Torres sounds off out east

Superintendent Jose Torres spent this past weekend speaking to reporters far outside of Elgin Area School District U-46's geographic area.

The Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media seminar, held at Columbia University, featured Torres Sunday morning as a panelist in a discussion about money, leadership and stimulus package challenges facing superintendents.

Among the media outlets attending were reporters from The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Torres joined Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Andres Alonso, Constance Clark-Snead, Superintendent of New York's Westbury Union Free School District, N.Y., and Robert Copeland, Superintendent of Schools in Piscataway Township, New Jersey.

"U-46, like districts across the country, is facing uncertainty regarding funding," Torres was quoted as saying in a district news release. "In Illinois, our problems have been compounded by delays in state aid payments, uncertainty regarding the state budget and what it means for education, and possible cuts in grants after staffing decisions have already been made," he said.

For instance, Torres said, U-46 staffed its early childhood programs for this fall more than six months ago, "presuming the state would honor its commitment to those programs."

The new budget, however, drastically cuts funding to the programs.

Calling all tutors: U-46 is seeking college students to work as tutors for the new AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) study skills course for seventh and ninth graders next year.

The course aims to give middle achievers the skills to take - and excel in - more challenging classes,

Tutors, according to district spokesman Tony Sanders, would get paid between $10 and $12 an hour. Job duties would include will meeting with small groups of students to help develop skills learned in AVID classes, and serving as mentors. Online applications are available on the U-46 Web site (www.u-46.org).

For more information call Chris Dennison at (847) 888-8000, ext. 4235.

St. Joseph registration: St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in downtown Elgin is holding an open registration for its kindergarten, grade school and preschool programs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4, and then from 4 to 8 p.m. later that same day at the school, 274 Division Street.

Those unfamiliar with the school's programs can take campus tours. For more information, visit www.stjosephelgin.org, or call (847) 931-2804.