Briefs: Choppy charter waters
The honeymoon didn't last long. One of the main reasons for opening a charter school is to avoid the cost of a unionized teaching force and to have more flexibility and independence in how that work force is used. Charters are exempt from many state laws regarding education. And now, less than a year after the Cambridge Lakes Charter School opened, employees are considering unionizing. Just the idea caused the charter administrators to cancel classes and order a staff meeting. Apparently to explain reality to those who didn't get the message before signing on that charter schools don't play by the same rules as other schools do.
Nice pact parameters
Huntley School District 158, not exactly known for openness in its dealings with the public, is nonetheless setting a healthy precedent in how it and its teachers union will handle negotiations on the next labor contract. Both groups have agreed to provide the public with their initial proposals and will present the final contract to the public at least three days prior to board voting on it. In between, the public will get updates on the status of negotiations every two weeks. Considering school districts comprise about two-thirds of every property tax bill and employees comprise more than two-thirds of every district budget, seems like a reasonable plan to let taxpayers in on the details.
Filling those holes
Maybe the message from aggrieved Elgin residents about poor public services has finally sunk in with the city council. Or maybe even council members couldn't drive around town without hitting a pothole. But give the city credit for responding to a huge need -- finding more money to fill the multitude of potholes that have been created by a winter among the worst in recent memory. Staff members led by City Manager Femi Folarin told the city council they could probably find an additional $6 million in the budget for street repairs. In response, the council pledged more cash and basically said, "Get us a plan." A necessary move.
Top-notch readiness plan
The Kane County Health Department scored 93 of 100 possible points in its 2006-07 technical assistance review. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviews local health department's public health emergency response plans annually as a requirement of the Cities Readiness Initiative grant. A score of 69 or higher is considered satisfactory. The grant helps communities increase their capacity to deliver medicines and medical supplies during a large-scale public health emergency such as a bioterrorism attack or a nuclear accident.
Who is he kidding?
Gov. Rod Blagojevich keeps saying he isn't "Public Official A" in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko contractor-kickbacks-to-campaign-funds trial. But the judge in the federal trial, Amy St. Eve, says "Public Official A" is indeed the Illinois governor, though she says he wasn't necessarily aware of Rezko's activities. The media have also said that Public Official A is Blagojevich. The governor can insist he's done nothing wrong; he's not been charged with any crime. But as far as not being "Public Official A?" Give up the delusion, governor.
When the Bulls weren't bad
In March of 1998, Michael Jordan was named NBA Player of the Month in averaging a league-leading 28.9 points per game, according to the NBA. The 1997-1998 season also saw the Bulls winning another NBA championship. At the start of this March, the Bulls are a losing team without a superstar. Fans have to be aching for a return to glory every time they walk past that statue of Jordan outside the United Center.