Early Childhood Educators Meet November 15 At MCC

McHenry County College will host the 2014 Early Childhood Educators’ Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at the college, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

This 26th annual conference is open to early childhood educators, directors and childcare providers from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The keynote address will be presented by Jean Feldman, Ph.D., internationally-renowned presenter, author and consultant. Her educational career has spanned more than 40 years, with experience as a classroom teacher, instructor of adults, author, and consultant. Feldman inspires teachers across the country with her engaging songs and creative activities that help make teaching and learning fun.

Feldman is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Kindergarten Alliance, and the International Reading Association. Feldman earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia, a D.A.S.T. from Emory University, and both Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia State University.

Breakout sessions are geared to those who work with young children (infants through age 8) and feature topics on classroom management, special needs, and hands-on activities in science, math, art, language, and large motor areas.

Cost is $35 for the general public; $20 for MCC Early Childhood Education students. Staff Development certificates are awarded to conference participants. To download a registration form or to register as an exhibitor, visit www.mchenry.edu/childhood. For more information, call Wendy Yemm at (815) 455-8764 or email conferencecenter@mchenry.edu.

Thievery Of School Funding

As you may have heard, a piece of legislation is pending in the Illinois House that would significantly change the way General State Aid (GSA) for education is distributed to Illinois school districts. As written, it would strip millions in GSA away from most suburban school districts and channel that money to Chicago and downstate schools. It is an unfair and inequitable redistribution of funds, and while I support full, fair, comprehensive reforms to the school funding formula, I cannot and will not support an initiative that would cripple the school districts located in my legislative district. This includes District 47, which would lose close to $5.8 million per year, District 155, which would lose $1.4 million per year, District 158, which would lose $2.1 million per year, and District 300, which would lose $2 million per year.

I need your help in stopping this damaging piece of legislation. Please sign a petition against SB16. You can access the petition here. After signing the petition, please take the added step of forwarding this letter on to your friends.

SB16 was approved in the Illinois Senate during the final days of the Spring legislative session but was not called for a vote in the House of Representatives prior to the May adjournment. However, legislators from the House Republican Caucus recently learned that Democrat leaders have been holding meetings this summer and fall and are deciding how best to resurrect the bill. No Republican lawmakers were invited to attend these meetings. In fact, we only learned about them when education advocacy groups told us they were taking place. These meetings are continuing to occur, and it is possible that a revised version of the bill will emerge during a during a lame duck session of the General Assembly some time after the November 4 election.

Lame Duck sessions are dangerous. During this period of time between an election and when new legislators are sworn into office, unpopular and controversial legislation is often brought for a vote, with deals made to benefit legislators preparing to leave office. These legislators, who are no longer accountable to their constituent base, are able to take votes that are not in their constituents' best interests because they have nothing to lose. This is how the 67% "temporary" income tax hike was passed. 

Several legislators who oppose SB16 have signed on as sponsors of a resolution that denounces SB16 and expresses support for comprehensive and fair school funding formula reforms. I am a Chief Co-Sponsor of HR1276, and you can read our resolution here.

SB16 does not solve education funding issues in Illinois. It simply reallocates existing funds in a way that is very punitive to most suburban districts. I hope you will join me in the fight against this bill.

Mike Tryon

http://www.ilhousegop.org/

On-line Petition Opposing Senate Bill Which Strips State Funding From Schools

State Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) has posted an on-line petition in opposition of Senate Bill 16, a bill that would strip millions away from hundreds of Illinois school districts and channel the money toward other schools.

The petition is available on Wheeler’s legislative web site at http://www.ilhousegop.org/sb16__petition and citizens from across the state are encouraged to sign it.

SB16 is a massive rewrite of the school funding formula that determines how General State Aid (GSA) is distributed to Illinois’ school districts. It does not add any additional funding toward education.  As written and approved in the Senate, the bill uses a weighted formula that is punitive to most suburban school districts.

“Most of my school districts will lose between 70%-86% of their State funding if Senate Bill 16 is passed and signed into law,” said Wheeler. “This bill does not solve funding inequities in Illinois. It’s just an unfair redistribution of funds with every one of my school districts losing large amounts of money.”

Wheeler is a Chief Co-Sponsor of House Resolution 1276, a measure that denounces SB16 and encourages a comprehensive and fair funding reform process that is inclusive of all stakeholder points of view. “SB16 is not the answer to education funding reform,” said Wheeler. “Funding for education is a very serious issue and the ultimate reforms should not create winners and losers, but rather create a system where all kids can be winners.”

Blood Drive and Noninvasive Bone Marrow Registration Event November 12

The McHenry County College (MCC) Student Nursing Organization (SNO) is hosting a Blood Drive and noninvasive bone marrow registration event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 at the College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14 in Crystal Lake.

The MCC Student Nursing Organization is coordinating the event with Heartland Blood Center and Deletebloodcancer.org.

“This is a great time of need for donations,” noted SNO co-president Heather McLaughlin of Wonder Lake, a third-semester nursing student at MCC. “Donations are down in general, so the Student Nursing Organization [at MCC] felt this would be a good event to host and help raise awareness in the community. A little time out of your day to register and donate a pint of blood could help save a life.”

McLaughlin said everyone who donates at the MCC blood drive will receive a coupon for a free meal at Jersey Mike’s Subs—a sandwich, chips and drink—plus one donor will win a $50 catering coupon from Jersey Mike’s.

Donors are urged to register for the blood drive ahead of time online at www.heartlandbc.org. Walk-ins are also welcome. Participants must have a photo ID to donate, and donors should also drink plenty of fluids and have a good meal before donating blood.

McLaughlin said students and community members are also urged to register for the bone marrow database before, during or after the blood drive. The registration process is quick and noninvasive, involving a form to fill out and a cheek swab.

“If you happen to be a bone marrow match for someone in need, 75 percent of the time, it’s just a blood draw,” she said. “So again, with minimal effort and time, you could have a life-saving impact on someone’s life.”

McLaughlin said part of SNO’s incentive for hosting the bone marrow registry was MCC’s Firefighter/EMT program and the fact that many first responders from 9-11 are now being diagnosed with blood Cancers as a result of chemical exposure during rescue efforts.

Those who wish to register for the bone marrow database but can’t make the registration event on November 12 may go to deletebloodcancer.org. To be eligible to register for the bone marrow registry, a person must be:

·         Between the ages of 18 and 55

·         In general good health

·         Willing to donate to ANY patient

·         Not already registered

·         Living permanently in the U.S.

·         At least 4'10" and 110 lbs

Heartland Blood Centers is an independent non-profit blood center serving 59 hospitals in a 12-county area including Kane, McHenry, DeKalb, Will, DuPage, Cook, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Ogle and LaSalle counties in Illinois, and Lake county in Indiana. Heartland works toward collecting more than 200,000 units of blood annually. All of the blood collected by Heartland supports hospitals in our communities.

Deletebloodcancer.org is a bone marrow donor center (DKMS) that has since grown to house the world’s largest database of donors. They have branches in the U.S., Germany, the U.K., Poland and Spain. Globally, they have registered over 4.5 million donors and provided more than 40,000 patients with second chances at life. Potential donors who register through DKMS are added to the Be The Match® Registry, the official registry of the United States operated by the National Marrow Donor Program®. This registry currently includes more than 11 million donors, of which more than 38 percent have been recruited by Delete Blood Cancer and DKMS combined.

For more information about the blood or bone marrow registration drive, contact the MCC Student Life Office at (815) 455-8550.

MCC Board Fills Vacancy

At a special Board meeting on October 1, 2014, the McHenry County College Board of Trustees voted to appoint Mike Smith to fill the position vacated by Tom Wilbeck, who resigned on August 28, 2014. Smith’s appointment runs through April 23, 2015 when results of the April 7, 2015 Consolidated Election will determine a permanent trustee to serve out the remaining four years of Wilbeck’s term. Smith previously served as president and treasurer on the Friends of MCC Foundation Board allowing him to bring a unique perspective to the group as he works closely with other trustees to help move the College forward.
 

“I am honored by the Board's appointment. I consider it a privilege to serve the community in this capacity, and would certainly look forward to continuing in this role for many years to come,” Smith said. “As a 26-year resident of McHenry County, I recognize the vital role that the college plays throughout our community, and I am very passionate about being a part of all that it can continue to be for the diverse population of stakeholders throughout our county,” he added.

Smith is a business leader in the financial services industry with more than 26 years of experience in the fiduciary oversight of corporate retirement plan strategies and wealth management. He is a First Vice President of Retirement Plan and Institutional Consulting with UBS Financial Services, Inc. with offices in both Barrington and Northbrook.

 After Smith’s appointment, MCC Board of Trustees chairperson, Ron Parrish, stated, “On behalf of the Board, we are pleased to welcome Mike Smith as a Board member. I believe Mr. Smith’s professional experience, financial background, and past experience with the College’s Foundation will be an asset to supporting the Board in the coming months.”

Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from North Central College in Naperville, IL and his Master of Business Administration from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University. He lives in Lakewood, IL with his wife Erin. Together they have four grown children.

Smith was sworn in at the Special Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

Crystal Lake Park Board Election

On April 7, 2015 there will be a Consolidated Election for Crystal Lake Park District Commissioner. Three seats will be up for election. The length of term is four years. Petition packets can be picked up at the Park District Administrative Office, located at One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake. The filing period is December 15-22, 2014. Candidates must be a resident of the Crystal Lake Park District and have resided in the District for at least one year.

For further information contact Jason Herbster, Executive Director, at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1203, or email jherbster@crystallakeparks.org

Race Underway For McHenry County Sheriff

Retired McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Anton “Tony” Cundiff, Jim Harrison’s initial pick for campaign manager and rumored to be in line for Undersheriff, recently voiced his unequivocal support for Bill Prim, Republican nominee for Sheriff.

Despite his new permanent residency in Arizona, Mr. Cundiff made a point of attending a fund-raising “pig roast” for Prim in Harvard on September 20.  In impromptu remarks, he told the crowd of more than 100 persons that as Harrison’s original campaign chief, “I saw both sides.”

Mr. Cundiff continued: “[Prim is] …the best man for this job, no ifs, ands or buts about it….   Right now, based on what I hear, ‘cause I get phone calls in Arizona just about every day…,  [Prim has] 90% of the support of that department, that want you to be Sheriff.  So I want to make sure everyone understands that message out there…he [Prim] is the man for the right job, he’s the man for the job.  And I want to make sure everybody knows that and I thank you, Bill.”

Prim said at the event that, “Not only did [Cundiff] come over to support us, he brought a whole barrage of deputies and county officials and employees.”

"Mr. Cundiff is a highly respected McHenry County law enforcement veteran."

Three CL Park District Commissioner Seats Up For Election

On April 7, 2015 there will be a Consolidated Election for Crystal Lake Park District Commissioner. Three seats will be up for election. The length of term is four years. Petition packets can be picked up at the Park District Administrative Office, located at One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake. The filing period is December 15-22, 2014. Candidates must be a resident of the Crystal Lake Park District and have resided in the District for at least one year.

For further information contact Jason Herbster, Executive Director, at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1203, or email jherbster@crystallakeparks.org

Needed -- MCC Trustee Candidates

The McHenry County College Board of Trustees has two, six-year seats, and one, four-year seat open for new board members for the April 7, 2015 Consolidated Election. According to the Illinois Public Community College Act—whether filling a vacancy or running for election, all candidates for the position must meet the following eligibility requirements. A candidate must be:

- A U.S. Citizen

- A resident of the community college district (MCC District #528)

- At least 18 years of age

Petitions for McHenry County College trustee candidates will be available from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at McHenry County College – Office of the President, room A233, at McHenry County College, 8900 U. S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2738.

Candidacy petitions for McHenry County College Board of Trustees positions are available. Petition filing starts at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 and ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22.  

For more information contact: Pat Kriegermeier, Office of the President, at (815) 455-8726 or email her atpkriegermeier@mchenry.edu.

For more information about the benefits of becoming a community college board member, visit the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) website at: www.communitycolleges.org or read more at: http://www.commuitycolleges.org/candidatebrochure.pd