www.illinoisstatefair.info.

Illinois Youth Volunteers Will Serve As Grand Marshals Of The 2011 Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — BMO Harris Bank announced today that it will sponsor the Safe Haven Back to School Rally in partnership with Chicago Public Schools to encourage first-day attendance among Chicago students.

The rally will take place Friday, Aug. 5 in Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Approximately 3,500 students will take part in the event, along with community leaders, sponsors, and entertainers, all joined together to promote this year’s theme, “FIRST DAY: Better Attendance, Better Students, Better Life.” 

“As a company committed to educating and enriching the lives of those who live and work in our communities, BMO Harris Bank continually emphasizes the importance of education to today’s young people and the impact it has on their future,” said Mark Furlong, president and CEO of BMO Harris Bank N.A. “Encouraging educational development through events like today’s rally further strengthens and empowers our communities — and we truly believe their success is our success.”

Created out of a partnership between Chicago Public Schools and more than 100 churches, Safe Haven is a faith-based initiative that takes place during the summer and other breaks throughout the school year. Serving more than 5,000 Chicago Public School students, the program provides students with healthy meals, academic enrichment, recreational activities, and a safe place to spend their summer days.

“Instruction begins on the first day of school and we need every student in class from day one so that they do not fall behind,” said CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard. “I know from personal experience as a teacher and a principal that the time spent in the classroom on the first day sets the tone and culture for the rest of the school year and increases a student’s chance for success. That is why we are grateful to our partners for their support in CPS’s efforts to get kids in the classroom on the first day and every day.”

To celebrate the beginning of another school year, the Safe Haven Back to School Rally will include horse rides, moonwalks, giveaways, musical entertainment and other activities for students of all ages.

About BMO Harris Bank

Based in Chicago, the bank has approximately 700 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida.  BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial institution with 1,600 branches, a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion, and combined U.S. businesses that rank as the 12th largest commercial bank, by assets, in the United States.

BMO Harris Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Banking deposit and loan products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment advisor. Insurance products are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCMC) and BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. (GKST), a Municipal Bond Dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc. (Harris SBSB), an SEC registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC (Harris myCFO), an SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors (Stoker Ostler) is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM) or its wholly-owned subsidiary HIM Monegy (Monegy), SEC-registered investment advisors. Products offered by HIS, HBIS, BMOCM, Harris SBSB, Harris myCFO, Stoker Ostler, HIM, and Monegy, which are affiliated companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of BMO Financial Corp.,: Are not insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, not a deposit of or guaranteed by any Bank or Bank Affiliate, may lose value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition to any bank loan or service. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank

http://www.harrisbank.com

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