Batavia schools to save $1 million with bonds
The Batavia school district has sold the first round of bonds from its successful building referendum request, and got a better deal than expected.
Financial advisers thought the district's interest rate on the nearly $10 million in bonds would be about 4.8 percent, but came in at 4.375 percent, said Linda Matkowski of PMA Financial.
It will come out to a savings of about $1 million over the life of the bond, said district Finance Director Kim Anderson.
"This has worked out well for the district," Matkowski said.
The district plans to issue the bonds, totaling $75 million, in three phases.
The items that will be funded by this round include 25 new classrooms at the high school, an auxiliary gym at Rotolo Middle School and a new early childhood center at Alice Gustafson Elementary School.
Those additions are expected to break ground in March and take 15 to 18 months to complete.
BATV show award:ŒA documentary filmed for BATV has been nationally recognized.
"Immigration Rally," a 30-minute documentary, followed several groups gathered at Congressman Dennis Hastert's office on May 12, 2006.
Creators Ralph Gebes and Dan Shanahan were honored for their work on the documentary at the Alliance for Community Media's annual International Conference and Trade Show.
Deborah Vinsel, coordinator of the video festival, compared the award to a network show winning an Emmy.
"Immigration Rally" will be shown at 4:55 and 10:55 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. A complete list of showings is available on the station's Web site, www.batv.us.
Walters memorial:ŒA memorial fund for the 3-year-old son of late Hoover-Wood Elementary teacher Laura Walters has been established.
Spanish teacher Walters, 39, died suddenly at the school the day before classes started from complications from a blood clot.
The Batavia school board had a moment of silence for the Walters family at its meeting last week. Board President Ron Link commended the faculty at the school for working hard the following day.
"It was very, very difficult for the staff at Hoover-Wood," he said, his voice shaking. "But they pitched in to make the opening day as normal as they could for the kids."
Contributions to the fund for her son can be sent to the Thomas Casey Walters Beneficiary ILUTMA, Old Second National Bank, P.O. Box 510, Sugar Grove, IL 60554-0510.
Recycle electronics: Batavia residents will be able to drop off used electronics at the public works department for recycling for free starting today.
Old computer equipment, TVs, cell phones, tapes and office equipment can be dropped off at the building at 200 Raddant Road between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Household manuals, air conditioners, packing material and household hazardous wastes will not be accepted. For more information, call the department at (630) 879-1424, ext. 310.