College & Career Are Goals

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board members learned high school and elementary school student assessment testing results were good, but some work needs to been done in the middle school.

School psychologist Jessica L. Reeder presented Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) testing results December 14.

Reeder noted this was the first year for PARCC testing for grades 3-8 in English, language arts and mathematics. Juniors at Sullivan High School were tested in English III and Algebra II.

Reeder explained the scoring gap between high school and elementary may be partly explained by the recent curricula changes. “Teaching Common Core is raising the bar of expectations,” she said, noting students achieving past curricula expectation levels are now having to advance.

Superintendent Brad Tuttle noted the staff and students put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears on the PARCC tests, which require up to three weeks at the elementary level and one day at the high school level.

Tuttle did explain that funding for the testing has yet to be determined. The state paid testing expenses in the past, but since there is no state budget, those questions remain.

“I like that we are teaching kids to think outside the box,” Reeder said of Common Core, noting tests are requiring students to think critically, solve problems and explain their answers.

She explained that kind of thinking is essential when preparing students for college and careers.

Scoring was separated into five levels and a point system ranging from 650 to 850. Students achieving levels four and five (scoring 750-850) were at the top of the scale of college and career ready candidates. Read More

•December 9, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

A motion to allow Michael Yost an evaluation to see whether he is fit for trial was granted by Judge Dan L. Flannell in Moultrie County court Monday.

Yost, 41, is accused of the March 4 murder of Sheri L Randall in Sullivan.

He was represented in court by public defender Bradford Rau, who presented the motion.

“Our expert exam for fitness focuses on medical issues that could make Mr. Yost unfit for trial,” Rau told Judge Flannell.

State’s Attorney Jeremy Richey explained that he felt there was no reason to doubt Yost’s fitness for trial, but it was the public defender’s right to make the request.

Richey did emphasize the defendant’s right to a speedy trail within 120 days would not be met with the additional time required for an exam. Read More

Jobs Program Grows

•December 9, 2015•

by Mike Brothers

Moultrie County’s board is putting money on the success of No Job Left Behind.

Members of the county board budget and finance committee voted to recommend increasing the contribution to Sullivan Chamber & Economic Development from $5000 to $7500.

County board chairman Dave McCabe recommended the increase explaining No Job Left Behind has grown expanding into Okaw Valley schools to make it a countywide program.

“The money we invest is earmarked for No Job Left Behind,” Chairman McCabe told the committee, who voted unanimously to recommend the increase in the budget for Economic Development to the full county board.

“I’m very grateful Moultrie County is investing in the No Job Left Behind initiative,” Sullivan Chamber and Economic Development Director Stepheny McMahon said.

Over 150 businesses, educators,community members and workforce development professionals are working together to address the growing shortage of skilled workers in east central Illinois.

“We just completed our 2016 Skills Gap Survey,” McMahon said of the continued progress. Read More

•December 2, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan Middle School students greeted the One Book, One Sullivan novel unveiling with a standing ovation Nov 25.

Michael Vey-The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans was announced to the schoolwide assembly following a trailer prepared by the One Book One Sullivan group for the second year in a row.

One Book One Sullivan volunteers then handed out copies of the book to students with the following instructions: Read it. Enjoy it. Talk about it. Share it.

Rikki Ray teaches Language Arts and has spent the past nine years as coordinator of the volunteer community/school based book selection group.

“Students who volunteer have to commit to reading a book a week during the summer,” Ray said of the yearlong One Book, One Sullivan program.

More than 20 kids have volunteered from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Ray explained that the students and staff read and discuss selections from the Rebecca Caudill list.

“We meet once a week to discuss the selections in order to determine what will best appeal to the community,” she continued, explaining everything from story content to the book cover is considered before a recommendation is made.

This year’s selection won by only one vote to not only indicate the competition among books but to help students understand the meaning of democracy. Read More

4.97% Levy Increase Ahead

•November 25, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

The checkbook currently has $7,169, 575.50, and all funds are in the black,” stated superintendent Ken Schwengel at the most recent Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond School Board meeting. “The state aid payments are scheduled through December 20, but after the first of the year, I am not sure what will happen,” he stated. “We’ve received 90% of the property taxes and have not received any incentive funding yet,” he added.

The board also discussed and approved a tentative 2015 tax levy for property taxes paid in 2016. The levy is set at a 4.97% increase in property taxes. There won’t be a Truth in Taxation hearing since the increase is less than 5%. The levy was calculated from the estimated 3% increase in the district’s assessed value. In 2014 it was $193,270,479 and in 2015 it increased to $199,068,593. The tax rate for Arthur and Lovington will be $3.56 per $100 assessed value and those in the Atwood-Hammond area will be $4.62 per $100. The board will vote on the final tax levy at their December 9 meeting.

Other matters that were discussed or voted upon:

-The district received $3,700- their first check from Piatt County sales tax. Read More