Galesburg 205

Superintendents in western Illinois pleaded with the public last year to reach out to legislators and urge them to pass a budget and fund K-12 schools. They sounded the call again as the deadline to pass a budget this year approaches.

For most high school seniors, the month of May is all about preparing for graduation and the future.  It's also a time to reflect on the past dozen years of school. In Galesburg, those memories include a trip back to the school where their education started.

Two candidates are left in the running to become the Galesburg School District's next superintendent. They each made their case to the public Tuesday night at Lombard Middle School.

The cuts were approved in separate votes at the board's meeting Monday night.  Board members Wayne Statham and Jean Ann Glasnovich voted against the cuts.  Voting in favor were Tianna Cervantez, Ellen Spittell, Joshua Gibb, and Amy Pickrel.  Board President Bob Lindstrom was not at the meeting.

Galesburg School Superintendent Ralph Grimm said the district is attacking its deficit head on with the hope of eliminating it by 2018.

The students, faculty, and staff at Galesburg's Steele Elementary School did something this week no one in education ever wants to do. They said goodbye to one of their own.

Jennifer Hamm, Assistant Superintendent of Finances for the  Galesburg School District, said the district needs to get every bit of revenue possible as it faces uncertainty over state funding.  Illinois lawmakers have yet to approve a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins in two weeks.

School districts across Illinois are worried about whether they will receive state funding for  next school year.  They say without the state support, teachers and other employees could lose their jobs, programs could be cut, and some schools might close their doors.

Members of the community pleaded to Galesburg School Board members for 75 minutes Wednesday night to reconsider cuts to personnel and programs.  But it was to no avail as the board moved ahead with the cuts.

Two buildings owned by the Galesburg School District will be torn down over the summer.  The Board of Education this month agreed to demolish the Technology Learning Center. It earlier approved the demolition of Silas Elementary, which is next door to the TLC.

The Galesburg School Board Monday night voted on dozens of cost reduction recommendations designed to save the district more than $3 million.

Galesburg School Board member Wayne Statham told a crowded room of community members Tuesday night how difficult it will be to make cuts in the district. He told them how one of the positions up for elimination belongs to a friend -- someone he had over to his house this past Christmas season.

Superintendent Ralph Grimm's budget reduction committee spent the past few months working to come up with recommendations for the Board of Education.  Grimm this week shared the committee's findings with the board.

The second time was the charm for a committee dedicated to reducing a $2 million dollar deficit in the Galesburg School District.

The Galesburg School District hoped a new budget reduction committee would eliminate around $2 million to help balance its books. But now it will have to take a new approach.

Stories of turkey tacos, dancing, and long runs on a stomach full of Oreos were shared during a memorial service for two Galesburg High School students.

The Galesburg High School community is mourning the loss of two of its students after a car crash over the weekend.

The head of the Galesburg School District wants to hear some new ideas when it comes to solving the district’s financial challenges. Galesburg is projecting a $2.6-million shortfall in the budget for the 2015/2016 school year.

The man who led the Galesburg School District for the past three years is ready to turn over the reins.  Friday is the final day on the job for Superintendent Bart Arthur.

The Galesburg School District will have to wait another year before the new Silas-Willard school is ready to hold classes.  The district's plan to open the $18.3 million dollar building this fall experienced a couple delays recently.

Students at Lombard Junior High School in Galesburg created a club to lessen the impact of bullying.  Seventh grader Katie Dunbar came up with the idea for the "Take A Stand Club." Dunbar said she's well acquainted with the stress caused by being bullied. 

Tri States Public Radio filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain details of the exit agreement between the Galesburg School District and former athletic director Ralph Henning.  The agreement called for two payments to be made to Henning by no later than 30 days after June 30, which is the date his resignation takes effect.

The Galesburg School District relieved Ralph Henning from his duties as athletic director about a month ago. He was reclassified to a teaching position. Henning, his lawyer and the school board met this week to discuss a possible reinstatement.

After next week's municipal elections, the Galesburg Board of Education will include two new representatives from Galesburg Township.  Incumbents Molly Palmer and Tom Colclasure chose to seek another term.

The three candidates vying for the two spots are Phillips Slaton, Tianna Cervantez, and H. Wayne Statham. All three believe they can build a better relationship between the school board and teachers.

Slaton, who is a teacher in the Orion School District, said the current board lacks respect for teachers.

The next superintendent of the Galesburg School District considers the district a “diamond in the rough.” Ralph Grimm, the current superintendent of the West Central School District in Henderson County, will replace the retiring Bart Arthur on July 1.

Originally, there was just one candidate for two open seats on the Galesburg School Board for people outside of Galesburg Township.  But write-in candidacies changed that.

The Galesburg School District has selected Ralph Grimm to be its next Superintendent.  Grimm is no stranger to the region, having led the West Central School District in Henderson County for the last ten years.

The Galesburg Board of Education might create a curriculum committee. District leaders said the need for the committee arose in response to questions from board members about how the district is implementing online courses.

Galesburg’s superintendent is cautiously optimistic about a proposed increase in K-12 funding.  But he also is skeptical the full amount will come.

The Illinois State Board of Education is conducting a survey to learn how schools are perceived.