Regional News
REGION 2
REGION 2—SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY
Submitted by Bonnie Reinhart
Region 2 held its first meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the North Cook Young Adult Academy (RSSP) in Des Plaines. The meeting included a lunch catered by Avanti Café. (North Cook provides lunch for all of the students, and Avanti is our caterer.) Fourteen people were in attendance. The purpose of our meeting was both organizational and informational. It was designed to provide an opportunity for us to get to know each other and learn about the various programs in the suburban Cook area. Items discussed included the following:
- Encouraging and expanding ICEARY membership in our region
- Becoming involved in ICEARY committees and presenting at conferences
- Nominating students for the ICEARY Student Award
- Communicating with legislators and testifying at the ISBE budget hearings
- Communicating and collaborating with each other to share ideas
- Planning for future meetings and ideas for presenters at these meetings
Ø A suggestion was made to rotate meeting sites, and we agreed to have our next meeting in a different location. Pat Crawford, from Bloom Township High School, offered to host our next meeting.
This will provide us with a good opportunity to visit the programs in our area.
Ø A survey will be emailed to our regional membership for suggestions about presenters at our meetings.
REGION 4
Panico and Mautino Featured at Region IV Meeting and Training
Submitted by Phyllis Glazier November 6, 2009
“Don’t do anything to a student that you wouldn’t want done to yourself,” was just one of the bits of wisdom stressed during a training at Putnam County Primary School in Granville on Friday, November 6. Though meeting in an elementary school, the day’s event focused on working with older at-risk youth. Ambrose Panico educated and motivated nearly sixty teachers, administrators, educators, counselors, truancy workers, and other school personnel on the topic, “Plan To Do Better: Helping Teachers and Administrators Help Students Change Their Behavior.” The training empowered student support teams to work with students in developing structured yet flexible plans that will facilitate greater student success. Participants found Ambrose to be very engaging with excellent hand-outs and interactive activities that they felt would be easy to take back and use. During lunchtime, Representative Frank Mautino from the 76th District in Illinois was the primary speaker during the Region IV ICEARY meeting. His message focused on the financial challenges facing Illinois legislators as they strive to adequately fund education and other needs during the next two years.
REGION 5
On September 22, 2009, 35 members from ICEARY region 5 met in Macomb, IL at the Regional Office of Education # 26 in Macomb, IL. Bruce Talbot began the meeting with training on Current Trends in Adolescent Drug Use. The training was designed for Illinois educators and focused on recent changes in drug use. A review of recently enacted drug laws and changes, as well as the newest drug paraphernalia were discussed. At the conclusion of Mr. Talbot’s presentation, Representative Rich Myers from the 94th District participated in discussion among members regarding the current funding crisis. Steve Breese, Regional Superintendent from ROE# 46 discussed ICEARY and how the budget cuts have and will affect TAOEP and RSSP programs throughout the state and the numbers of staff and students that will be cut or will not be served. Representative Myers discussed what ICEARY members can do to contact their legislators and that the dire nature of Illinois’ budget unfortunately meant that some programs would have to endure cuts in funding.
Region 6
Region 7
Thirty-three people attended the Region 7 fall meeting located at the Regency Conference center in O’Fallon, Illinois on November 9, 2009. Amy Grady-Allington from Gretchen Courtney Associates facilitated a workshop focusing on “How to Motivate Children of Poverty to Read and Comprehend”. The importance of selecting material students can relate to was stressed. Methods and activities to improve vocabulary and spelling were also discussed. Participants worked together in small groups to discuss and practice the strategies.
During lunch Deb Harriman of the ICEARY Legislative Committee shared information on current legislation and discussed the impact of current and future funding for RSSP and TAOEP. Members were encouraged to continue to contact their legislatures and to promote community support for both programs.
Region 8
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