District 150 announced moments ago that Grenita Lathan is the preferred candidate for the position of Peoria Public Schools Superintendent.

At the first annual Dunlap Valley Middle School Science Fair, an estimated 198 students volunteered their projects and the top 20 winners will advance to a regional competition at Western Illinois University.

Funding is a concern for Peoria Promise — a program Mayor Jim Ardis said in 2008 is the most important capital project in Peoria.  
Tara Gerstner, executive director of Peoria Promise — a program that sends District 150 graduates to Illinois Central College for two years and picks up the cost of their tuition — said the economy and lack of awareness have been issues in raising funding. But, Gerstner said, she has plans to tackle both of those issues.

Charter schools are public schools that exist under a charter, or contract, from the school board in the city. Like public schools, they are accountable for improved student achievement and fiscal responsibility. 

A charter school can forge a future in Peoria was the message Diane Deatherage Pearson delivered in Peoria a year ago this month.
Pearson is a Peoria native and Richwoods High School graduate. She is now principal of the Dimensions of Learning Academy in Kenosha, Wis., a charter school opened in 1994.
Her opinion, she said last week, has not changed.

In July, Glen Barton said he believes a charter school could help stem the tide of people moving out of, or avoiding living in, Peoria.
“I think the district (District 150) will be a net winner. We believe this will attract back some of the students who left,” Barton, former chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., said.
“It’s as simple as choice. The hospitals say it is hard for them to recruit people and get them to stay in Peoria because of the schools.”

No new ground about charter schools was covered at a meeting last week, but some new voices were heard.
The meeting, held by the Peoria Charter School Initiative, featured students, parents and teachers from the Chicago Math and Science Academy, a charter school.

Terry Knapp delivered an ultimatum to the District 150 School Board concerning the planned closure of Woodruff High School at last night’s meeting.
Knapp — a retired District 150 teacher and former president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers — reading from a letter  said the board is being asked to provide a copy of the plans to close the  high school to the public by Oct. 19.
“If such a plan is not presented by the deadline, we will seek an injunction to stop District 150’s efforts to close Woodruff,” Knapp said.

All North Peoria District 150 schools made adequate yearly progress in 2008, except Mark Bills Middle School and Richwoods High School.
“This was a particularly challenging year for some schools,” said, Bryan Chumbley, director of research testing and assessment for District 150

Glen Barton said this morning he thinks a charter school could help stem the tide of people moving out of, or avoiding living in Peoria.
“I think the district (District 150) will be a net winner. We believe this will attract back some of the students who left,” Barton, former chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, said.
Barton added, later, “It’s as simple as choice. The hospitals say it is hard for them to recruit people and get them to stay in Peoria because of the schools.”

Northmoor-Edison students and families experienced multiple cultures at their "World Tour" May 28.

If annual spring cleaning includes getting rid of old personal documents or broken computers, Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy Office has some advice: Do not put them at the curb.
“One of the easiest was for someone to steal your identity is by ‘Dumpster Diving,’” said McCoy.

There is a more economical way to set up school districts, says former Tremont School District Superintendent Brock Butts.
However, says Butts, now serving as controller for District 150, it would require an abundance of political will in Springfield.
“Personally, I think the whole structure of schools has to change. We have far too many school districts,” Butts said.

Two District 150 consultants say the anger being directed at superintendent Ken Hinton and the school board for the district’s recent financial meltdown is misplaced.  
Former Morton School District Superintendent Norm Duflinger, serving as treasurer, and former Tremont School District Superintendent Brock Butts, serving as controller, said the reason District 150 finds itself in such a monetary quagmire is, in large part, the failure of the state and federal government to provide the funding they are responsible to provide.

Dunlap Bright Futures students, last week met the Tooth Fairy at Maple Shade Dental Group.