annual report II Corn crop important to county economy
Jerry Singley March has definitely come in like a lion. Well, let’s face it. It’s come in like a pride of lions! I join many others in hoping that we can definitely usher it out like a lamb, welJerry coming Singley warming soils and sunny skies. It’s nearly time to put seeds in the soil. Here in McLean County we are blessed with some of the richest soil on earth, and I appreciate and value that soil as a corn farmer. Much like those of you that enjoy nurturing and tending plants in your lawns and gardens, I enjoy coaxing forth a new crop each year. I know what another crop year means to my family and my farm. Of course from year to year, I never really know what Mother Nature will send my way in terms of the weather, but I understand that without planting and harvest, my family’s livelihood is at risk. It’s interesting to consider more broadly what my farm and others in McLean County mean to others in our community andeven to the state of Illinois. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board recently commissioned a study to determine agriculture’s economic impact.Specifically, that study focused on the time between 2005 and 2012. You’ll remember that it was 2005 when the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) first became law, encouraging local investment in ethanol plants like One Earth Energy. One Earth sits just about 30 miles east of Bloomington. Since the RFS became law, estimates suggest that the number of people working in agriculture and related industries has increased by approximately 28,000 in Illinois, helping to offset job losses due to the recession. We know that in Illinois agriculture, there are more than 175,000 of us working in positions directly related to farming. That includes farmers, hired hands, managers, bookkeepers and mechanics. And there are another nearly 150,000 people working in related segments of agriculture including ethanol plants, farm equipment manufacturers, meat processing, and wholesalers of inputs. Revenues from corn farms are increasingly important to our general economy. The most recent data shows that in Illinois, 94 percent of cash receipts are from crops. In 2013, McLean County farmers harvested 334,000 acres of corn that yielded just over 63 million bushels. That represents 3 percent of the corn grown in Illinois last year. Portions of our 2013 harvest may have gone to the One Earth Energy ethanol plant, or to feed beef cattle at Funk Farms just south of Bloomington. Our corn may have even left Illinois by rail to feed cattle in Texas, or it may have gone to Japan to feed livestock there. It may have left the county to be processed into cereals or snack foods. Or it may have even become beverage alcohol. SEE corn / PAGE F2
Sunday, March 23, 2014
F1
econoMy
LorI Ann cooK-neISLer, The Pantagraph
Construction workers for Franke Construction. Mark Ludington, left, Jeremy Peasley, center, and Nick Dreyer, right, work on a new home in Greystone Fields subdivision on Flagstone Drive in Normal in April 2013.
McLean County continues
eConoMiC rebound Pat Shaver pshaver@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — The economy in McLean County continued its slow recovery in 2013, but there were also a few bright spots. “I would say the signals are sort of mixed from 2013. On the good side, we remain among the lowest unemployment county in the state, but we are still seeing a virtually stagnant recovery,” said Mike Seeborg, economics professor at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. McLean County’s unemployment jumped at the end of last year, increasing from 6.4 percent in December 2012 to 7.1 percent in December 2013. The largest year-over-year increase was in November 2013, when the unemployment rate grew to 7 percent, an increase of nearly 1 percent from a year earlier. The area’s economic recovery, Seeborg said, is in line with state and national trends, though local unemployment rates remained lower than other parts of the state. State Farm, McLean County’s largest employer, began to establish hubs in Texas, Georgia and Arizona last year, which led to questions of the company’s future plans in Bloomington and what impacts any changes might have on the local economy. Company officials have said the facilities in Bloomington continue to be fully utilized and employee numbers
cArLoS T. MIrAnDA, The Pantagraph
Andrew Bopp, 16, demonstrates a modified minuteman load as part of open house demonstrations on Nov. 21, 2013, at BACC in Bloomington. Future students and parents toured the labs classrooms including demonstration by current students. remain around 15,000. “Looking at the long term, State Farm and insurance generally has been an engine of growth in the local economy, but of course we can’t rely on that in the future. I think we’ll see a period of stability with State Farm employment, but we can’t rely on insurance as a source of growth,” Seeborg said. In order to grow in jobs, Seeborg
added, it’s important to have a diversity of industries and businesses. “I think its going to take an effort by the community to continue to attract different firms,” Seeborg said. “On the positive side, the community is blessed with favorable transportation, with the regional airport, interstate connections, and a busy Amtrak station.” SEE econoMy/ PAGE F2
normal focuses on future Mary Ann Ford
yet-to-be-determined site farther west. The cost of the last two stations is estimated at $3 million to $3.5 million each.
mford@pantagraph.com
NORMAL — The future of three major components of Normal — fire stations, the public library and uptown redevelopment — were at the forefront of the City Council’s discussions in 2013. In July, council members supported a plan to build three new fire stations over the next 10 years. The 2014-19 community investment plan includes $4.5 million over the next two years to build the first station. That building will replace Station 2 at 604 N. Adelaide St., but serve as the fire department’s headquarter station. Town officials have been in discussions with Illinois State University about a possible land swap for the station since the Adelaide Street site is in the midst of ISUowned property. While a few ISU-owned properties have been suggested for the new station, City Manager Mark Peterson said talks have been put on hold while the town seeks a design team to determine the needs of the station — and ultimately its size.
Library
STeVe SMeDLey, The Pantagraph
Normal Fire Department assistant chief John Grussing looks at a wall full of antiquated electrical panels in Station 2, at Adelaide and Gregory streets. The electrical system in the building needs to be upgraded. “Then we can determine if (one of the proposed ISU) sites would work or not,” he said. As soon as the town has a clear direction for the first site, Peterson said officials will begin looking for a site for a second new fire station — which would replace the current station at 1300 E. College Ave. but be farther east to help
improve far east-side response times. Funding for that station is not in the five-year plan but the council’s original plan suggested the College Avenue station be replaced about four years after the first new station is completed. The town’s No. 3 station, 1200 E. Raab Road, would be replaced four years after that at a
In August, the City Council and members of the Normal Public Library Board met in a work session to learn what would be needed for a new library. A 2008 study revealed the library is out of space. But how to solve that issue remained a question. The City Council wants to keep the library uptown while the library board favors moving out of uptown to get needed space and address parking problems. An ad hoc committee was formed with representatives from the council and the library board to further discuss the issue. Peterson said that committee likely will continue the discussions all year before issuing a joint recommendation. In the meantime, library officials are looking at no-cost or low-cost ways to change the current building to improve the level of service, said Director Brian Chase. SEE norMAL / PAGE F2
F2 • The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014
annual report
www.pantagraph.com
Colleges get new president, tuition freezes Lenore Sobota
female on the nation’s highest court, spokes about the president’s legacy and women in leadership in an address at the school in April.
lsobota@pantagraph.com
H ea r t l a n d C o m m u nity College named a new president midway through 2013, while three private schools announced tuition freezes. Eureka College, Lincoln College and Lincoln Christian University each decided last year to freeze tuition for the 2014-15, the impact of the slow economic recovery on students and their families. For Eureka, it was the second time in 10 years that the board has frozen tuition. This marks the third year in a row that Lincoln College did not raise its tuition. Hea r t l a n d a n d L i n coln College also signed an agreement in February 2013 that will ease the transition of Heartland graduates seeking a bachelor’s degree through the Accelerated Bridge to Education program at Lincoln’s Normal campus.
Heartland Community College Rob Widmer, Heartland’s longtime vice president of business services, was named president in June following the resignation of Allen Goben, becoming only the third
Lincoln College
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Don Langnes, a Heartland College information technology student, introduces himself to college president Allen Goben after Goben and State Farm Insurance executives announced a $1.5 million dollar grant to stengthen the school’s IT program. president in Heartland’s history. Goben, who left after three years to become chancellor of Western Governors University in St. Louis, had succeeded founding president Jon Astroth. Also in 2013, Heartland partnered with Mid Central Community Action,
United Way of McLean County and the University of Illinois College of Law’s Community Preservation Clinic to create Next Step. The program is designed to help people fined financial stability through better money management and a higher paying job, in part, through better education and job training.
Eureka College Late in 2013, the college broke ground for Sanders Hall, a $6.7 million, fourstory addition to VennumBinkley Science Hall. T h e 17, 270 - sq u a re foot addition will allow for growth in the student body, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics, school officials said. Honoring its ties to Ronald Reagan, the coll e g e ’s m o s t f a m o u s alumnus, Eureka College named former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor an honorary Reagan Fellow. O’Connor, who Reagan appointed as the first
For the first time in 20 years, Lincoln College celebrated homecoming on its Lincoln campus. As part of the week-long festivities in Novem ber, the school inducted its first Athletic Hall of Fame Class. The lead faculty member for the health serv i c e s a d m i n i s t ra t i o n program at the Normal campus, Natalia Rekhter, was selected for a Fulbright Specialists project at the Russia State University for Humanities. She taught a course and helped develop a certificate in international business with concentration in health care at the school in Moscow.
Lincoln Christian University One of 2013’s highlights for LCU was inclusion in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of “great colleges to work for.” The school was honored in the “work-life balance” category among universities with fewer than 3,000 students.
economy FROM F1
STEVE SMEDLEY, The Pantagraph
Normal Public Library teen librarian Kristi Cates points to an area of book shelves that can be too high to reach for some patrons and staff on Feb. 6, 2013.
normal FROM F1
One Uptown Circle A plan to break ground in November on a development that would bring an upscale apartment building to the west side of Uptown Circle and a Hyatt Place Hotel on Broadway was sidetracked when the cost of the development increased by nearly $9 million, to $38.9 million. The council was expected to consider a request to increase the town’s contribution to the project by $500,000 — from $7.35 million to $7.85 million — in November but that also was postponed. On March 17, the council approved a revised redevelopment agreement with developers Tartan Realty and Campus Acquisitions of Chicago, for a two-phased project. The hotel will be built first and after it is completed — in about a year — work would start on the apartment building. The new plan allows an onsite staging area for construction equipment a n d g ive s d eve l o p e rs time to reduce the cost of the apartment complex, Peterson said. Developers also are considering adding an office component to that project.
Tax levy Besides all of the construction projects, the council also decided to increase the town’s share of the 2013 tax levy by 11 percent so it could make higher contributions to police and fire
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Noah Wyatt, a worker at the town of Normal Water Department, spread salt on sidewalks during a snowstorm at the proposed site for One Uptown Circle.
STEVE SMEDLEY, The Pantagraph
Normal Fire Department Station 2, at Adelaide and Gregory streets, shows several signs of water getting into the structure. Firefighter Jeff Siegmund looks at a rusting steel beam between the hose tower and a storage area of the station. pensions and return the general fund’s share of property tax revenue to $1.6 million. The $11 million levy, which includes the Normal Public Library levy, w i l l i n c rea s e t h e ta x rate from $1.2024 per $100 equalized assessed
valuation to $1.3414 per $100 EAV, assuming a quarter-percent drop in the town’s overall EAV. T h a t’s a n i n c rea se o f about $60 for the owner o f a $ 1 5 0,0 0 0 h o m e . The rate will be effective on property taxes paid in 2014.
Meanwhile, there was some business growth in McLean County, including an announcement of a Hy-Vee grocery store that will bring up to 600 jobs, the company was issued a $6.3 million building permit for the construction; Wirtz Beverage in Lexington began operations at a new $8 million warehouse and office for about 100 employees; a L.A. Fitness gym opened a 45,000-square-foot facility at 2103 N. Veterans Parkway, Bloomington; and the Kroger store at 1550 E. College Ave., Normal, went through a $3.6 million renovation. Ken Springer, Bloomi n g to n - No r m a l E c o n o m i c Deve l o p m e n t Council vice president, said the EDC has seen an uptick in inquiries from firms and businesses interested in potential growth or expansion in the Twin Cities. “To see a lot of activity now makes me hopeful that a year and half from now we will start to see economic benefits,” Springer said. Home sales also showed improvements over 2012. The Grove at Kickapoo Creek subdivision is an example of single-family home growth in the county, said Chuck Montgomerie, president o f t h e B l o o m i n g to n Normal Association of Realtors. The project n ea r So u t h Towa n d a Barnes Road and Ireland Grove Road includes 900 homes, 431 of which have been developed. Low interest rates and fewer foreclosures contributed to the jump of home sales in the Twin Cities in 2013, according to Montgomerie. “One of the bright spots is that housing was doing awesome last
corn FROM F1
Corn is a versatile crop. If we break down each of McLean County’s 63 million bushels, it looks like this. A bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds. From each bushel, we can get 2.8 gallons of ethanol
PHYLLIS COULTER, The Pantagraph
Corey Dowell, 16 and Jessie Gonzales, 17, both of Bloomington, measure the framing for a sidewalk at Stoneman Gardens in Carlock. They are part of the McLean County Juvenile Justice summer jobs program administered by YouthBuild of McLean County this year.
year both in sales of new homes and existing homes,” Springer said.“We really look at single family housing as being a barometer for economic health.” Home sales increased in 2013 by about 14.4 percent, to 2,812 homes, according to the B l o o m i n g to n - No r m a l A sso c i a t i o n o f Rea l tors. The overall average home price in 2013 was $173,539, an increase from less than 1 percent from the $171,911 in 2012. Looking ahead to 2014, Seeborg predicts “slow but steady improvements
in the employment situation.” And Springer expects inquiries from businesses and firms interested in Bloomington-Normal to continue in 2014. In February, for examp l e , R R Do n n e l l ey, a Fortune 500 company, began negotiations to establish a tech hub in the Twin Cities, which could lead to a substantial expansion. Initial plans include 50 software developer jobs that would bring at least $2.5 million in new payroll dollars to the community.
and 17.5 pounds of livestock feed called DDGS. A bushel of corn can also make 31.5 pounds of corn starch. It can make 22.4 pounds of PLA f i b e r/p o ly m e r wh i c h make sustainable fibers and plastics. Keep all this in mind as I and other farmers head out with our planters
this spring. We’re not just growing another c r o p . We ’ r e g r o w ing the economy.We’re growing the future, for our farm families and fo r o t h e r fa m i l i e s i n McLean County. Singley is a Stanford farmer and Illinois Corn Growers Association District 7 director.
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annual report
The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014 • F3
People can shape our community
DaViD PRoebeR, The Pantagraph
Illinois State University tries out its new artificial turf infield during its contest with Eastern Illinois University on March 22, 2013, at Duffy Bass Field.
ISU gets new coach; Titans make playoffs Randy Reinhardt rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
Illinois State basketball experienced the first season of a new men’s ba s ke tba l l coa c h a n d the final campaign of its women’s basketball coach in 2013. Led by Tyler Brown and Jackie Carmichael, the Illinois State men finished Coach Dan Muller’s initial campaign with an 18-15 record. Carmichael was a first team all-Missouri Valley Conference player, while Brown was selected to the second team. Stephanie Glance left her post as ISU women’s basketball coach to take t h e sa m e p os i t i o n a t Columbia. The Redbirds finished 24-11 and lost in the title game of the MVC Tournament. Fo r m e r S a n D i e g o State head coach and Saint Louis associate head coach Barb Smith took over as ISU coach. T h e Re d b i rd b a s e ball team set a program record with 39 victories a n d h os te d t h e M VC Tournament at Duffy Bass Field. ISU dropped a 5-2 decision to Wichita State in the tournament title game. Coach Mark K ingsto n ’s tea m t h e n s aw Eric Aguilera, Brett Kay, Chad Hinshaw and Chris Razo selected in Major League Baseball’s firstyear player draft. ISU finished second in the MVC all-sport standings with the help o f l ea g u e t i t l e s f ro m women’s cross country and women’s golf. The Redbird softball team’s streak of NCAA Tournament appearances ended at four. ISU had a 28-20 record and senior catcher Elizabeth Kay was named MVC Player of the Year. I l l i n o i s We s l e y a n claimed its first College
CaRLoS T. MiRaNDa, The Pantagraph
Wichita State players celebrate after defeating Illinois State on May 25, 2013, for the 2013 MVC Baseball Championship at Duffy Field in Normal. at 9-2. We s l e ya n wo m e n ’s golf finished in a tie for ninth in the Division III national championships in Destin, Fla. T h e I W U wo m e n ’s soccer team advanced to the second round of the national tournament before falling to Trinity on penalty kicks. T h e T i ta n b a s e b a l l and softball teams both earned national tournament berths and were ousted in regional play. Wesleyan added men’s DaViD PRoebeR, The Pantagraph and women’s lacrosse Barb Smith, former associate head coach at St. Louis to its stable of sports. University, talks to the media and alumni after she is The men opened play last month, while the introduced as ISU’s new women’s basketball head coach women begin competion April 15, 2013, at Kaufman Football Building in Normal. tion in 2015. Smith served as head coach at San Diego State between At Heartland College, 1997 and 2002. the Hawks’ baseball team Conference of Illinois Mia Smith notched her finished fourth in the and Wisconsin men’s 300th career victory as junior college Division II basketball regular sea- her team concluded with World Series. son championship since an 18-8 mark. 2005. The Titans bowed T h e T i ta n fo o t b a l l out of the NCAA Divi- team saw its season end sion III Tournament in in the opening round of the third round with a the Division III playoffs. 23-6 record. A loss to Wartburg put IWU women’s coach the IWU final record
Vasudha Pinnamaraju You can play a key role in shaping your community McLean County Regional Planning Commission provides longrange planning services for McLean County and its communities. Our services include comprehensive Vasudha Pinnamaraju planning, transportation planning, Geographic Information System, and planning-related education and outreach. In 2013, we made progress on a variety of priority initiatives identified in the McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan. A map-based Natural Resource Inventory is now available through our GIS web portal. The inventory is an expanding catalog of data, including regional geology, topography, agricultural and mineral resources, hydrology, flora and fauna. This information, in map format, will foster improved decisionmaking by private and public participants in the planning and development process. This planning tool will continue to add enhanced and new data, offering the ability to evaluate the impact of development proposals on regional resources using multiple variables. MCRPC was actively involved in area transportation planning projects including the East Side Corridor Environmental Assessment Study, Greenways and Trails Planning, and Human Services Transportation Plan. Details and status of these projects can be found in our annual report at www.mcplan.org. In addition to the progress made by the MCRPC and its planning partners in completing a number of important area projects, MCRPC’s long-time executive director, Paul Russell, retired after nearly 19 years in that position. I was hired to fill that position in August 2013. Prior to this position, I worked as a planner for city of Decatur in the areas of neighborhood planning, current planning, environmental planning, economic development, longrange planning and GIS. Our major project in 2014 is assisting the city of Bloomington to create
its comprehensive plan. The city wants everyone to have a fair opportunity to participate in this process. The public outreach for this plan is scheduled to begin in July 2014. I will detail how citizens can take part in the planning process, but first let us talk about what a comprehensive plan is and the importance of public participation in this process. A comprehensive plan is an official document for local governments to help guide the physical development of their community. This long-range plan does not call for specific action or encourage any particular legislative strategy. Rather, it provides a framework and policy context within which to make decisions relating to land use and future development. Given that growth and change affect every aspect of a community, it is important that the plan cover major aspects such as housing, education, neighborhoods, arts and culture, economic development, open space, community facilities, natural environment, water, energy, infrastructure, transportation and land-use. Once adopted, the plan declares the regulatory intentions of the local government. Whether you are a resident, business owner or a developer, you should be actively involved in the comprehensive plan process to shape the regulatory framework before its adoption. Does this mean you have to attend late night meetings? Not necessarily. Events like town hall meetings will be held to gather input, but we will use electronic platforms such as Bloomingtonil.Mindmixer. com and Zoho Projects to make the participation in this plan process easy and convenient for the stakeholders. A project website will be launched in June. This site will become the one stop shop for the City of Bloomington Comprehensive Plan Project, with information on project updates, ways to participate, meeting times and locations. If you want to suggest other convenient ways to reach out to you or want us to talk about the plan with your clubs, churches and community groups, please write to us at MCRPC@mcplan.org. Vasudha Pinnamaraju is executive director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
Think of The School Shop first for ... • Educational toys, games & puzzles • Homework and Homeschool aides • Cool science kits • Beautiful Christian posters • Quality materials for educators DaViD PRoebeR, The Pantagraph
The Illinois State University football team stands on a platform for a team photo on media day as construction nears completion on the new grandstand on Aug. 5, 2013, at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
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F4 • The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014
annual report
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Airport sees passengers drop in 2013 Pat Shaver pshaver@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — Though the Central Illinois Regional Airport saw passenger declines in 2013, airport officials are focused on staying competitive in 2014. The airport’s loss of AirTran Airways led to an 11.7 percent decrease in passenger traffic in 2013. Although the airport lost a carrier, it also completed its first full year with two new airlines. “It is hyper-competitive. If we lose a passenger to another airport, it can affect four different revenue streams for us,” said Carl Olson, airport executive director. A total of 428,638 passengers flew in and out of CIRA in 2013; in 2012 there were 485,285 passengers, according to airport statistics. AirTran’s service ended in June 2012 after it was p u rc h a se d by So u t h west Airlines. The lost service led to increased fares at the a i r p o r t . C I R A’s ave rage one-way fare jumped 12.5 percent, from $175 during June 2011-June 2012 to $197 from June 2012June 2013, the most recent data available. CIRA spokesperson Fran Strebing said the airport successfully completed the first full year of Frontier and Allegiant service in 2013. Retaining the airport’s current airlines — American, Allegiant, Frontier and Delta — is just as important as recruiting new airlines. Industry-wide, about 86 percent of domestic air traffic is carried by four major airlines, making it difficult to bring in new flights. “For us to gain service means somebody else lost a service, so we work a lot on air service retention,” Olson said. “It’s a consolidating industry, and it is a regulated industry.”
STEVE SMEDLEY, The Pantagraph
A couple walks through the main entrance at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington on July 3, 2013. One way that CIRA is making its facilities more appealing to airlines is a new $10 million baggage screening system. The baggage screening plan includes replacing the Explosive Detection Systems equipment in front of the ticket counter, relocating it behind the check-in area, and constructing a 12,000-square-foot addition to help accommodate the changes. Work is underway and will be completed this fall. After it is tested by TSA, it will be operational in early 2015, Olson said. About 60 percent of the project is funded through TSA funds, the other 40 percent is being paid for by airport funds. The airports current baggage screening system can process 250 pieces of luggage in an hour, with
the new screening equipment, it will be able to go through 450-500 bags in an hour. “In this system, TSA screeners will never lift a bag,” Olson said. “That’s one of the drivers for this; it is safer and faster.” The airport also received a $1.9 million Federal Aviation Administration grant last year for expansion of the aircraft parking area and repair of a corporate cargo ramp. The project is expected to be finished in the spring, said Strebing. Airport officials continue work to get non-stop air service to New York or Washington, D.C., by 2015. If that is accomplished, the airport would receive a $500,000 Small Community Air Service grant from the Department of Transportation, Strebing said.
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Carl Olson, center, executive director of Central Illinois Regional Airport, gives U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk a rundown of flights and passenger statistics on Oct. 23, 2013, as Kirk toured the tower at the airport. At left is Joe Alexander, CIRA government affairs specialist, and Randy Pollard, downstate director for Kirk’s office.
Bloomington insurer grows profits in 2013 Pat Shaver pshaver@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — State Farm’s investment portfolio paid off in 2013. The company’s net worth jumped by $10 billion last year, to $75.9 billion, the highest in company history. That’s a 16 percent increase over 2012’s net worth of $65.4 billion. The insurer reported jumps in profits of its property-casualty companies, which includes auto and homeowner insurance. The pre-tax operating profits grew from $2.7 billion in 2012 to $4.3 billion in 2013, a 59 percent increase. The company’s financial growth in 2013 can be attributed to State Farm’s stock investments, said spokesman Dick Luedke. About twothirds of the increase in net income, about $6.4 billion, was due to the increase in value of State Farm’s stocks. State Farm also reported a $2 billion gain in net income in 2013. Luedke said gains in underwriting and investment income realized from bonds helped State Farm’s 2013 profits. The insurer reported an underwriting gain of $230 million in 2013 on earned premium of $54.5 billion, compared to an underwriting loss of $1.7 billion the year before. The gains in underwriting were due to fewer catastrophic weather events in 2013, Luedke said. “Things can change in a hurry. It’s a volatile businesses. Sometimes we have years where we have events like Hurricane Katrina
“Things can change in a hurry. It’s a volatile businesses. Sometimes we have years where we have events like Hurricane Katrina which results in lots and lots of claims,” Dick Luedke, State Farm spokesman which results in lots and lots of claims,” Luedke said. “In years like that, we lose money.” In 2006, the company grew its net worth by 16 percent, but in 2008 the net worth decreased by 16 percent, he noted. State Farm CEO and Chairman Ed Rust, Jr. received a 19 percent increase in total compensation last year. He had a base salary of $1.75 million in 2013, but combined with bonuses and incentives he earned $11.56 million. In 2012 his total compensation was $9.64 million. Meanwhile, State Farm also started work on three hubs in Georgia, Texas and Arizona in 2013. The hubs will have thousands of employees, though the company has said State Farm’s Bloomington employment will remain around 15,000. Country Financial, another large McLean County-based insurer, did not provide 2013 earnings information by press time.
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annual report
The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014 • F5
Car dealers see strong year Edith Brady-Lunny eblunny@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — Area auto dealers benefited from a national trend last year that registered an 8 percent gain in U.S. auto sales. A hike in the number of pickup trucks sold to buyers in the construction and energy fields accounted for much of the gain. Marty Rebbec, owner of Rebbec Motor Co. in El Paso and Rebb e c Po n t i a c - B u i c k i n Normal, said the fullsize Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups were among the top sellers for his dealership last year. “We saw a lot of people who had trucks but delayed the purchase of a new one,” said Rebbec. T h e m i d - s i ze E q u i nox, a crossover vehicle, was also a popular seller, he said. Used vehicles are se l l i n g we l l , sa i d t h e Twin Cities auto dealer, a s p e o p l e l o o k fo r to t ra d e f o r s o m e t h i n g better than their current vehicle. “If we have something a little unique, it doesn’t s t a y a r o u n d l o n g ,” said Rebbec. At Brad Barker Honda i n B l o o m i n g to n , t h e mid-size CR-V lead the way in sales, especially a m o n g fe m a l e b uye rs looking at safety features in a vehicle, according to Barker, who owns the dealership. The price of gas that has stunted auto sales in recent years apparently is less of an issue as people have come to accept the $3-plus per
gallon price, said Barker. “People are actually buying the gas guzzlers again,” said Barker. The online shopper is becoming a more active part of the auto buying community. “ N i n e ty p e rc e n t o f our customers look online before they come in. They do their initial research online. Customers used to come in and see what’s available, now they know what we have before they come in the showroom,” said Rebbec. M i ts u b i s h i Mo to rs North America, with a plant in Normal, bene f i te d f ro m t h e s u rge in sales. The company reported U.S. sales of 6 2 , 2 2 7, a 7.7 p e rc e n t increase from the 57,790 vehicles the firm sold in 2012. The Twin Cities designation as a leader in e l e c t r i c ve h i c l e s h a s c o n t i n u e d w i t h m o re LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph than 200 of Mitsubishi’s all-electric “i”models Employees work on a car at the Dennison Auto Body shop in Bloomington on March 20, 2013. sold since the model rolled out in 2012.. Ryan Gremore, general manager of O’Brien MitChevrolet subishi in Normal, said Silverado the partnership between pickup l o ca l gove r n m e n t a n d trucks the dealership has involved a public educashine in the tion campaign as well as morning the installation of more sunlight on than 50 public charging the sales lot station in Bloomingtonof Leman’s Normal. Chevy “We hear from people City, 1602 all the time about how Morrissey they enjoy their no-gas Drive, vehicle,” said Gremore. Bloomington, The most popular vehicle at the dealership on May 14, is the Mitsubishi Out2013. lander Sport, “a vehicle built in our own backSTEVE SMEDLEY, The Pantagraph yard,” said Gremore.
You’ve got to know the laws that truly reign here
I
f you visit the city halls of Bloomington and/or Normal, you can find all the laws, statutes and ordinances that rule BloomingtonNormal. They are updated continually. As your dutiful public servant, I am here to tell you, however, that some of the most ardent of laws and rules to living in B-N can’t be found in any book or statute or ordinance. It may be time for an update there, too: • Dining “late” in B-N is anything past 7:15. • The worst of “rush hour” here is not when the factories let out but instead when parents go to pick up their children after school. • Although the demographics are slowly changing and leaning a bit more left, if you are two things here – “Republican” and “conservative” – you will never have a problem finding someone to invite to a picnic. • At word of a potentially bad spring-like storm that’s moving in, if at work, it is a rule you must first run to the big window of your office, stare out at the clouds and chatter with other office mates about how dark they look. If you are at home, and are especially a male, you must first go out into your home’s driveway and stare up at the clouds, too. • While out shopping or dining during the day, even if it’s a pretty big town, the odds are still 1-in-3 that you’ll see
know it as the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts or, even better, BCPA. • While out dining in B-N, there is no such thing as “formal dining.” A jacket and pair of nice pants is about as good as it gets here. Bill Flick • The cab drivers here speak English, fluently. someone with a badge, • A wind farm can either around neck or be located anywhere attached to a pocket, that here. That’s because shows they work for State Bloomington-Normal is Farm Insurance. one of the windiest cit• Snow removal is ies around. We actually among the best around beat Chicago, the alleged here. This past winter Windy City, in average was the evidence. While wind velocity. it was a record win• Never sound your car ter, there was no truly horn at another motorist paralyzing snow, thanks in B-N unless you want to the quick work of a dirty look. While in street crews. some cities car-honking • There is always a is second-nature, here it crowd at Chili’s, espedeeply offends. cially when the college • The homeless here kids are in town. don’t hold cups or sit on • There is always a a corner and sleep in a crowd at Target, esperefrigerator box. Many cially just after the Sunare very polite, in fact. day fliers come out. • ISU students ignore • People frequently all motor traffic trying refer to the “east side” to pass through campus. and “west side” but inex- Just live with it. plicably almost never the • Twin Citians gener“south side.” ally don’t like change, • B-N is a mecca for except from their dollar. bargain-hunters and • Some of the heaviest family-thrifty folk. traffic on Veterans (this is People actually use coustatistically true) occurs pons here. Sundays at noon, a testa• By city standards, ment to two of our big“traffic” in Bloomington- gest old-time principles Normal is a myth. There — church-going and dinis no real traffic. While ing out. there are some who weave • There is rarely a slow in-and-out of lanes time at Avanti’s, at either and drive real fast, you location, either. will almost always meet • People who buy the back up with them at the local newspaper do it for next stoplight. its columnists. • Old-timers still call OK, I may be stretching it the “Consistory” or there a bit. “Scottish Rite Temple,” but newcomers only Flick is at flick@pantagraph.com
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F8 • The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014
annual report
www.pantagraph.com
Death of officer, dog make news in Livingston County October crash claims lives of Pontiac officer, police dog Kevin Barlow kbarlow@pantagraph.com
PONTIAC — It seems like everybody knew Pontiac K-9 officer Casey Kohlmeier. A six-year veteran of the Pontiac Police Department, he had grown up in Saunemin and served in t h e U. S. Air Force. He was popular with the younger Casey population, as Kohlmeier was his canine partner, Draco. Both, however, were killed Oct. 30 in an accident while stopped in a median turnaround on Interstate 55 near Pontiac. Jason Collins, 33, of West Columbia, S.C., is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless homicide in the accident. Collins remains in Livingston County Jail, awaiting trial. Thousands of mourners attended Kohlmeier’s funeral on Nov. 2 at the Pontiac Township High School, the school he graduated from. “There’s not an officer in this county that didn’t regard Casey as a beloved friend,” Pontiac Police Chief Jim Woolford said. “Everybody really loved him. He had the world by the tail.” Officer Allan Doran has been named as the new K-9 handler for the Pontiac Police Department. A new dog is in the process of being formally trained for the department. Meanwhile, an 18-month investigation into alleged wrongdoing by former Livingston County Sheriff Marty Meredith was dropped after he resigned to pursue a business opportunity out of state and a key witness declined to cooperate with authorities. Meredith left office in September, after allegations surfaced that he authorized placement of a GPS device on his then-girlfriend’s
DAVID PROEBER PhOtOs, The Pantagraph
Scott McCoy of McCoy Studios, Pontiac, installs a sound system in the local component of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street Exhibition on Feb. 21, 2013, at the old Livingston County Courthouse.
“Every year, we are proud that our numbers continue to grow and it allows us to add new events so there is always something fresh for our visitors if they come back.” Ellie Alexander, tourism director car. Chief Deputy Tony Childress was appointed by Meredith to succeed him, but the county board designated former Pontiac Police Chief Al Lindsey to hold the office until the November election. “I believe this is in the best interests of the county because I did not want to appoint someone who was running as a candidate because I thought that would be an unfair advantage,” said Livingston County Board Chairman Marty Fannin. L iv i n gs to n Co u n ty
Laurie Brewer, medical laboratory technician, left, and Patti Krause, clinical laboratory scientist, review results of a test in the new laboratory at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center. State’s Attorney Seth Up h o f f wa s fo u n d i n direct civil contempt in November by Judge Mark Fellheimer after the two clashed over when police officers should be available to testify at trials. Uphoff allowed officers to check in with his office to see when they are necessary because it saves officers from long waits outside the courtroom. The judge wanted
witnesses to be available at the start of the court’s day at 8:30 a.m. so they would be available to be called at any time. There were no sanctions brought against Uphoff, after the judge later ruled that the prosecutor complied with an order to get witnesses to court on time. For the fourth year in a row, tourism numbers rose in Pontiac. The most
significant increase was in the number of international visitors and tour g ro u ps, sa i d To u r i s m Director Ellie Alexander. International visitors increased by slightly more than 23 percent, while group tours grew nearly 27 percent. Included in this year’s visitor count are guests from more than 60 different countries, numerous
car clubs, and film crews from Spain, the Czech Re p u b l i c , t h e Un i te d K ingdom, Italy, China and Spain. “Every year, we are proud that our numbers continue to grow and it allows us to add new events so there is always something fresh for our visitors if they come back,” Alexander said. Meanwhile, a larger emergency department and new lab should assist staff efficiency and boost patient comfort at OSF S a i n t Ja m e s - Jo h n W. Albrecht Medical Center. The 3,000-square-foot addition to the west side of the Pontiac medical center was completed as part of a $3.4 million expansion and renovation project. About 2,100 square feet of the addition is for the relocated, larger lab, which processes patients’ blood and other specimens. T h e re m a i n i n g 9 0 0 square feet adds space to the emergency department, including a larger waiting room, more private check-in and triage and an additional patient exam room.
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The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014 • F9
annual report
www.pantagraph.com
DeWitt Co. sees spurt in business growth Monical’s, junior college satellite site come to town
“We are in the very early stages of seeing if it would be economically feasible to build a new place for the haunted house.”
Edith Brady-Lunny eblunny@pantagraph.com
CLINTON—The work of keeping existing local businesses open and courting new ones is a full-time job for DeWitt C o u n t y ’s e c o n o m i c development leaders. The efforts paid off last year as several ventures opened their doors and a Decatur junior college held a ribbon cutting for a satellite campus in Clinton. “We’re still moving forward, trying to get new businesses and support the ones who are here,” said Clinton Chamber of Commerce executive director Marian Brisard. Empty slots in a comm e rc i a l d e ve l o p m e n t once occupied by County Market and several other s h o p s we re p a r t i a l l y filled in 2013 by Country Boy Store and a SavMor Pharmacy. Commercial space on Clinton’s west side is the new home of Monical’s Pizza, owned by Randy Martin, which relocated from its former site east of town. Martin plans to move his Jimmy John’s restaurant from the Clinton Shell station to a storefront in the Monical’s complex. Brisard said the chamber is working on a plan that could bring back a p o p u l a r f u n d ra i s e r
Marian Brisard, Clinton Chamber of Commerce executive director
County, just south of the publicly owned C l i n to n L a ke M a r i n a , may bring new ideas for development this year, said Stauffer. The DCDC has helped three businesses with the allocation of $110,000 in KEVIN BARLOW, The Pantagraph revolving loans funded Clinton firefighters battle a blaze in an apartment building in July 2013. through the U.S. Departm e n t o f Ag r i c u l t u re , fo r t h e c h a m b e r a n d she said. Bruce Campbell, the community. The Dr. John Warner left, vice chairThe popular Haunted Hospital, one of the area’s man of Richland House sponsored by the largest employers with Community chamber was cancelled 180 workers, invested College, talks $1.3 million last year in last year after safety conwith Lisa Gregory, an electronic medical cerns raised by the Clinexecutive director records program manton Fire Department. of public informa“We are in the very dated by the federal govtion, and Gayle early stages of seeing if ernment. it would be economically A clinic with about a Saunders, college feasible to build a new dozen specialists who president, during place for the haunted see patients on a rotating the ribbon cutting house,” said Brisard. schedule maintains a busy for the college’s The project was the patient load. Clinton Education chamber’s biggest fundThe hospital’s Rural Center in November Health Center with two raiser and a source of jobs 2013. full-time and two partfor the crew of “monsters” and behind-thetime physicians continues scenes workers. to provide revenue to the DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph Ruth Stauffer, executive facility, which is expected director of the DeWitt Council, said tourism the area. for development of 80 to end its fiscal year April C o u n t y D e ve l o p m e n t remains a priority for Requests for proposals acres owned by DeWitt 30 without a deficit.
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F12 • The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014
annual report
www.pantagraph.com
2013 brought several changes to McLean County Mary Ann Ford mford@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Board made major changes to two departments in 2013 and started considering changes for a third. In July, animal rights groups asked the McLean County Board to eliminate use of the gas chamber to euthanize animals at the Animal Control Center and rely solely on lethal injection. Walt Howe, director of the McLean County Health Department that oversees animal control o p e ra t i o n s, s a i d t h a t had been accomplished by October. The center now is in the process of getting lethal injection certification for Director Marshell Thomson and hopes to expand the certification to others on the staff. Howe initially wanted a $2 increase in animal registration fees to cover t ra i n i n g , a d d i t i o n a l equipment and another employee but the idea met resistance from some county board members and animal rights groups. He later said animal control reserves could cover those costs for 2014 and eventually revised his plan but warned he likely would ask for a registration fee increase in 2015.
Mental health I n O c t o b e r, t h e Na t i o n a l I n s t i t u te o f Corrections recommended an addition to the McLean County Jail as the best of three options to address housing mentally ill inmates at the facility. Sheriff Mike Emery had asked the NIC to review the jail and its practice of using singleperson booking cells for
LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph
McLean County highway employees Bruce Reynolds, right, Mike Eyer, left, and Eric Bird finish putting in new pipes for drainage in Towanda in preparation for resurfacing of Towanda-Barnes Road on Aug. 19, 2013.
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Curt Hawk, director of McLean County ESDA, examines a map of McLean County as he plans for response to the storm on Jan. 5, 2014, in the emergency response center in the McLean County Law and Justice Center. the inmates — currently the only option. The NIC said using the booking cells violates constitutional standards. The other two options suggested by the NIC were to renovate the jail’s west pod or its recreation yard. T h e c o u n ty b o a rd ’s property committee will
Challenging Weather kept Normal employees busy Chris Koos I am pleased to report that 2013 was another great year for the town of Normal. The local economy has continued to show strong signs of recovery helping Normal’s financial health to remain sound. Chris Koos Remaining on strong financial footing is the council’s top priority which allows us to provide excellent public services and to address the important infrastructure needs of our community. Oddly enough, weather provided as much drama and impact on the town of Normal as did just about anything else this past year. We began the year in a serious drought condition which continued well into the fall. Fortunately, given the stability of the town’s underground water aquifers, the drought did not require the town to impose water restrictions or to limit water
use in any way. Another notable day in terms of weather in Central Illinois was Nov. 17. Even though Normal and Bloomington were spared the devastation that befelled a few of our neighboring Central Illinois communities, the windstorm still caused widespread power outages and massive tree damage throughout our community. Town maintenance crews spent over a month cleaning up the community and removing downed trees and tree limbs from public and private property. Before we were able to catch our breath from this severe windstorm, winter hit Central Illinois with a vengeance. The winter of 2013-14 is like few others we have ever seen in our history. Extremely cold temperatures coupled with an extraordinary amount of snowfall has made it a very difficult winter for many public employees, particularly those that are charged with snow and ice removal. During a typical winter season, our snow plows and salt trucks are deployed on
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling uses dental X-rays to confirm the identity of an determine which option should be recommended individual after an autopsy at the Law and Justice Center. to the board and will seek the help of a planner who office, as required by a referendum eliminated oversees the office. will conduct a jail needs Nov. 6, 2012 referendum his job on Dec. 31,2013. McLean County assessment. approved by voters. T h e p hys i c a l o f f i c e Administrator Bill WasEven though McLean space remains the same son said the change has Recorder’s office County Clerk Lee New- — o n t h e m e z z a n i n e gone well. The biggest On Dec. 31, the McLean com was re-elected to a level of the Government challenge in the transiCounty recorder’s office four-year term in that Center in Bloomington tion has been changing wa s o f f i c i a l ly m e rge d same November elec - — but McLean County the accounting arm of with the County Clerk’s tion, the outcome of the Clerk Kathy Michael now the office.
average 15 different occasions. This winter, however, we were forced to deploy our snow plows and salt truck 28 times — and winter is not over yet. But spring will soon be here, temperatures will warm up and flower blooms will emerge. The memories of this extraordinarily harsh winter will begin to fade. It won’t be long before we are all complaining about the heat and humidity of July and August. But despite the challenging weather, the town of Normal has continued to function well. We are very proud of our basic municipal services and we are proud of the manner in which our dedicated and professional employees are always able to get the job done! 2013 was certainly a good year, but Normal is always looking forward. We expect that 2014 will be even better. The town council has laid out an aggressive and exciting agenda for the new year that is sure to keep us very busy. Koos is mayor of Normal.
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The Pantagraph • Sunday, March 23, 2014 • F13
ISU research benefits Unit 5 ending school year community, society full of accomplishments John Baur Illinois State University long ago earned a reputation for academic excellence; a reputation that gets stronger and more widely known with each passing year. That reputation is based on a deep institutional commitment to innovative teaching and research. Our incoming freshmen prove themselves to be academically talented and highly motivated. Once students arrive on campus they become part of a community that challenges them academically and gives the support they need to succeed and thrive. Personalized attention in the classroom and a wide array of academic and social support services have played a vital role in raising Illinois State’s graduation rate to an impressive 71.5 percent. That figure puts Illinois State in the top 10 percent of public and private universities nationwide. Illinois State’s nearly 1,000 faculty members provide classroom teaching that is beyond compare. Their dedication to scholarship and learning extends to research they conduct in their academic fields. Their work addresses some of today’s most pressing educational, social and health issues. Research done through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies and groups supporting education, science, health and the arts benefits individuals, local communities and our larger society. Many research
projects at Illinois State are funded through grants from state and federal government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, John and by a Baur number of private entities. With the help of grant funding, faculty members in Illinois State’s School of Biological Sciences are working to create a “smart device” in the hopes of stifling the rewarding properties of abused drugs, are studying the link between genetics and cancer and are exploring ways to create biofuels from plants. External research funding is also helping the Center for the Study of Education Policy in the College of Education enhance the training and preparation of K-12 school principals, and is supporting the cross-disciplinary work of faculty in the Departments of Technology and Philosophy on a program to prepare more computer science teachers for area high schools. Studies on wind power and other alternative energy modes by the Center for Renewable Energy are valuable resources for the nation’s growing clean energy industry. The center brings together industry and public sector representatives through the Illinois Wind Working Group and hosts one of
several Illinois Energy Learning Exchanges, which promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Social and humanitarian issues – both domestic and international – are the focus of work by a number of faculty members. Some examples include a criminal justice sciences professor’s research on how sexual assault and abuse impacts a survivor’s family; a sociology professor’s examination of the unseen jobs where immigrant women tend to find employment; a political scientist’s study of microloans as a way to address poverty in Africa; and a geography professor’s work with the U.S. State Department and the United Nations to develop better mapping systems for global humanitarian efforts. The research done by Illinois State faculty members strengthens the University’s teaching mission by bringing innovation and real-world issues into the classroom. In most cases, undergraduate and graduate students are active partners in research projects along with their professors. By bringing the classroom, the laboratory and the world together, Illinois State provides students with an education that prepares them for the challenges of an everchanging world. Baur is interim associate vice president for research and graduate studies.
Maria Nagle BLOOMINGTON — During the decade since three local faith-based sc h o o l s co n s t r u c te d new buildings they have seen their enrollments increase, causing one to consider expansion and another to add on. “ We ’re o n t h e c u s p of an expansion,” Trini t y L u t h e ra n S c h o o l Principal Shawn Hoffmann said. Hoffman was a teacher when the doors o f t h e n ew $ 4.4 m i l l i o n , 5 8,0 0 0 - s q u a re foot school building at 1102 W. Hamilton Road, Bloomington, opened in January 2003. “It was like coming to t h e p ro m i s e d l a n d b e ca u se i t wa s b ea u t i f u l a n d b i g ,” H o f fman recalled. “We were blessed deeply by it.” But now the school has added a new dimension to its educational offerings. “We just started alld ay p re - k i n d e rga r te n and preschool,” Hoffman said. “Our desire is to add an early childhood wing for our 3- and 4-year-olds, and we have s ta r te d co nve rsa t i o n s about an expansion.” Ce n t ra l C a t h o l i c High School opened its $12 million building in August 2003 at 1201 Airport Road, Bloomington, with 323 students, and enrollment reached about 420 at one point. There were 348 students enrolled at the start of this school year. T h e re a re n o p l a n s for expansion, but the building’s updating has included the installation of wireless school-wide in 2013, CCHS Principal Joy Allen said. “ W h i l e we ’re s t i l l
feeling like it’s a new building, during the decade we’ve had to make repairs and replacements to s tay c u r re n t ,” s h e added. “We’ve also put in our football stadium and track, so we’ve made it into a complex.” From its beginnings in 1997 as a preschool at Eastview Christian C h u rc h , C o r n e rs to n e C h r i s t i a n A c a d e m y ’s enrollment has increased f ro m 4 5 to 4 0 0 s t u dents from kindergarten through high school. With the coming to ge t h e r o f s t u d e n t s f r o m t h r e e s e p a ra t e sites — Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington; and Faith United Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church, both in Normal — the new school opened in December 2003 east of Bloomington near the intersection of Towanda-Barnes and Ireland Grove roads. In 2007, Cornerstone expanded the size of its new building from 51,400 square feet to 79,400 s q u a re fe e t to c rea te space for a high school. For several years construction remained at a shell phase and the space stood mostly empty. “ T h e o n ly p a r t l e f t u n f i n i s h e d i s 6 ,0 0 0 square feet, which we hope to finish in the next couple of years,” said April Kinzinger, director of development. “Right n ow we ’re f i n i s h i n g 10,000 square feet and we already finished the first 10,0000 square feet a year ago.” K inzinger attributed the school’s growth to small class sizes, its faith-based education, quality of teachers and a challenging curriculum.
out laptops to all junior high students. Students respond well to technology in the classroom. A highlight of my year is my literacy visits to the schools. Twice a year I visit every elementary classroom, and select junior high and high school classrooms. It is a great opportunity to see the wonderful work our teachers do in Unit 5. District initiatives are implemented with fidelity and consistency across the school district. The District Core Team — made up of administrators, certified and noncertified staff — monitors and upgrades the district strategic plan, which is a living document with each area reported out annually to allow for goals to be regularly measured. Data and strategies and decisions are made by consensus. Growing student enrollment is always an issue for Unit 5. Many areas in Unit 5 continue to see rapid growth, and the district is using nearly every available classroom. To help alleviate overcrowding at Cedar Ridge, kindergartners from that school were moved to Brigham this school year, after the school had a major renovation. With the help of the community, Unit 5 was able to expand the Promise Council concept to the junior high schools. Kingsley and Evans junior highs each started a Promise Council, a group of caring adults that work to address barriers to student achievement, as identified by teachers and
staff at local schools. This brings the total number of Promise Councils in Unit 5 to five. We are hoping within the next year that number will continue to grow, as we have students in many schools that would benefit from this type of support. The big story this year has been the weather. What a winter! With the average temperature reaching just 19 degrees, it is one of the coldest winters on record. And then there is the snow, which is topping the 40 inch mark. Student and staff safety is the ultimate factor when deciding if school should be cancelled or delayed, and for the first time in recent memory, we have used a significant number of snow days. We take the decision to close very seriously, not wanting to ever lose valuable education time. Hopefully, spring will be right around the corner. Finally, I would like to thank the community for its support and cooperation during my seven years as superintendent. I have truly enjoyed my time in Unit 5 and continue to be amazed at the wonderful things we have accomplished together. As I prepare for my retirement, I can’t say enough how much we appreciate the efforts of our students, parents, faculty, staff and community members, as we all work to “educate every student to achieve personal excellence.” Niehuas is superintendent of the Unit 5 school district.
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Enrollment up at private schools mnagle@pantagraph.com
Gary Niehaus I t is always amazing to look back on the year and see all that we have accomplished in Unit 5. Whether it is in the classroom or community, Unit 5 students continue to benefit from the Gary outNiehaus standing educational opportunities provided. Our main focus is always academic achievement, and our students continue to excel in the classroom. We strive daily to provide our students with the best experience possible. Literacy is a priority in Unit 5, and the Reading Recovery model, as well as Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop, continue to be an important part of the school day. Math and science are being realigned by administrators and teachers, to include Math Workshop at the elementary and more alignment with STEM learning and student engagement. Unit 5 collaborated with Heartland Community College to offer free Dual Credit classes. Students can earn college credit through the successful completion of courses offered right in our high schools, which can then be applied towards a college degree. The district continues to make the transition to a Digital 1:1 conversion. After piloting the program with its 1,000 sixth graders, Unit 5 rolled
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