Summit 303 to offer 'pros and cons' of school choice
Next week's Summit 303 meeting for St. Charles school district residents looks like it might generate some lively discussion.
Dual language programs and the possibility of dividing boys and girls between different schools are among ideas District 303 officials plan to put on the table as they look into the broader topic of "school choice."
In a statement, the district said Summit 303 participants will "hear the pros and cons of this sometimes controversial issue."
Superintendent Don Schlomann also will talk about the various ways other districts nationwide have approached school choice, and how it can affect "traditional programming and school boundaries."
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. May 15 on the lower level of Charlestowne Mall, 3800 E. Main St., near the movie theater.
A monthly program, Summit 303 is expected to conclude later this year with a list of recommendations to the school board about the future of the district. Everyone who attends gets the chance to offer feedback kept in a verbatim record.
For more information, go to www.d303.org and click on the Summit 303 link or call (630) 513-3030.
Brown honored: Cheers to St. Charles resident Robert Brown, who was recently recognized for his volunteer work as a tutor at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove.
Brown, who volunteers with Waubonsee's Adult Literacy Project, has been selected to receive a 2008 Spotlight on Service Award from the Secretary of State, Illinois State Library Literary Office and the Illinois Press Association. According to a news release, only 10 such awards are given out statewide each year to literacy tutors.
Way to go.
Sting a bust: St. Charles police were pleased -- and you might be too -- after a recent undercover sting targeting adults who buy alcohol for minors yielded not so much as a single citation.
The "shoulder tap" operation took place earlier this month and involved a high-school-age "special agent" who approached adults and asked for help obtaining booze at various liquor stores around town.
The effort was meant to coincide with the week before prom at St. Charles East and North high schools.
Red light update: Police say it could be another couple of months before six St. Charles intersections finally get video cameras to catch red-light runners on video.
As you might recall, the city approved the cameras last summer under a contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems. At the time, officials said the video equipment could be up and running by the end of the year, although they warned it might take longer.
On Monday, police spokesman Paul McCurtain said the cameras are still going up, but the city must wait for final approval from either state or county transportation departments, which could take up to 10 weeks. The engineering plans were submitted just last month.
Once they're installed, the cameras will monitor traffic at routes 64 and 31; Route 38 and Randall Road; Route 64 and Kirk Road; Second and Illinois streets; Route 64 and Kautz Road; and Route 64 and Dunham Road.