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Issue 3, Volume 78 December 14, 2012 4525 Highway 109
thebugle monika nayak featurewriter
monika nayak
Board of Education and Superintendent’s imminent decisions affect Picture Rockwood’s immediate future
Around the corner Rockwood’s class of 2011 averaged a 24.1, outscoring the state composite of 21.6 out of 36 points on the A.C.T. Out of the 3,500 AP exams taken in 2011, nearly 85 percent of RSD students achieved a 3 or higher, earning college credit, according to the district’s 2011 Report to the Community. In addition, 74 percent of Rockwood students received a score within the proficient or advanced group in Communication Arts while the state percentage was 55 percent. In mathematics, 72 percent of RSD students were at least proficient, while the state average was 54 percent in 2011. “We are very proud of what Rockwood is and what EHS is, and there’s a fear that we may lose some of that depending on what decisions are made,” Mrs. Deborah Asher, head principal, said. EHS faculty work to provide the best education for students. “They’re doing what they can with what they have,” Audrey Tomlinson (10) said. “They do a good job in the Science Department because we have the resources we need to do lab practicals. I love my anatomy class because it’s more focused and I want to go into a medical career.” The quality of education in RSD schools exceeds state standards, but Superintendent Bruce Borchers’s budget projections propose this success is at risk. A committee led by residents called Picture Rockwood has organized the efforts to gather the community’s opinions about the district’s direction. Picture Rockwood held a series of sessions open to the public. The first session outlined the district’s current status in terms of curriculum, facilities and finances. The second session presented a series of eight pictures
describing options available and the financial measures each picture required. “The first session was well organized and informative,” Mr. Shaun Fanger, Math teacher, said. “It’s important to get the entire community involved in making decisions that will mold the future of Rockwood.” Session attendees critiqued and narrowed those eight pictures down to two over the course of two additional sessions. A full description of each picture from all sessions can be found at picturerockwood.com. After analyzing feedback from the stakeholders at each subsequent set of sessions, the facilitating team edited, renamed and shared the pictures with those in attendance at the next sessions. From the eight colors of the second session, the Picture Rockwood team developed the four shapes and then the two fruits: the orange and apple pictures. Compared to a $1.13 tax-rate increase in the orange picture, a 97¢ increase was included in the apple picture with the addition of a $39 million bond issue for capital projects. From locker rooms to turf fields to free full-day kindergarten, both pictures held dramatic implications for residents. Session attendees preferred the apple picture with 64 percent of the vote. Though no students attended the sessions, Alexander Morrissey (11) has researched the pictures and—while finding flaws with both—favors the apple picture. “The issue with both is either way will require a pass by voters and seeing as we even failed to pass Prop B, the last tax policy, that’s going to be hard to get the general public to stand behind,” Morrissey said. “If the student body is more aware of the financial status of Rockwood they
could influence their parents to become more active in the community and vote. It’s going to be the parents of Rockwood that vote, and if anyone needs to motivate these plans, it would be them.” Throughout December, the facilitating team has been requesting feedback from all stakeholders on both pictures. “We will be using websites, telephone surveys and email,” Mrs. Shemain Kenney, Picture Rockwood community chair for Marquette, said. “We will be utilizing all technology to share the final pictures with the public.” After another Picture Rockwood session, Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., the facilitating team will present the final one or two pictures to the Board of Education at a January board meeting. Until the Dec. 6 BOE meeting, stakeholders were made to believe that the district faced immediate significant financial difficulties. However, at that meeting, Mr. Tim Rooney, Rockwood School District’s chief financial officer, presented a much different picture. The district is projecting a $2 million budget surplus for the 2012-2013 school year, according to Mr. Rooney. At the end of a fiscal year, RSD BOE Policy 3117 states that the fund balance should hold between 18-22 percent of that year’s operating budget. Currently the district has $16.2 million over the 18 percent in the reserves. “When you are a school district that has over $16 million in fund reserves, and you’re talking about things like eliminating teachers, I can’t see the logic behind that,” Mr. Paul Stanley, Social Studies teacher, said. “When you put it in context of the last two years of budget cuts, we cut counselors and teachers because we thought that we would have a budget
Mrs. Suzanne Rainey, Summit Language Arts teacher, applauds a statement made by Mr. Steve Smith, BOE director, while Mr. Paul Stanley, Social Studies teacher, listens to the BOE meeting, Dec. 6. Almost 300 teachers lined the walls and packed the meeting to hear the budget presentation.
deficit this year. It turns out that we have a surplus. They took away people’s livelihood and resources for kids, and now they’re telling us that we have $16 million over the 18 percent; that’s shocking to me.” The recent budget updates undermine the urgent immediacy originally presented in the current reality at the first Picture Rockwood sessions. “People of the district are going to say the district hasn’t been honest about deficits,” Mr. Stanley said. “I’m not calling anyone a liar; I’m just saying that if people feel like they are being lied to they aren’t going to support anything. They’re going to say that’s not an emergency, and they’re pitching the tax levy to us as something we have to do as an emergency.” Picture Rockwood was introduced to create a focus on the future of Rockwood schools, and the facilitating team retains this mission. “As circumstances move around and the corresponding numbers fluctuate, the district is by no means in a financial position to move along ‘business as usual’ and expect to be healthy for an indefinite future,” Mr. Park Plank, Picture Rockwood community chair for Eureka, said in an email interview, Dec 10. Both pictures require increased revenue, either from a tax-rate increase or a tax increase combined with a bond issue, requiring voter approval. “Realistically it’s fair for the CFO to say to the public for the long term you can’t constantly be falling back on reserve money to pay for things,” Mr. Stanley said. “What I don’t think is fair is for them to portray the situation as so dire that we need to eliminate people, come to the public and say we have these huge balances, then ask for a tax increase and expect it to pass.“
2Feature
Frantic festivities Time with the family
mary tomlinson
Kevin McCallister and his family are infamous for their holiday shenanigans in the holiday classic “Home Alone.” Though hopefully everyone’s family gatherings over the holidays do not involve children left at home and incompetent house robbers, time with the family can still turn hectic. “My family and I have to cook and clean the entire house for when I have a holiday party every year with all of my friends from dance,” Alexandria Buettner (12) said. The proximity of holiday events, from parties with friends to family gatherings to out of town adventures, compounds the stress families feel. “Day-to-day stress and stress around the holidays are similar,” Dr. Buchanan said. “The holidays are just pushed into a shorter time frame with more stuff to do. Certainly the physiology of the stress
gifts is somewhat or very stressful
90% purchase gifts for nuclear family
46% purchase gifts for extended family
71% purchase gifts for friends Perusing tank tops at Old Navy in Gravois Bluff, Taylor Emery (12) shops Black Friday, Nov 23. The store opened at 12 a.m. Thursday night, though shoppers began lining up as early as 9 p.m. “I got a quarter zip
67% say giving gifts is one of
fleece for $5.00 and my mom’s Christmas present for 50% off,” Emery said. “I had fun because I was able to buy presents at a decent price while still getting quality gifts.”
46% of students think shopping
Commercialism during the holdiay season Money can also be an issue when figuring out what to buy and who to buy for. Adults spend an average of $548.56 on holiday gifts, according to a survey of 8,899 individuals from the National Retail Federation conducted Oct 2-8. Creating a budget is one way to handle this problem. “I like to keep a budget around $100 or $200,” Brent Held (12) said. “The only stress from the budget is when I want to get someone something that’s kind of expensive. One year, my sister wanted a bike and there was no way I could have bought her a bike, so I had to go to my parents for that one.” To combat the expensive nature of the holidays, 40 percent of students surveyed go shopping on Black Friday, the infamous shopping day after Thanksgiving where stores open as early as 8 p.m. Thursday night to give shoppers large discounts. The Black Friday shopping environment, though full of great savings, can turn quite hectic. “My friends and I went to Victoria’s Secret right at midnight,” Michelle Manser (11) said.
“Once they opened doors, there was a huge crowd and everybody got shoved in. Cops and security guards had to come because there were way too many people in there and people were stealing stuff and running out. The fact that people were running out and stealing was pretty crazy.” This wild environment isn’t always for everyone. “Black Friday isn’t my thing,” George said. “It’s just so crowded.” The commercialistic aspect of the holidays incites stress, as 49 percent of students surveyed said giving gifts is somewhat stressful or very stressful. However, when it comes time to unwrap presents, hardly any stress comes into play. Almost 88 percent of students surveyed said receiving gifts is not stressful at all or rarely stressful. “I feel really grateful after I’ve opened everything up, when I realize how much I have,” Elinor Nichols (9) said. “It’s a really nice feeling.”
Thirty-three percent of students surveyed have dated someone over the holidays. Spending the holiday season with someone special adds meaning to an already significant time of year. “Being in a relationship during the holidays is definitely good because you have someone you can enjoy it with,” Aubrey said. “I think the feeling of being in love is a good thing to have during the holidays. That’s what the holidays are all about.”
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When to start shopping
22% of
students start shopping before Thanksgiving
December
32% of
students start shopping right after Thanksgiving
32% of
students start shopping at the beginning of December
10% of
students wait until the last week to start shopping
20% set it at $50
20% set it at $25
27% set it at $150
27% set it at $100
*the remaining 4% do not shop for presents 6% set it at $75
themselves
Maddie Nosiglia (10) and Nick Aubrey (12)
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Of the 35% of students that set a budget...
According to an EHS-hub survey of 108 students
November
mary tomlinson feature writer
Seventy-six percent of students surveyed said one of their favorite parts of the holidays is spending time with family, and 81 percent of students surveyed enjoy or really enjoy spending time with family over the holidays. “My favorite part of the holidays is being with all of my family, especially those I don’t see very often,” Reinkemeyer said. “It’s so nice to catch up with my family. We all meet in Jefferson City at our family farm, where we have a very country style Christmas. We eat a lot of deer meat, and my family all goes hunting together. This time with my family is meaningful because you never know when you’re going to have time with them again.” It is these kinds of memories—not the kind the McCallister family experiences—that hopefully dominate students’ memories of the holiday season.
65% don’t set a budget for
mary tomlinson
Dating over the holidays
Little kids anxiously awake early Christmas morning to discover what Santa left the night before. But those presents do not just appear— they must be bought. The crowded lines at department stores and malls contribute a significant amount of stress to shoppers. “The commercial aspects of the holidays add to and take away stress during the holidays,” Tony Buchanan, Ph.D., psychologist at St. Louis University, said in a phone interview, Nov 14. “The pressure to buy gifts for people and meet their expectations can definitely add stress. But then again, if you’re on the receiving end, it’s pretty good.” When buying gifts, finding the perfect present never seems to come easy. “Buying gifts stresses me out the most,” Christian George (10) said. “I don’t know what they want, and it’s weird to ask them. Sometimes, they don’t even know what they want.” This uncertainty is the driving force behind stress, including the stress of gift giving, according to Dr. Buchanan.
for gifts is somewhat stressful
their favorite parts of the holidays
Holiday-season activities incite stress
would be the same, but the effects are just from a quicker time period.” When students see family over the holidays, buying presents for these relatives often comes into play. Ninety percent of students surveyed buy presents for their nuclear family, while 46 percent of students surveyed buy presents for their extended family. “It’s the hardest to buy presents for people you don’t see that often,” Hanna Reinkemeyer (11) said. “For instance, my god parents live far away and I don’t get to see them all the time, so it takes me forever to figure out what to get them. It stresses me out a lot trying to figure that out because I procrastinate, and then I realize I have to figure something out.” No matter the trials or drama the holidays bring, the togetherness and joy of holiday family time cannot be denied.
Gift-giving by the numbers 49% of students think giving
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The timing of when the couple began dating can affect the relationship during the holidays. “Last year, Nick and I had just started going out two weeks before Christmas, so we didn’t do anything,” Nosiglia said. “It was kind of awkward for us. But we’re still going out, so this year we will be more like a normal couple that hangs out more or goes ice skating. I’m looking forward to that.” Ninety percent of students who have dated over the holidays exchange gifts with their significant other, and 28 percent set no price limit for their gift exchanges. “Buying his present is very complicated,” Nosiglia said. “You ask what they want, and they say they don’t want anything, which means you have to figure it out. So then I’ll ask my brother.” Despite the anxiety associated with giving a gift to a significant other, the thoughtfulness pays off. “When I get her something that she likes, I feel really happy because I made her happy,” Aubrey said.
mary tomlinson
Katie Rinkenberger (11)
The holidays usher in a time of romance— mistletoe, the New Year’s kiss—adding pressure to those without a significant other. “Being single over the holidays is okay,” Rinkenberger said. “Sometimes it can get kind of annoying seeing all of the couples. Around the holidays, they seem to be more public with their coupleness. It’s just a little bit annoying because everyone wants to spend the holidays with someone.”
mary tomlinson
Nicholas Vogt (10)
Decorating, shopping and finals busy students’ minds during the holidays, which doesn’t leave much room for thoughts about relationships. Spending the holidays without a boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t bother the majority of the student body, for 56 percent of students surveyed are indifferent to being single around the holidays. “Being single takes away stress because you’re not worried about finding the perfect gift or whether they like it or not,” Vogt said.
4Spotlight Pedaling into the pros Jonathon Schilling (12) hopes to one day join the likes of David Freese, a Rockwood graduate turned professional athlete competing on the world stage. Only a couple of EHS alumni have reached the proffesional level, among them are Preston Ward, a 1944 graduate who was in the MLB for the Cubs, Dodgers, Pirates, and others and Cam Janssen, a current NHL hockey player for the Devils. Jonathon is about to take one step closer to that goal, graduating a semester early to joining his teammates on the top Junior team in American at their Texas headquarters. “This kid brings a whole other meaning to ‘carpe diem,’” Adam Culbreath, Jonathon’s close friend, said. “He’s one of those people you want to be just like.” At the peak of a training session, Jonathon can produce 1,656 watts of power pedaling his bike, enough to power an Xbox 360 for almost 11 seconds. “It’s awesome how dedicated he is to cycling and how successful he’s become,” Jax Powell, Jonathon’s close friend, said. “Someday my brother and I hope to go watch him in the Tour de France.” Gaining this amount of power began from humble and early beginnings. “Before my third birthday, I was off of the training wheels and riding,” Jonathon said. “In fourth grade, I met Alex and Jax Powell, two of my closest friends, who amplified my interest in mountain biking. I then got my first road bike and started cycling with my dad.” It didn’t take long for Jonathon to become a successful young cyclist, often surprising his much older opponents. When he was 11, Jonathon decided to do the MS-150, a charity ride for Multiple Sclerosis, riding 100 miles a day for two consecutive days. At one of the rest stops, he first heard of the St. Louis racing scene and decided to start racing. The transition from riding to racing was a drastic change. “In my first race, I got lapped,” Jonathon said. “But it was the most exhilarating experience I had on a bicycle up to that point because of the competition. I was hooked.” Once Jonathon began racing, he rapidly started to ascend the ranks of America’s Junior cycling standings. While his 13-year-old peers were playing “Halo 3” in their basements, Jonathon raced in the Junior National Championships in California where he placed in the top ten out of 58. At 14, he won another National Cycling Championship held in California out of 65 competitors. When he was 15, Jonathon got invited to go to Belgium with the National U.S.
Junior Development Team. When he was 16, he won his third National Cycling Championship. Now, Shilling is one of the top ten 17-year-olds in the nation. He races for the top Junior team in America, Slip-Stream Craddock Junior Development Racing Team. Schillling trains for a month each year at team headquarters outside of Austin, Texas, but he trains at home when he isn’t there. The team has different levels of development. Jonathon is at the Junior level, followed by Professional-Continental, which is like Triple-A for baseball, and then International Professional. “When I turn 19, it’s my goal to join the Professional Continental team,” Jonathon said. “Which is the stepping stone for becoming a professional cyclist.” To be on the most elite Junior Cycling team in the nation, Jonathon must train harder than he ever has before. “It takes a lot of determination, focus and willpower to do the training needed to be at this level,” Jonathon said. “I devote a lot of time to make sure I’m a wellrounded athlete by doing core work and conditioning.” Over the summer, Jonathon was at his house for two weeks. He’s usually gone about a third of the year racing, nationally and internationally. He travels the world including, Guatemala, Belgium, France, Canada and many other countries. Training and traveling creates an absence in social circles. “If I was him, it would be hectic trying to find time to hang out with all of my friends,” Serene Rashdi, friend, said. “It’s sad because he is a good friend of ours and we all like to hang out.” Being gone takes an emotional toll on Jonathon’s family, friends and himself. “I miss him a lot but I’m excited for him,” Mrs. Jackie Schilling, Jonathon’s mother, said. “He’s happy and does what he loves to do. He trains more and gets better at his sport. It’s challenging, but I’m happy for him.” Training and racing around the world keeps Jonathon away from home. “I miss home a lot,” Jonathon said. “It usually takes me two or three weeks to adjust to being cut off from my friends, family and social life because that is my ‘normal.’ It’s hard to transition from that to being gone from home, sometimes in a country where you don’t understand the language, spending weeks on end with teammates you only see some odd months out of the year.” Being gone from home makes relationships challenging. “I think that would be really hard to keep relationships and stay close to your
Jonathon Schilling pursues the path of a professional cyclist alex powell feature writer
alex powell
During a ride on Glencoe Road, Jonathon Schilling focuses on completing his interval training, Nov 29. “I do extensive training which includes two to three hour rides after school, 12 to 14 hours a week,” Schilling said. family,” Madison Hurst, Jonathon’s friend, into the best possible position to reach the said. “We would hang out a lot more before Professional-Continental Team,” Jonathon he got really into cycling.” said. “If it doesn’t happen, I will have no Ambition to make it so far in the cycling regrets and will be totally satisfied.” world means sacrifices. Part of Jonathon’s plan involves “It would be hard since I wouldn’t get to graduating early, moving to Texas and see my friends and family as much,” Andy training at the academy. Schimd, Jonathon’s classmate, said. “I “It will take a lot, being away from think it would be difficult to stay close with my friends and family,” Jonathon said. your friends because you wouldn’t get to “I will also be considered a professional hang out.” development athlete, not a high school On top of intense training, Jonathon student; my actions will reflect my team must still manage school work. and sponsors.” “The last couple of years have been He will live, train and race at the really hard juggling being gone racing and headquarters in Texas for two months and keeping up in school,” Jonathon said. “I’ve then move to Belgium in March to train and been forced to manage my time to get all race for three weeks. He will then come my schoolwork done. Being gone for weeks back to America to race and finish his last and then keeping up good grades in AP and Junior National Championship. Afterwards honors classes took a lot of time and effort. he will go back to Belgium to race in the I managed to maintain a 4.151 GPA even European cycling scene. though I missed 15 days last year.” Jonathon’s international racing doesn’t Jonathon strikes a balance in his life. stop there; he hopes that he will represent “He misses so much school but still stays the Junior U.S. Team in the Track World on top of his grades,” Culbreath said. Championships in Scotland, Pan-Am Jonathon has the usual stresses of a Championships in Columbia and in the senior year on top of determining what he World Road Racing Championships in Italy. wants to do with his cycling career. As he makes a leap into the pros, “I’ve decided that in the next year I will Jonathon could be the David Freese of the focus all my effort into cycling and get international cycling circuit.
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