Eye on Education 9/20/2018

September 20, 2018

Your daily synopsis of education news

Consequences of budget impasse and fiscal outlook

The Illinois Comptrollers Office has released a report on the effects of the budget impasse from 2015-2017. Here's part of that report:

Ultimately, the budget impasse left Illinois ill-prepared for a future national recession. A needless increase in the bill backlog (which remains over $2 billion more than the pre-impasse amount), an increase in debt service payments to pay down a portion of this backlog that will cost nearly $2 billion in interest payments over the next 12 years (which would have been $4 to $6 billion more costly to Illinois without refinancing), a decrease in higher education and social service investment that has resulted in billions of dollars in lost returns on investment, a decrease in the fiscal safety net for periods of future crisis and an inability to address the billions of dollars in capital investment that the state’s aging infrastructure desperately needs all have created a perfect storm of budget carnage that will burden Illinois for years to come.

Illinois Comptroller's Office

One year after shooting, Mattoon students heal by serving others

The Decatur Herald-Review revisits Mattoon High School one year after a shooting last year that left one student injured. From the story:

A year after a student brought a gun to Mattoon High School and opened fire in the cafeteria, students walk through the halls feeling differently, still healing from the emotions of that day but finding it easier to talk about the incident.

Rick Wright said for him and other students he knows, enough time has passed.

"Overall, it's not that hard to think about anymore," Wright said. "Enough has passed and we are able to see our surroundings in a new light."

As part of Green and Gold Day, students will participate in community service projects, continuing to build on a spirit of togetherness that has helped them move on from the shooting incident of Sept. 20, 2017.

Decatur Herald-Review

Lockport Township High School District begins search for new leader

WJOL 1340 says Lockport Township High School District has hired a search firm to find its next superintendent. From the story:

Lockport Township High School Superintendent Todd Wernet is set to retire on June 30th, 2019. The Board of Education has initiated the process of locating the next superintendent of schools at their August Board meeting where they hired B.W. P. & Associates to undertake the search and hiring process.

WJOL

Lessons Learned From Using the Quality Framework

In this episode, IASA Associate Director Dr. Rich Voltz speaks to Tad Everett, superintendent of Sterling CUSD #5, about what he learned from piloting the Quality Framework in his district. The effort, Everrett says, was meaningful and led to important discussions about how to improve climate for students.

This podcast is sponsored by American Fidelity. Consider American Fidelity for a different opinion on employer benefit solutions for education.

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Does expanding school lunch programs help keep kids in schools?

Chalkbeat reports about new research on school lunch programs. From the story:

Allowing an entire school to eat for free, instead of restricting free lunch to students whose families fill out forms, can reduce the number of students who get suspended multiple times, according to a new study.

It’s the latest evidence that universal meal programs, which have also been linked to higher test scores and better health in other research, help students.

Chalkbeat