English classes at CCHS are studying the wonderful plays of Shakespeare.

Walking down the hallways of Clay City High School, a delicious aroma pervades the air. Teachers and students don’t have to ask where the smell is coming from. They know that down the hallway, the Foods & Nutrition classes are hard at work.

Facing a $4-million shortfall in funding due from the state, the Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges has reduced faculty salaries $1.2-million by reducing faculty headcount.  The district had already cut non-faculty staff and administrative salaries and other spending by $2.1-million.

CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation is offering CSBG scholarships for income eligible individuals who wish to continue their education in an Illinois Institution approved full-time post-secondary course of study. The course of study must lead up to a degree and/or employment, with particular consideration given to a field of study in high technology areas or other growth occupations.

St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is accepting scholarship applications for a variety of educational programs, including:
 
·         Registered Nurse Program at Lake Land, Olney or Kaskaskia Colleges
·         Radiologic Technologist at Kaskaskia or Parkland Colleges
·         Respiratory Therapy at Parkland College
·         Surgical Technologist at Parkland College
·         Medical Lab Technologist at Kankakee Community College
·         Nuclear Med Tech at College of DuPage
·         Ultrasonographer at Kaskaskia College
 

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on March 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 in the Dr. John D. Stull

Performing Arts Center. Afternoon shows will be offered at 2 p.m. on March 21 and 28.
An all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet will be held before the Friday and Saturday shows at 6 p.m.

Olney Central College will offer free GED classes beginning March 15.

The American Legion Auxiliary is proud to announce the 70th Anniversary of its leadership program, Illini Girls State!  This year’s session will be held on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL, June 13th – 19th 2010.

The Illinois Sheriff's Association announces that it will be awarding more than  $53,000 in college scholarships througout the State of Illinois to students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2010-2011 academic year.

The Illinois Sheriff's Association announces that it will be awarding over
$53,000.00 in college scholarships througout the State of Illinois to
students wishing to pursue higher education during the 2010-2011 academic
year.  The scholarships are to be applied to tuition, books and fees only. 
The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher
learning within the State of Illinois.

Schools normally tout the successes of their students on the marquees that flash in front of them, or perhaps tell the parents that school is out for a holiday, but that is in normal times, and these are not normal times.

Instead of successes the sign in front of Floyd Henson Junior High School flashes with a simple message, “The State of Illinois owes the FCUSD #35 $368,002.20.”

In academics, as much as any field, the cream always rises to the top. At Flora High School, the cream of the crop for the 2009 - 2010 school year are the Illinois State Scholars.
Students ranking in the top ten-percent of the state of Illinois’ high school seniors are named Illinois State Scholars; these rankings are based on these students’ ACT scores, grade point averages and class rank.

The nine Illinois State Scholars from FHS are, Brittany Brown, the daughter of Dale and Tara Brown; Gabrielle Brown, daughter of Donald and Brandy Brown; Laurel Farrey, daughter of Brian and Brenda Farrey; Kate Henderson, daughter of Dan and Jill Henderson; Tiffany Newcomb, daughter of Jennifer Krutsinger and Robert Groff; Amy Poole, daughter of Randy and Lori Poole; Melanie Shehorn, daughter of Monty and Lori Shehorn; Rebecca Vincent, daughter of Randy and Valerie Vincent and Abigail Wolfe, the daughter of Phillip and Christine Wolfe.

The scholars will be introduced with their families between basketball games on the evening of Tuesday, December 15. The scholars were given their certificates for the group photo, but returned them for an “Official” presentation on Senior Awards Day.

In a letter sent home with the scholars, FHS Principal Darrell Gummert spoke on behalf of the school and its staff congratulating the scholars and their parents for their achievement.

On Nov. 2, 3 and 4, 2009 Carol Steinman, Regional Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #12 sponsored the Olympiad Team Quest competition for students from the five county ROE #12 region. Competition for the academic challenge was divided into three age groups with the third, fourth, and fifth graders making up the first groups, the sixth, seventh, and eigth graders making up the second group, and High School students making up the third group. There were a total of 57 different teams and over 200 students that participated in the three day challenge. Students worked together in groups to demonstrate their ability to solve real life problems that required imagination, creative thinking and engineering skills in science, math, language arts, and music. All teams and students received participation certificates, with the top five teams in each age group receiving trophies. The top eight teams in each age group are eligible to advance to the regional competition.

Floyd Henson Junior High School
First Quarter HIGH HONOR
8th Grade
Anderson, Robert Ray
Block, Jennifer Nicole
Booth, Olivia Nicole
Bute, Hannah Sue Katelynn
Casolari, John Logan
Fitch, Blake Edward
Gindlesberger, Morgan Jade
Hout, Megan Jean
Leib, Ethan Harold
Li, Danny
McMahon, Colleen Marie
Persinger, Rebecca Dawn
Petty, Courtney Michelle
Raley, Gideon Price
Stanford, Alyssa Nicole
Tienda, Adriana Arody
VanHyning, Morgan Nicole
Wagley, Marissa Danielle
7th Grade
Allen, Taylor Raechell
Alvord, Sarah Elizabeth
Bayles, Brooke Morgan
Bennett, Jadon Kale
Briscoe, Samantha Diane
Brown, Rebecca Joan
Cazadd, Darian Marie
Cox, Kylie Catherine
Durre, Luke Andrew
Fulk, Athena D
Goldstein, Isaac Scott
Harmon, Madison Diane
Hilderbrand, Kendra Marie
Hubble, Brenden
Hustedde, Brooke Danielle
Jennings, Haylee Starr
Jennings, Mackenzie Claire
Kline, Tailor Lane
Krutsinger, Bria Kay
Milner, Trevin Lynn
OBrien, Meredith Lynn
Pearce, Bryce Andrew
Pieplow, Daniel Corydon
Shock, Alexis Brianna
Staley, Jessica Marie
Winka, Brooke Taylor
Wyman, Kyndra D
6th Grade
Behnke, Lucas Alan
Burgess, Deandra Marissah
Burrow, Jodie Renae
Carder, Allison Breanne
Davis, Natasha Janel
Harrison, Malorie Jae
Johnson, Hunter Levi
Kirby, Madison Ann
Leib, Ian Phillip
Leib, Jaelyn Noelle
Luttrell, Morgan Grace
Moses, Parker Joseph
Petty, Makayla Grace
Suntrup, Michael Allen
Szudy, Eric Cordell
Trotter, Nick Andrew
Welty, Conner Eugene
Young, Kobe Cooper
1st Quarter HONOR
8th Grade
Burrow, Jamie Lynn
Burrow, Joanna Michelle
Casolari, Robert Douglas
Collins, Rase Klein
Cook, Haley Brianne
Drumheller, Brittani Anne
Fatheree, Isaiah Lee
Feldhake, Zachary Ryan
Fisher, Maverick Ray
Gonzalez, Viridiana Itzel
Hays, Jade Kennedy
Kitley, Morgan Elizabeth
Levitt, Megan Elizabeth
McWilliams, Blake Aaron
Moore, Rayden Alanis
Musser, Bryan R
Payne, James Robert
Payne, Jessica Marie
Pearce, Trenton Gregory
Pride, Jordan Michael
Raley, Malachi Lee
Robinson, Chase Edward
Smith, Ashlynn Marie
Tanner, Keah Rosann
Thompson, Trey Matthew
Tyler, Kristian M.L.
Williams, Garrett Lane
Woodrow, Dylan Hunter
Workman, Nachelle Lynn
7th Grade
Best, Bethany N
Cartright, John Lee
Delzell, Molly
Eichholz, Autumn Kathryn
Engelmeier, Alexandra Michael
Gindlesberger, Trevor Steven
Gutierrez, Briano James
Hawkins, Logan Riley
Hintz, Kortney Beth
Kirby, Alex Nicholas
Litaker, Tristan C
Martin, Bailey Jo
McIntosh, Kelsey
McKnelly, Harley Ann
Moats,  Allysa Haley
Murphy, Makayla Aleece
Noblet, Quaden Lane
Paxton, Sean Ryan
Pickel, Noah Michael
Pools, Taryn Jade
Shadwell, Hanna Kay Lucille
Smith, Logan Michael
Stephenson, Anthony Dale
Stone, Logan Lee
Thomas, Jesse Larry
Warren, Macy Dawn
Watson, Sarah Taylor
Yingst, Ashley Kae
6th Grade
Allen, Braxton Dale
Conley, Aaron Michael
Day, Cheyenne J
Dehlinger, Damion Lucas
Graham, Dakota Christy
Greenwood, Nickolas Jay
Hager, Alan Victor
Hall, Caitlyn Nicole
Hoagland, Shelby Nicole
Landreth, Bradyn Andrew
Leib, Janna Margaret
Leib, Jerrica Brooke
Martin, Madison Lee
Mayberry, Rusty Wayne
Scott, Crimson Chyenne
Tienda, Mireya Natalie
Tolliver, Hannah Garrison

During the last few weeks and months, a question has been asked of District #35 school board members. “Why are you building a bus barn?” Clearly, community member have concerns relative to the construction of this facility in relation to the current economy and the reduction of school staff personnel last March. The question and concerns are both valid, and I will try and offer a response.

First, state law requires school boards “to provide for the revenue necessary to maintain schools in their districts.” Now this phrase is not limited to just the buildings in the school district, but applies to everything that is required to make the district functional, teachers, support staff, equipment, supplies, busses, utilities – you get the idea. All school districts are required to maintain separate accounts for the particular types of work that the districts are doing. For example, there are four “operational” accounts: education, transportation, operations and maintenance, and the working cash fund. It is from these four fiscal accounts that the financial health of the district is determined.