Comments from the Superintendent

TRI-LITEPage 1

TRI-LITE

______

Volume 11, Issue 2OCTOBER 2002

TRI-LITEPage 1

COMMENTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

by

Dennis Moll

Thank You

We cannot express our gratitude enough to all the countless people who donated time and/or money to getting the football and marching band programs started. In the 25 years I have been associated with the district, I have never seen so much enthusiasm and excitement generated by any other single event or program. The pride and support you have demonstrated for our students and coaches is beyond measure. Regardless of what the team’s final won-loss record may be, this has been a truly remarkable season. This accomplishment is yet another great example of why Tri-Valley is one of the best school districts in central Illinois!

Finances

I just returned from a meeting of area superintendents where I learned some startling and disturbing news. Last year over 60% of the school districts in the state had deficit operating budgets, and this year the number of school districts operating with deficit budgets is expected to rise to over 90%! In spite of the fact that Tri-Valley has twice been recognized in the last few years for operating an efficient and productive educational program (low tax rate and high test scores), we, like everyone else, must now find ways to cut our budgets or face an ever deepening spiral of debt and deficit spending. It is possible that some of the outstanding programs and personnel that have contributed to our high test scores may fall victim to budget cuts as the Board looks for ways to reduce the deficit. At every meeting, the School Board is discussing the many options available to them to reduce spending and lower the deficit. The Board is looking at all options before they start making any final decisions about programs or personnel for next year. Some of the many options which have been presented to the School Board are to reduce all K-8 grade levels to 3 sections, go to a four-day work week, eliminate various personnel or administrative positions, eliminate all athletic programs that are not self-sustaining, eliminate all extra-curricular programs that are not self-sustaining, have outside agencies provide such services as bus driving or custodial work or cafeteria work, eliminate field trips, increase the revenues by asking for a tax rate increase. As the School Board learns more about each of the options and begins to formulate a plan for reducing the deficit, they plan to hold a public hearing to discuss the problems they are facing and to seek public input into these tough decisions. Look for more information about this in the next Tri-Lite.

HOLIDAY GREENERY

The Juniors will be selling Holiday Greenery made by the Suiter family to help raise money for Prom and After Prom. The sale will run from October 8-23. The prices are as follows: 22'' Wreath $16, 26'' Wreath $20, 30'' Wreath $24, 42'' Wreath $45, 26'' x 30'' Cross Wreath $25, 36" Swag $16, Mailbox Decoration $16, 22" Advent Wreath with Candles $24, 30" Candy Can Wreath $22, & 30" Centerpiece Wreath $20. Please contact a Junior or Miss Willey at to place an order.

Tri-Valley Fine Arts Boosters Membership Drive

For only a $10 annual membership fee, you can join the TV Fine Arts Boosters and support our children involved in Music, Drama and Graphic Arts programs. Through your membership dues and fundraising activities throughout the year, we are able to purchase many additional items for the Fine Arts Departments. Both the students and the faculty sincerely appreciate your continued support of the FAB!

For those of you that return your membership form and dues before October 8th, you will be able topurchase Madrigal Dinner tickets two weeks before the public. Only two performances of 200 tickets each will be available. This would be a great way to guarantee seating at another outstanding performance by our Madrigals! (The Madrigal Dinner will be December 15th at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. at The Chateau in Bloomington.)

Merely return the Fine Arts Boosters Membership flier found in this Tri-Lite (or it can be found on the Fine Arts Boosters page on the Tri-Valley web site) along with $10 to Suzann Erlenbush, 9733 Old Sawmill Road in Bloomington, IL 61704.

The TRI-LITE is published nine times per year (monthly except for January, July, and September) by Tri-Valley C.U.S.D. No. 3, P.O. Box200, Downs, IL 61736.

NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who just provide transportation to and from school because free transportation is not available for their children may be eligible to receive money from the state to help offset some of the cost, for example; bus fares, and/or mileage reimbursement for private automobiles at 36.5 cents per mile.

If you can answer yes to the following questions for the 2002-2003 school year, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for providing such transportation.

Will the pupil be under the age of 21 at the close of the school year?

Is the pupil a full-time student in grades kindergarten through 12?

Does the pupil live 1 1/2 miles from school but must be transported due to a serious safety hazard approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation. (see following paragraphs.)

Does the pupil attend a school within Illinois, which meets Illinois compulsory attendance laws?

Did the parent/guardian incur transportation expenses resulting from transporting the pupil to and from school?

If you answered yes to the above questions, live in Illinois and wish to file a claim, you must go to the school where each of your children is enrolled by June 30, 2003, to complete a claim application. Claim forms should be available from February 2003 through June 30, 2003.

In addition, parent(s)/guardian(s) who have pupils living less than 1 ½ miles from the school attended must verify that a safety hazard due to vehicular traffic exists by completing an Application for Determination of Serious Safety Hazards. Parents can obtain a copy of the Application for Determination of Serious Safety Hazards from the Office of the Regional Superintendent of Schools for the county in which they reside except parents residing within the City of Chicago. Chicago residents can receive a copy of the Application for Determination of Serious Safety Hazards from the Illinois State Board of Education, 100 North First Street, Springfield, IL 62777. All applications for Determination of Serious Safety Hazards must be received no later than February 1, 2003, at the office from which the application was requested. Example: ISBE (Chicago residents), ROE (Illinois residents other that those residing in Chicago. The Regional Superintendent of Schools is required to send the Application to the Illinois Department of Transportation within 15 days. The Illinois Department of Transportation reviews and approves or denies the application and returns it to the Regional Superintendent of Schools within 30 days. Upon receipt of the reviewed application, the Regional Superintendent of Schools will mail it to the parent/guardian who requested the safety hazard be verified. If the safety hazard is approved, the parent/guardian must go to the school the pupil attends and complete the claim form. Parents who received verification of a safety hazard during and after the 1999-2000 school year, whose children attend the same school and live at the same address do not have to reapply for safety hazard verification.

Once all claims are completed at the school, the claim forms will be sent to the Illinois State Board of Education. If your claim is approved, you should receive a check directly from the state for the lesser of the cost of transporting of your child/children or the average per pupil reimbursement paid to public schools for transporting regular education pupils. If insufficient funds are appropriated by the General Assembly, all claims will be prorated.

If you have any questions, please call or come to the school as soon as possible.

THANK YOU!

The Tri-Valley Special Education Department wants to thank State Farm

Insurance Companies for their generous donation of 13 laptop computers. These computers will create new opportunities for the special education staff and allow computer access to files during meetings that wasn't previously available. A second "thank you" goes out to John Pearson who has worked very hard to get these laptops up and running.

Fourth Graders Teach Us About Jazz!!!!

Thursday, October 30, 2002 at 7:00 pm, in the Middle School Gym, the fourth grade students will present " We Haz Jazz", a musical look at how jazz began. Please plan on joining us for this wonderful tour through the history of American Music. The show is free and open to all in the community.

MS PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parents can start calling our office for the Parent/Teacher Conferences Nov. 7th 1:00 p.m.-7:45 p.m. and Nov. 8th 8:00 am to 11:45.

tri-valley.k12.il.us

Check our web site daily for updates on school closings, announcements, sport schedules, activities, family access and upcoming events.

HIGH SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY

The 2002 Tri-Valley High School Cross-Country team is climbing to the top by bringing home 3 trophies in their first 3 invitational. The girls brought home a second place trophy at the PBL Invitational. The team consists of Stephanie Epperson, Amanda Lewis, Kristyn Cobstill, Courtney Roberts, Danielle Harper, Lindsey Cuba, Lyndi Toohill, Karen Jackson, Rachel Pinson and Paige Deike. The boys earned a 4th place trophy in the Tuscola Invitational, while the fresh-soph boys took home 3rd place hardware from Eureka. The boy’s team consists of Kacey Carr, Ryan Sessions, Kody Carr, Brett Miller, Jared Holmes, Andy McNaught, Robbie Brown and Ryan Ash. Both teams are undefeated in dual meets as well.

Kacey Carr not only broke Colby Geiser's school record at Dawson Lake, but he broke the course record by running a 14:49 3 miles. The team has 2 meets left at home on October 1st and 10th.

MORE X-COUNTRY NEWS

The Tri-Valley Cross Country team continued to climb to the top with their improved preformances at the St. Joe's 33 team Invitational. The guys won the comeback trophy improving from 18th place last year to 7th place this year. Individual trophy winners

included Kacey Carr, Ryan Sessions and Kody Carr. Kacey was the individual winner in the 2.96-mile race with a time of 14:40, which was nearly 30 seconds better than the next finisher. He also earned the rights to the 30-year-old traveling trophy that is being displayed in the office as well.

The girls also brought home hardware by a great team performance with an 8th place finish. Individual trophy winners included Courtney Roberts, Karen Jackson, Stephanie Epperson, Danielle Harper, Rachel Pinson, Amanda Lewis and Lindsey Cuba.

Courtney won a second trophy for being the first junior girl finisher out of the 33 schools by running her 1.96-mile race in a time of 12:18.

FIFTH ANNUAL TOM BOWARD'S FRIENDS AND ALUMNI RACE/WALK

If you like to run, jog or walk, join Tom Boward at Dawson Lake on Sunday, October 20th, 1:00 PM for the fifth annual Tom Boward Friends and Alumni Race/Walk. During Mr. Boward's 25 years of coaching, he has been inspirational in keeping the alumni part of the program. Last year there were over 100 participate in the events. This year there will be a 3-mile run, walk or jog along with a 1.5-mile walk. It was nice to see not only alumni take part, but the students and adults of all ages that joined in the fun! Contact Todd Schneider at or a responsible Cross Country Runner for information.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

X-COUNTRY

The Tri-Valley Middle School Cross Country Team conducted a time trial at Dawson Lake on Tuesday, September 24th, to check on progress at the mid-season mark. The results were as good as the weather; with the runners enjoying 65 degrees and sunny, calm skies. Stephanie Brown continues to dazzle the spectators with a personal best 12:34* time, that tied the all-time overall record held by Courtney Roberts since 1998. Congratulations to Stephanie! Out of the 18 runners who participated, 13 set season best times. Zach Hasselbring ran a 12:24* winning the time trial. He was followed by Eric Fisher 13:14, Kip Walle 13:33, Michael Gudenrath 14:09, Jake Gendron 14:15*, Chad Holmes 14:52*, Brandi Hammer 15:02*, Leah Pinson 15:42*, Candis Laesch 15:52*, Chris Baker 16:11*, Bre Herwig 16:13*, Brittany Becher 16:55*, Marika Cerven 17:58*, Anna Christianson 19:05*, and Katie Otto 22:36*. A * represents a season best time. Great job runners!!!

McLean County Health Department

To date, over 300 human cases of West Nile Virus have been identified in 25 Illinois counties, with the first in McLean County recognized. The WNV poses a very serious threat, especially to people involved with outdoor activities such as athletic practices and competitions. The following precautions should be taken to help prevent mosquito bites:

Avoid being outdoors at dawn, dusk, and early evening when mosquitoes are most active. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long sleeved shirt.

• Use insect/mosquito repellent containing 25% to 35% DEET applying sparingly to exposed skin or clothing. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Check for and repair any holes or tears in residential screens, including porches and patios.
• Eliminate stagnant water near your property.

For more information, contact the McLean County Health Department at 888-5489.

TV MARCHING BAND TAKES 3RD

The Tri-Valley Marching Band comes home from the Washington Community HS Marching Panther Invitational with the honor of being awarded third in Class A parade competition, and 5th overall out of 8 in the final standings of the parade and field show competition. We are very proud of our HS marching band, with this being their first ever marching band competition.

Downs and NFPA "Team Up for Fire Safety?" during Fire Prevention Week,

October 6-12, 2002

Downs Community Fire Protection District (DCFPD) is joining forces with the nonprofit NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) to spread

the word about "Team Up for Fire Safety?," this year's Fire Prevention Week (FPW) campaign, October 6-12, 2002.

This year's theme encourages children and families to recognize the role they play in keeping their home fire-safe by focusing on three key safety messages: 1) Installing and testing smoke alarms Listed by a qualified testing laboratory 2) Practicing home escape plans; and 3) Hunting for home hazards. According to NFPA, 85% of all fires occur in the home, and most of these fires are preventable.

"When there is a fire, you may have only two minutes to get out of the home. Having working smoke alarms and a well-practiced home escape plan

are crucial so that everyone knows exactly what to do if a fire breaks

out," said Firefighter Jim Furry, DCFPD. "Taking a few moments to inspect and correct common fire hazards in your home can make a real difference in your family's safety and well-being."

DCFPD plans to increase public awareness of "Team Up for Fire Safety" messages through visiting the Tri-Valley School and an Open House at the fire station from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on October 12, 2002.

"Fire safety is everyone's business and every fire safety team starts with

firefighters and other first responders," said Meri-K Appy, NFPA’s vice president for public education. "'Team Up for Fire Safety' allows the fire

department in Downs and throughout North America to collaborate with a

variety of local partners, from sports teams to schools to local businesses, and especially, citizens of all ages, to drive home life-saving fire safety messages."

FPW is actively supported by fire departments throughout North America. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has been the official sponsor of FPW for 80 years. Major funding provided by FEMA's United States Fire Administration, Lowe´s Home Safety Council, and Underwriters Laboratories Inc., with generous support from First Alert.

RISK WATCH

The children are learning about injury prevention through a new program called Risk Watch. Children under the age of 14 will learn about eight major risk areas, one of which is fire.

Each year, fire kills more than 4,500 people and injures tens of thousands more in the United States. Where are people most at risk to fire? The very place they often feel the safest—at home.

The best way to survive a fire in your home is to plan in advance exactly what you and every member of your family should do to get out safely.

*Get your family together and draw a floor plan of your home. Mark all windows and doors.

*Plan two ways out of each sleeping area. The first way out should be the door. The second way out could be a window. Know two ways out of each room in case smoke or flames block your main route. If you must escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest exit.