Thursday, May 17

• Classrooms First Commission announces hearing dates

• Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and the Classrooms First Commission will release a set of draft recommendations on April 17 focused on improving educational opportunity and the efficient use of educational resources. The public is invited to give its input on the recommendations at four hearings across the state. Individuals will be given up to five minutes to provide comment, and speakers will be allotted time on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who cannot attend a hearing can give input here. To view the Commission’s recommendations please visit www.ltgov.illinois.gov.

  Public Hearing Schedule:
  • April 19, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Parkland College, Room D244, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61821
  • April 20, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Southern Illinois University, Student Health Center Auditorium, 374 East Grand Ave. , Carbondale, IL 62901
  • April 26, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Prairie State College, Conference Center Auditorium, 202 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
  • April 30, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, Room 117-121, 3301 North Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114

• District 117 earns Bright Red Apple Award

• District 117 has been named a recipient of a Bright Red Apple Award for 2012. Only seventy-nine of the 866 school districts in Illinois received this honor, which is given annually by SchoolSearch, an educational research and consulting firm.

  All school districts in Illinois are considered for the award, and the award criteria are based on objective factors so that all districts are judged fairly. The award criteria are based on the primary areas of concern of most relocating families: academic performance, pupil/teacher ratio, operating expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers, and average teacher salary.

  The award criteria for secondary school districts include having more than 60 percent of teachers with a master’s degree or above, a pupil-to-teacher ratio of less than 19 to 1, average teacher salary of at least $65,000, operating expenditures per pupil of at least $11,537, and an ACT composite score of at least 21.2.

  Data for the awards is gathered from 2011 school report cards.

• ACHS juniors & seniors serve as judges on election day

• Millions of Illinois voters headed to the polls on March 20 to cast their ballots in the state primary election. When they did, approximately 30 ACHS juniors and seniors were at the polling places to work as election judges, helping to make sure the voting process goes smoothly.

  The Lake County Clerk Office’s Student Election Judge Program recruits high school students to serve as election day workers and provides on-site training to those interested. Approximately 46 ACHS students participated in the training in February.

  Election judges must be U.S. citizens, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and secure written permission from of the school principal and a parent. The Lake County Board selects election judges based on their qualifications and availability.