District 300 briefs

Run for the Bear: Entrants of all ages are encouraged to join the 13th annual "Run for the Bear" on Sept. 30 at Eastview Elementary School to benefit the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Even with the annual event's history of accomplishment, Eastview Principal Jim Zursin said that it remains unknown to many area residents.

"This is the best kept secret in Algonquin," Zursin said. "Many races are run to raise money for cancer research. This race is run to help kids currently facing cancer. Race participants can make an immediate difference for such children."

Zursin noted the hard work of Eastview school secretary Lucy Quinn and others to support this family-friendly activity.

"Run for the Bear is an event that showcases the best of Algonquin's community spirit," he said. "Local dedication to this event goes back 15 years."

Community members of all ages can join in a one-mile run, a 5K walk/run, or a 10K run. The 5K and 10K courses are USATF certified. New this year, the 5K is CARA registered. The courses are run partially along the beautiful Prairie Trail Bike Path. After the race, participants are invited to enjoy a free pancake breakfast and awards ceremony.

In 1992, Kathleen Casey, formerly of Algonquin, formed Bear Necessities. The foundation is named in memory of her 8-year-old son, Barrett "Bear" Krupa, who was a student at Eastview. He died after a courageous 5½-year battle with Wilms' Tumor.

This year's race will be in memory of 9-year-old Mia Edge of Crystal Lake. Mia was to represent Bear Necessities as the run ambassador. Despite her strength of spirit, she passed away in June after a long battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer.

For information, or to register online, visit the Bear Necessities Web site at www.bearnecessities.org.

Bear Necessities is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients and their families, and providing grants for furthering advancements in pediatric cancer research. According to Run for the Bear organizers, pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children in the United States. This year alone, 12,400 children will be diagnosed with cancer. About 400 of those children will be from the Chicago area.

Shop for a Cause: The District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence has kicked off a fundraiser through Macy's "Shop For a Cause."

Coupons can be purchased for $5 in exchange for discounts and events throughout Macy's locations on Oct. 13-14.

The coupons are on sale now through Oct. 12 at the front desk of the Community Unit District 300 Administration Center, 300 Cleveland Ave. in Carpentersville. The center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Tickets may be purchased by cash or credit card. For added convenience, credit card orders can also be made by calling (847) 426-1300.

All proceeds will benefit the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence. The foundation raises money to fund grants to support innovative, creative projects that improve teaching and learning but are not normally funded within school/district budgets.

Since 2002, the foundation has raised more than $260,000 through community fundraisers and donations.

FOIA now available online: Community Unit District 300 will offer Freedom of Information Act forms and documents online as a public courtesy.

The district has created a Web page devoted to this new program. Simply go to www.d300.org and click on the "Freedom of Information Act" link.

In the spirit of public access, District 300's online program goes well above and beyond what the law requires. It helps make District 300 a state leader in public access to information, with few if any other public bodies in Illinois now providing this service. It has accordingly received early praise from the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

The Web page conveniently provides all of the following online and for no charge:

• Downloadable form for requesting documents, and easy instructions

• All District 300 documents released in response to a FOIA request (within 2 business days of their completion), beginning with those requests received in September 2007

• Summary reports to the school board of recent FOIA requests and their status

• A schedule of allowable copy fees for any requestor who would also like a hard copy (on paper or CD) of the district's response in addition to the free electronic copy automatically available online

• A brief overview of citizens' rights for filing or appealing a FOIA request

• Helpful guides from the Illinois Attorney General's Office regarding citizen rights under both FOIA and the Illinois Open Meetings Act

The new online FOIA program continues District 300's commitment to expanding its Web site offerings to better engage its community and more fully use the technology available. During the past year, its online additions have included: school board meeting packets, bills payable listings, press releases, staff presentations to the school board and more.

In tandem with the new online FOIA program, District 300 will step up its efforts this year to proactively post more public documents online. The district also will work to make it easier for Web site visitors to navigate the abundance of financial, curricular, and other District 300 documentation already offered online.