State superintendent urges districts to prepare for budget cuts
In his weekly newsletter, State Superintendent of Education Chris Koch Tuesday urged teachers and administrators to reach out to their local lawmakers to decry cuts to school funding before it's too late.
The 50-percent budget, vetoed by Gov. Pat Quinn, Koch said, would have required the state board cut $500 million from their proposed 2010 budget.
Koch spelled out actions the board might take in a worst-case scenario.
If lawmakers choose to override Quinn's veto of the 50-percent plan, the state board will schedule and emergency meeting as soon as possible, Koch said.
In the interim, the state board is advising districts not to assume or spend any money that they expect to get from state funded grants.
School supply drive: The economic downturn has made it difficult for thousands of local families to make ends meet. To help, a local credit union has launched a school supply drive to help families at Schaumburg District 54's John Muir Literacy Academy in Hoffman Estates with gear and goods for the upcoming school year.
Corporate America's drive, which runs through the end of July, is collecting crayons, pencils, pens, erasers, backpacks, notebooks, folders, glue sticks, folders, tissues and arts and crafts supplies. A full list of suggested items is online at www.cafu.org. Donations can be dropped off at the union's Streamwood branch, 305A S. Bartlett Road.
Virtual classes at ECC: Schedule crammed? Students have the chance to take Elgin Community College psychology classes from their home or office this fall.
According to a college news release, introduction to psychology will be held virtually from 5 to 6:40 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Sept. 22. Human growth and development will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays beginning Aug. 28. Taught by associate psychology professor Shawn Mikulay, both classes meet through the online virtual world Second Life. Mikulay and students use headsets, microphone and voice communication software to interact, according to the release. To register, call the ECC Registration Center at (847) 214-7393 or visit www.elgin.edu/apply.