October 16, 2018
Your daily synopsis of education news
At $234 million, Rauner, Pritzker haven't broken record - yet
The Chicago Sun-Times examines how much money Rauner and Pritzker have spent on this election. From the story:

They may not break the national record, but Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker are showing just what it’s like to have a seemingly unlimited supply of cash to duke it out in the November gubernatorial election.

Pritzker, a billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, has put in an astounding $146.5 million of the $149.2 million raised into his campaign since 2016, according to campaign expenditure reports with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Rauner — a multi-millionaire former venture capitalist who is down by double digits in several polls — has raised more than $84.8 million from his own pockets and donors since the beginning of 2016.

Record spending was set in California’s 2010 gubernatorial race, when candidates spent $280 million.

School district sues Sears over millions in diverted taxes
The Chicago Tribune reports on a lawsuit filed by Community Unit School District 300 against Sears, saying the district should get back some of the millions of dollars in diverted tax money because Sears has violated the agreement that brought its headquarters to Hoffman Estates. From the story:

Nearly 30 years ago, to lure Sears’ home base from Sears Tower in Chicago and keep it in Illinois, the retailer received nearly $250 million in tax breaks and incentives to move to its sprawling Hoffman Estates headquarters.

When the deal was to expire in 2012, local taxing districts like Community Unit School District 300 were supposed to see the full benefit of the increased tax base, but instead Sears landed an extended deal with the renewed threat of leaving the state.

“Sears again started scaring lawmakers with the possibility of large scale job losses in the area by threatening to move its headquarters out of Illinois,” District 300 contends in the suit it filed against Sears and the village of Hoffman Estates.

The lawsuit says Sears and the village assured the school system that it would “experience substantial benefits with Sears’ property in the village fully back on the tax rolls.”

“Those assurances never materialized,” the suit states.

Health educators ensuring middle-schools get comprehensive sex ed
The Champaign News-Gazette reports on a partnership between schools in the county and the public health department. From the story:

To ensure students in Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul were getting "comprehensive" information — which includes teaching about sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, abstinence and consent — educators with the health district have been going into middle schools for the past five years, equipped with an evidence-based curriculum that goes for seven weeks.

"It's called 'Making Proud Choices,'" said Champaign-Urbana Public Health District sex educator Whitney Greger. "Generally, the kids are really receptive to it. The teachers enjoy the program, as well."

Julie Kraemer on why she became a SRO
In this episode, Dr. Rich Voltz, IASA Associate Director, speaks to Hutsonville CUSD # 1 Superintendent Julie Kraemer, on why she went through nine months of training to become a certified police officer, giving her the ability to carry a gun in school and help keep students safe in the event of a school shooting.
Should parents let kids turn to smart speakers for homework help?
The Washington Post reports on whether or not parents should let their children use smart speakers to help with homework. From the story:

Some parents hire tutors or homework coaches, but others are turning to a tireless assistant that sits on kitchen counters offering friendly, knowledgeable answers to seemingly any question — the family smart speaker.

But while it may seem like the same thing as asking a person, the two are very different. Imagine an 8-year-old sitting with a math worksheet at the kitchen counter asking the speaker for multiplication facts. While a speaker would just spit out answers nonstop, most parents have the judgment to remind the child that maybe this is something they should have memorized by now.