the December 2020 | Volume 33 | No. 12
Celebrating 110 years! of the rockford business community ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY REVISIONS
Organizations partner to provide free NIU degree to RPS students City of Rockford to fund $1.5 million annually from nonproperty tax revenues
Since its founding in 2006, the nonprofit Rockford Promise has provided more than $1 million in scholarships to nearly 150 Promise Scholars at Rock Valley College and Rockford University. On Nov. 10, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara; Dr. Ehren Jarrett, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools; Dr. Tasha Davis, executive director of Rockford Promise, and Dr. Lisa Freeman, president of Northern Illinois University, announced a partnership to expand the program to provide free tuition at NIU to eligible RPS 205 students who live in Rockford. Mayor McNamara and the Rockford City Council aim to fund this in 2021, and beyond. Eligible Rockford Public School students would earn a bachelor’s degree from NIU with all of the tuition and general fees paid by Rockford Promise and NIU. “The city is pledging $1.5 million
annually because we know this program is a game changer for our community,” the mayor said. “It is critical that we invest in our youth now to improve our community today and for many years to come.” Students who qualify must live inside City of Rockford boundaries, attend Rockford Public Schools all four years of high school, and graduate with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Students currently enrolled in a high school in the school district at any grade level would be eligible without the four-year attendance requirement. “Modeled after promise programs around the nation, including the Kalamazoo Promise, our goal is to increase educational attainment in our region while providing a powerful economic incentive for residents and businesses to locate to the Rockford Continued on page 4
Education Outlook
Conversation with Dr. Ehren Jarrett
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“It’s been a wild couple of years for Rockford Public Schools,” opened RPS 205 Superintendent Dr. Ehren Jarrett in his interview with Chamber CEO Einar Forsman. This was in response to him providing a quick 30,000-foot view preand post-COVID. It seems like such a long time ago, but Dr. Jarrett reminded the audience of their first crisis a year ago. That was their technology crisis from the ransomware incident. Just a few months later they dove headfirst into the pandemic. Dr. Jarrett was quick to emphasize how proud he was to see the people inside the District, as well as those in the community, come together for the schools and students. He reiterated their focus on emphasizing a high-quality educational experience offered to our students, provided by the parents, faculty, and staff. Dr. Jarrett outlined their response to the pandemic, beginning last spring with emergency remote learning. They
had to start from scratch, with no real preparation, to address education for 29,000 students. Many communities across the country were not prepared for something like this. Emergency remote learning required everyone to adapt in the short run. The District used the summer to take what they learned from the earlier response and to look for the best model that would deliver quality learning for their students. Ultimately, it led to a hybrid model of remote learning and in-class learning. The formal remote learning, in some cases, required significant technology enhancements for students. This included providing Chromebooksç or iPads®. In addition, a key partner was Comcast, who provided reliable internet connections. Asked how the “new world” was impacting the district, students, faculty and parents, Dr. Jarrett said, “We are all optimistic about what we can achieve
Continued on page 3
To address financial challenges, the Rockford Public Library Board of Trustees voted on Oct. 26 to close the Rock River and Rockton Centre branches and reduce 11 staff positions. The library will add a mobile library unit with internet access, custom collections and tailored classes/events/ demonstrations. It also will expand its digital offerings. Chromebooks will be available for long-term adult check-out. Remaining locations include the Montague Branch, the East Branch and the Hart Interim Library, along with the Nordlof Technology Center, until the opening of the new main library.
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CELEBRATION OF MANUFACTURING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 VIRTUAL PLATFORM For more information, see page 19 SPONSORED BY
ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT’S CONSOLIDATION ON HOLD A few organizations have expressed interest in providing the funding to keep the Riverview Ice House open, according to Rockford Park District Executive Director Jay Sandine. But $6 million is needed, and the district has been meeting with a small group of stakeholders and potential partners on identifying grant opportunities and solidifying donor and sponsorship commitments. The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners stated its intent to close the Riverview Ice House and expand Carlson Ice Arena at its Oct. 13 meeting. It aimed to free up dollars for neighborhood parks, youth programs and trails. The Riverview’s refrigeration system was becoming obsolete and renovations were required, including to the hockey boards and glass. A sustainable revenue stream also was needed to help offset the $351,958 tax subsidy to operate the two ice facilities. If all goes well, the park district plans for a conceptual agreement from interested stakeholders in Riverview Ice House that would lead to a design and bidding process in January. Replacing the entire refrigeration system and other capital upgrades would take place by summer of 2021. If this does not work out, the district plans to go to its original plan of adding ice to Carlson Ice Arena, closing Riverview Ice House and repurposing the Riverview Park area.
