Ten questions were provided the Board of Education Candidates prior to the March 2, 2023 "Meet the Candidate" night.  Below are the candidates responses to those 10 questions. 

Responses by Molly Bettis
1.In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?

I believe we have offered our students a solid educational experience; one with great mentors, we have offered a variety of courses, and have offered fundamentals to prepare kids for higher education and trades.  
I would like to improve our college preparation classes so our students can receive college credit for advanced high school classes.  I want those classes to be held at PORTA so our students can still be a part of the PORTA High School experience.  

2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities? 

My priorities for the district are education, life skills, and community service. These fundamentals are very important to me and my family.  These traits are what Kevin and I have valued and taught our 3 children. I believe when you give back to the community, you gain so much personal pride and you truly become a better person.  For the most part, I believe PORTA is concentrating on these; however, I would like to expand education in the form of dual credit classes, more vocational opportunities and a focus on community service for all students.  There is a possibility most of these items can be accomplished without budget adjustments; however, these are items that I would discuss with the superintendent once all financials can be presented.  There are always opportunities to look for grants and additional funding. Because of my education and experience as an Accountant, I feel I have the tools to analyze and assist in the budgeting process.
Our administration will be changing in the next few years due to retirement and I am very interested in being part of the selection process for the new leadership for our schools. I had the pleasure of being part of the committee of community members to establish priorities and values in finding a new superintendent. I am excited to work with the new Superintendent as working with Mr. Brue for the past 19 years has been a very rewarding experience.

3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?

First and foremost, our role is to provide the best education for our students.  As a board, we present our opinions, priorities and goals to the Superintendent, who then works with the administrative staff, in combination with the teaching and support staff, to formulate a plan to achieve the best educational opportunities for our students.  
4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?

I attended and graduated from Jacksonville public schools. My husband and I have raised our three children in the PORTA School District and watched as two of them have graduated, with our third child graduating in 2 months. In addition, I have been actively involved from the time our first child entered school from being room mom, helping in the classroom on a weekly basis, and chaperoning field trips.  I was a member of the PTA and coordinated activities and meals for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I have been the Treasurer for PORTA Sports Boosters for the past 14 years.  With Sports Booster, I have also been in charge of concession purchases/preparation and working for multiple sports and multiple events. I am in charge of fundraising for PORTA Sports Boosters and am proud of the funds we have raised to help our athletic teams with purchases and improving our athletic campus. I have been on the AFTER Prom Committee for each of my 3 children, heading the Food Committee and working events to raise money.  
I have been attending school board meetings for many years, consistently attending on a monthly basis for the last 5 years.  Public Education has shaped who I am and who my children are.  
Over the course of 23 years with children in PORTA Schools, I have established great working relationships with many people from the superintendent, administration, teachers, coaches, secretaries, and custodians.  We support each other and work together to benefit the district and the students.  My experience with them encourages me to want to be a part of the board to work as hard as I can to make PORTA School a fantastic place to attend.  I am in the schools on a regular basis, so I have a pretty solid understanding of the workings of the schools.  I know this familiarity and desire to improve what we have makes me a suitable candidate for school board. I know I can make a positive difference on our students and education.

5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?

We need to concentrate on marketing our school to the public.  We have great schools, great teachers and great opportunities for those who choose to attend.  Our website needs to be a clear and concise source of information for anyone who views it.  We have a unique situation with small class sizes, a variety of extracurricular activities and a one stop light town.  We have history in our backyard with New Salem and we have a strong agricultural community, which includes a brand-new greenhouse on our campus. We have great mentors right here in our schools and we can work on expanding that mentorship between students and teachers.  PORTA is a great place to learn and to work!

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?

First of all, I would direct the individual to the proper supervisor within the scope of the situation.  I would make the Superintendent aware of my conversation and of the situation.  I would also advise the parent or community member if the response is not what they like or the situation is not corrected, then they proceed to the next level of supervision.  I would always encourage people to come to me or write to me with any concerns and let them know I am always willing to listen and to help.   
7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?

I would seek advice and input from current and past school board members. I would communicate with the Superintendent. With any issue, I would do as much research as possible.   I am willing to listen to community members and take all opinions into consideration.  I am a fair person, a good listener and appreciate people’s opinions regarding issues that are important to them and affect our school.

8. What is your view of teachers’ unions? What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district? ​

Teachers’ unions are important. Teachers’ unions give the teachers a unified voice and the ability to communicate their needs and opinions.  Teachers are taxpayers, parents, and concerned citizens, in addition to being employees of the district.
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?
I believe it is important to follow laws that are passed by the legislature and that are constitutional. With that said, it is up to our school board to use our voting power to dictate the direction for our school in our community.
10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
I think the most important thing is to make sure PORTA District  students have all of the opportunities they can in the classroom and with extracurricular activities.  Reorganization could allow for more enhanced educational opportunities and would possibly benefit our students.
As far as the current sports co-op continuing, I would need to review all important information and look at projections with students for the next two years to come to a reasonable conclusion.  I want to ensure that PORTA students are benefitting from the cooperative agreement.

Responses by Alissa Bilyeu

1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?

• We have the best teachers and staff that care deeply for our students and give their best every day. The last five years have been challenging to say the least, but it is clear that our staff and administrators care for our children, have their best interest at heart and want to see our students succeed. 
  

Our community has seen a resurgence in the last few years with new stores, restaurants and other developments making it an attractive place to live. However, when families decide where to move, the local school district plays a large role in making that decision. I would like to see our district start looking at ways that will set our schools apart from those in surrounding communities. We should start working now in Kindergarten and moving on up through the grade levels to offer our students the most well-rounded education possible with opportunities to participate in an array of classes and activities that prepare them for lifetime success. 

2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?

• I would like to focus on curriculum, activities and other programs that set our district apart from surrounding communities. We should make PORTA the school district that families choose when looking to move or relocate. Our community has so much to offer and has seen a resurgence in recent years. Many families in our community struggle with child care, both before and after school and through the summer break. The Illinois State Board of Education potentially has grants available to address this need. This is something that the District should look into, research and explore to see if it is something that could be implemented in our district. 
  

Other areas to consider include foreign language opportunities starting as young as Kindergarten, curriculum alignment across schools, more opportunities for honors programs and vocational/trade classes and equitable building and recreational improvements across the various schools. Again, I would look to explore potential grant opportunities such as the Arts & Foreign Language Education Grant Program through the Illinois Arts Council and Illinois State Board of Education and see what can be addressed through our current educational fund.

3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?

• The School Board provides governance to the district. The Board is responsible for hiring a superintendent and delegates authority to that individual to manage the day to day operations of the school district. The School Board should have trust in that individual but also ask questions and provide feedback as needed regarding the direction and future of the district. Board members should have an open mind, a willingness to become informed on topics and a desire to serve the children of the district, acting in their best interest. 
  

4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?

• I have experience with both public and private education. I grew up in Mt. Sterling, IL and attended a private grade school through 8th grade. I then attended and graduated from Brown County High School, a public school in Mt. Sterling. From there I attended a public university, graduating from Western Illinois University with a degree in Finance. Following a number of years working, I received a graduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
  

I value the education I received in both private and public schools. Our education is the key to success as an adult. I have seen the benefits that each offer and hope to apply my education and background as a Board Member in this district. We need to ensure all of our students receive the best education they can and are given opportunities to excel in multiple areas ensuring their fullest potential.  
5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?

• There are several strategies you could use to approach this. The district could ask for referrals from our current teachers and staff, perhaps even offering a referral bonus. The district could send representation to attend teacher job fairs or look to have a presence on online job websites. Additionally, in today’s day and age of technology, the district could also be more active on social media in posting information and seeking candidates to fill open positions.
  

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?
The Board provides governance of the district and adopts and enforces policies that direct the superintendent on how to manage the day to day operations of the schools in the district. I believe it’s vitally important that school board members understand the challenges and issues that arise within the school district, whether these are raised by community members or others at the school. This sort of information should be shared with the superintendent to manage as part of day to day operations or see if further action or policies need to be addressed by the Board. 

7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?

• The role of the board is to make every effort to be transparent and open by encouraging public attendance at meetings and consulting key constituents and stakeholders. I will solicit feedback and advice from our parents, our teachers and staff, out students and other members of our community as each of these groups should have a say in the future of our school district. I believe in communication, consensus building and reasonable and pragmatic solutions.
  

8. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  ​

• I believe that our teachers and staff should make their own decisions on who they choose to represent them. Should that be a teachers union or other representation, our role as a Board should be to build a healthy working relationship based on communication and transparency with all parties. 
  

9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?

• Our role as a Board is to follow the laws and regulations outlined by the Illinois State Constitution and case law. In areas where we have the ability to act on recommendations versus laws or regulations, then Board Members should become well informed on the topic, consult with key stakeholders and make decisions in the best interest of the school district after careful consideration.
  

10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?

• I believe we should listen to our students, coaches and parents when it comes to our sports cooperative agreements or reorganization opportunities. As a board member, we should never be satisfied with the status quo and should carefully consider new ideas and different ways of doing things. I’m the type of person that will seek input, build consensus, carefully consider and make decisions that are in the best interest of our district.
  

Responses by Bill Chick
1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?

One thing my family has really appreciated are the after school programs at the elementary school.  Our kids have participated in several over the past few years and really enjoy them.  We appreciate the emphasis on the hour or so of homework and academic work followed up with a choice in some type of activity whether it be a sport, craft, etc. 
Maintenance of outside grounds and facilities is something I’ve both seen and heard there is room for improvement-specifically the baseball diamonds and tennis courts.  I know community members are already working to address some of the issues so I’d start with their input and recommendations.    
2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?

Since a new superintendent has been hired I would like to hear his ideas and learn what areas his expertise lie in before determining priorities going forward.  The selection process of 2-3 new principals likely to begin this summer would also be a consideration as these selections will influence the focus and direction of the district for years to come.
One thing I’d like to see prioritized is the revamping/expansion of dual credit program(earning credit towards both a high school diploma and a college degree with the same class).  I understand that currently and in the past students wishing to take these classes have to travel to other high schools in the area or Lincoln Land Community College in order to participate.  We need to find a way to offer the classes at PORTA.  This would be a great opportunity to help the students(and families) in our district both academically and monetarily!  I don’t know the details of the programs in other schools in the area but I do know that any classes a student would receive dual credit for would decrease both the amount of time and money spent in college.  And, the less time spent in college the sooner one would be able to enter the workforce and maximizing their earning potential.  I do know that in Minnesota students can begin taking dual credit courses during their Junior year in high school.  They can potentially graduate from high school not only with a diploma but an associates degree as well!  And, if they choose to go on and pursue a bachelors degree they could potentially have two years towards it already completed before setting foot on campus.
If this becomes a priority the budget will be adjusted to reflect it.       

3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?
My vision would be that the school board, administration and staff at PORTA work together towards providing our kids with the best education and extracurricular experience possible.  There should be open communication between all involved in working towards a common goal and this is no different.  Synergy is the million dollar word that comes to mind!

4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?

I’ve experienced public education both as student in k-12 and college as well.  Now, I’m experiencing it as a parent.  I have fond memories of my time in school-friends made, influential teachers, lessons learned both in the classroom and on the field and I’ll always appreciate them.  I would like my own children, nieces, nephews, extended family and all students in our district to have the same opportunity to learn and grow both inside and outside the classroom. 

5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?

One thing seems obvious-salaries.  How do they compare with the rest of the schools in the area as well as around the state?  I do know there are a lot of factors the go into determining them but take a look at the budget, etc and see what might be done.  Other ideas would be signing bonuses for new teaches and staff, year-end performance based bonuses or increased longevity incentives for current teachers and staff.  With the ever-increasing cost of healthcare take a look at different group insurance plans and provide options for teachers, staff and family members.
The district could also look into employing interested, retired community members, especially those with specific skill sets or backgrounds.  Recruit parents to get involved.  Give them opportunities to help the school and their students.  I’m a pilot by trade and know there’s an aviation STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum that AOPA(Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) offers for no charge along with the training for teachers/instructors.  Depending on the interest level this is something I’d be willing to assist in setting up.  

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?

For the most part, I think issues should be handled or solved at the lowest level.  That being said I would first listen to their concern or issue, ask if they or anyone else has attempted to resolve it previously and what the outcome was.  I’d ask if they have any suggestions or recommendations as far as a way forward and resolving the issue as well as what end result they’d like to see. If it’s not something requiring immediate attention I would gather more information as appropriate and bring it to the attention of the school board at the next meeting.  If the issue is urgent I’d look into it immediately and contact the appropriate person(s).    


7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?

I’ll seek advice or input on key decisions from both those most involved and potentially affected as well as those with previous experience in similar situations-those most likely being families, students, teachers, staff, administrators, community and board members in the district.  It’s never good to make decisions in a vacuum and important get input from those with different experiences.  You’ll gain insight and different perspectives.  

8. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  

Teachers’ unions uphold professional standards that are in place.
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?
In light of recent lessons learned, I think the district would do well to continue to weigh out the consequences of compliance/non-compliance of any future executive orders and educational mandates to include the legality and constitutionality of such.  Just because someone has a pen and a phone doesn’t mean they get to dictate social or political agendas by executive fiat.  ​

10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
I think it’s important to continuously evaluate this with the following considerations taken into account as part of any decision.  How many students from coop schools are participating in both classes and extracurricular activities offered at PORTA?  Does the number of coop students participating correlate to the larger number of students being included for attendance when determining what class size PORTA is going to be in for extracurriculars?  Does the coop provide more, or less opportunities both academically and in extracurricular activities for PORTA students?    
If there are only a small number of coop students participating but the overall number of students being included for attendance and determining what class size PORTA is going to be in for extracurriculars does not correlate then PORTA students may be at a disadvantage by having to compete in a higher class because school attendance numbers have in a sense been artificially inflated.

Responses by Tim Davis

1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?
   

Given the recent climate of reduced funding I think the board has done a great job of keeping all our facilities looking good and in good working order.  Specifically, our nearly 50-year-old high school is looking great and able to service the needs of our students and faculty.  The recent upgrades that I am aware of to the outside of the school, commons area, football/track area and gym have been very nice.  In addition, we have continued to be able to offer a very well rounded set of extracurricular activities and sports.  This gives our students the opportunity for a versatile experience where they can learn leadership, sportsmanship and how to work together for a common goal. 
The one area that I want to explore more is the level of education that our students are receiving.  I think in general we are doing good.  However, I want to make sure our students are receiving everything they need from their core classes, plus having the opportunity to challenge themselves with college level curriculum and be taught by a first-rate faculty.   I want to see how we compare with other schools in terms of classes offered and average test scores of students plus any other data that can help us decide how we are performing in this all-important area. 

1. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?
   

This is a tougher question for one who is not an incumbent and hasn’t been exposed to the budget process and its results.  However, declining enrollment is a major factor and I know PORTA is not the first school to face this issue.  The declining macro trend of the population of the State and Central Illinois counties does not help the situation.  I would like to explore how can we make PORTA more attractive to incoming families to encourage families to settle in our area.  Petersburg has gone through some exciting changes in terms of restaurants and new businesses coming in the area.  Can we leverage this with local tourism groups to market our school system as a significant reason to choose our portion of Menard County as a prospective family’s new home.   I am also concerned about neighboring schools who have recently added new facilities, perhaps making them more attractive to prospective students.  I want to learn how they are able to do so and what does it take for PORTA to consider some upgrades or additions to its classrooms while adding additional room for extracurricular activities and sports. 

1. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?
   

While everyone from these three groups will likely see things from a slightly different perspective it is important that all viewpoints are heard and the best informed decision is made.  General support after the decision is increasingly possible if everyone feels like they were heard and the reasons for the decision are well communicated.   You will find these same issues across most every business but the culture inside those businesses is largely affected by how much two-way communication is in place between the different parts of the company.  As a member of the Board, I will do everything I can to make sure all 3 groups receive timely and effective communication. 

1. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?
   

My father, Pat Davis, was on the board for multiple terms when our present Jr/Sr
High School was built.  He later served on the Regional School board until he recently retired.  I always thought someday I would want to serve my community in a similar manner.  I attempted to get on the board several years ago when there was an opening due to a vacancy but based on where I lived, I couldn’t be a candidate because there were already 3 people on the board from my area.  I am running because I believe my personal and business experiences can be an asset to the board.  I have lived in the district my entire life and know many people and feel I am approachable to those who do not know me.  I have been a part of many important and emotional decisions during my business career, and I always try to make sure all areas are discussed, and all effected groups are heard before a decision is made.

1. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?
   

I think we need to more aggressively market our school system.  That can help attract more teachers and students.  Perhaps work with a local marketing company, use testimonials, videos of activities, drone footage of facilities etc.  If you work for a company or own a business, you must work hard to keep your current customers and to gain new ones.  A school district is really no different.  If we think about it in those terms, I think collectively we can come up with additional ideas to help in this area. 

1. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?
   

First, make sure you are in an environment that fits the conversation.  If in a public area perhaps suggest a phone call or second more private meeting for the discussion.   During the conversation, listen to them and be empathetic to their situation.  Ask them if you can take notes so you can do your best to communicate the situation.  Once you feel you have a good grasp, thank them for coming forward and then notify the administration.  Make sure to follow up in a few days to see what has happened.   Is it something the Administration can handle or does the board need to get involved.  I certainly don’t now how that is decided but I do know that if you are the person who was first contacted it is up to you to follow up and make sure the situation is solved.  And lastly, make sure to keep the person who brought the situation to you updated throughout the process. 

1. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?
   

My first two groups would be current board members and past board members.  It is always important for current members to discuss issues so we can get everyone’s input and perspective.  Often times I have had my original thoughts changed on subjects that I felt I knew well based on other people’s opinions of the situation. It is also important to gain perspective from past board members as situations often repeat themselves over time.  So, gaining a past perspective on how something was handled can be very helpful.  Lastly, I think it is important for a board member to educate themselves when possible if there is a situation that you are not as familiar with. You might contact people within the affected groups.  Personally, I can also reach out to a large network of professionals that I have worked with over the years and lean on their experience and advice.​

1. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  
   

As someone new running for the board for the first time I have no experience with Teacher’s Unions. I have had experience working with union groups in the past which could help.  I will look to the incumbent board members to help bring me up to speed and I will listen and learn and ask questions to better understand the issues at hand.  I do know many of our teachers and can also visit with them to understand their perspectives.   
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?
The World has changed immensely following the pandemic.  You want to think your government has your best interest in mind and will make good decisions that overall positively effect you and those you care about.  I still hope this is the case, but I also know if we are ever faced with something similar many will be not so eager to follow.  There is no way to predict all the details of a similar situation in the future, all we can do is trust that our administration and board members will listen to the community and make the best overall decisions for the district. 
10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
Yes, we should continue to evaluate reorganization with any school district that meets logical logistical criteria.  PORTA’s enrollment is shrinking and one way to increase enrollment and decrease costs per student is to merge districts.  I believe in giving every student in the area, not just in our district, the best opportunity for their education and continued access to as many leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities as possible. One of the best ways to ensure we keep what we have and to potentially improve our overall students experience is through mergers with neighboring schools.  
I also believe in continuing the current sports cooperatives and evaluating by sport all opportunities with new districts.

Responses by Troy Eckles
1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?
I can only speak from what I’ve observed over the last three years and only the elementary school as my oldest is in second grade and my twins are in preschool. I couldn’t be happier with the staff at the elementary school and our bus drivers. I can’t comment on the district as whole over the last five years but I will say their handling of Covid policies was a complete failure. 
2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?
My priority is to be a hedge against what I believe to be detrimental policies such as HB0818 which is a bill that will extend sexual education all the way down to kindergartners. Being involved with the Covid issue over the last few years has brought to my attention the aforementioned bill and other concerns that parents have reached out to me about. The budget will be unaffected by these priorities. 
3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?
The role of everyone involved in the district should be to assure the students have a safe and effective learning environment free of political agendas and other nefarious policies coming from the State of Illinois. 

4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?
I had a pleasant experience with the PORTA school district as I attended K-12. My desire to serve as a board member was not influenced by my personal experience but rather the experience of my children. When it mattered most their school board failed them miserably. I want to do everything I can to be sure the next time an extremely important decision needs to be made it will be done with the best interest of our children in mind. This is what influenced my desire to run for school board. 
5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?
I’d like to see a “grow your own” program implemented which is designed to recruit, develop, and retain teachers who are already in the community. Grow your own programs usually have some sort of financial support/scholarship, an apprenticeship program, and a promise of a job upon graduation. 

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?

These are the areas I will take a lead role in resolving. Since becoming involved in school board meetings I’ve had numerous parents come to me with issues that were either never resolved or completely ignored.
7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?
Before making important decisions I’ll get input from all parties involved including teachers, parents, and students. I’ll also seek advice from other board members both current and former.
8. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  
Teachers unions have become highly politicized organizations that do not hold the best interests of our children. I’d like to see local teachers unions that are not only unaffiliated with the major unions but also explicitly condemn them. Teachers unions should only go as far as to protect teachers from an unfair or unsafe working environment and bargain for a fair wage and benefits. 
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates
The way our district handled the covid mandates was completely unacceptable to say the least, our district completely failed our children. Moving forward we need to make logical, rational, and informed decisions regarding policies that drastically affect our children, sadly this didn’t happen when it was most urgently needed. 
10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
I do not feel it is important to continue seeking reorganization with other districts. Although I’m not opposed to it, I just don’t feel that it’s a priority. I don’t have an opinion on sports cooperative agreements as long as the kids and parents are okay with it I am too.

Responses by Jeff Schoneweis
1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?

Updated buildings and grounds. Made it through covid through online, and when possible, in school learning. We lost a few good teachers, but our administration was able to find qualified candidates to fill the roles and continue with our quality education that PORTA is known for.
I would like to see  us improve on another entrance to the High school to make it safer, especially during the busy hours of each day. Another goal would be to try to balance our budget.

2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?  

My main priorities for the next few years would be to welcome our new superintendent to the community, and make his transition as easy as possible. We are also looking  for three new Principals, so that will be another main responsibility for our district. Look for the best candidates and make wise decisions on hiring them.
Our district budget can only be balanced two ways; take in more money, or less wasteful spending. We have a good idea on how much money is coming in, so let’s try to spend it wisely

3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?

The board needs to listen to all the people in the school system, including the taxpayer, to hear their wants and needs, remembering the main goal is to give the students the best overall education,even if someone gets their feelings hurt.

4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?

My own experience with public education started at Tallula grade school, then on to  PORTA  junior and senior high school where I graduated in 1978. Two years of college at Colorado State University majoring in AG-Business and Finance, and then back to Menard county to continue the family farm.    Being 62 years old, I think I’ve had plenty of life and business experiences to help some of the younger board members make better financial decisions, or at least lead them in the right direction.  Taxpayer money is your money, so spend it wisely.
5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?

Attracting new teachers to the district is a huge concern. I don’t want to hire the first warm body that applies. We need to hire quality candidates that can  actually expand our students' thinking and learning process. It is the administrations' job to bring us those quality people.

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?

Listening to the concerns of parents or community members is part of the job. There are proper channels that we have in place to address most issues. Just because I’m on the board doesn’t mean I can solve every issue that is presented to me. I try to lead them in the right direction to help solve issues promptly and in the best interest of all parties involved.
7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice?

I will seek advice from whomever I feel has the knowledge and understanding  of main issues that we have to deal with. There are people out there that are a lot smarter than me. You just need to know them and get their opinion on issues so I can make a better decision.

8. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  

Teacher unions are a mixed bag.  Great teachers should be paid more. Bad teachers should look for work in another district.
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?
Executive orders are sometimes made by people that don’t have our best interests in mind.  We don’t want to be sued, so we should evaluate our best options and not put a bull's-eye on our backs.  If it’s something we don’t agree with we need to find the best solution for our district and go from there.
10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
Consolidation and reorganization are hot topics. I believe all students might benefit from reorganization, but no one wants to lose their school.  I saw this when  Tallula grade school closed and I hated to see that happen, but in the long run it was probably the best financial decision for the district.  AC has to see a benefit or it will probably never happen. Our current sports co-ops seem to be working. I’m more concerned that ALL students receive a  quality education and can go out in the world and contribute to society in a positive manner  than I am about our sports co-ops.

Responses by Brandy Zanger
1. In your view, what has the PORTA School District done well over the last five years?  What is one thing PORTA should improve and how would you lead that improvement?

I believe the PORTA School District has maintained and improved facilities in a manner that was fiscally responsible and which prioritized the district’s greatest needs.  The district navigated the pandemic in a way that mitigated risk for the district, the staff and the students.  While the decisions may not have always been popular, the decisions were made with the information available at that moment in time and with the best interest of the collective of stakeholders.  

PORTA should continue to strive for a culture where students and staff feel supported and heard.  There are so many complexities in this statement, but I believe there is always going to be room for improvement in this area, even when “things are great.”  Open communication and follow up on that communication is critical (from all directions).  I will continue to encourage people to use their voice to share concerns and successes with administration and the board.  I will always encourage more participation at the board level – come to meetings and/or speak with board members.  Know that board members cannot “solve” all the issues, and the board is not always the appropriate starting point (so you may be redirected), but board members serve in order to hear the voices of the entire district.  

2. What are your priorities for the district in the next few years? Why and how did you select these issues? How do you see the district budget being adjusted to meet these priorities?

I would like to continue to see improvements to the facilities (operational and cosmetic).  The current administration and board have addressed many areas which needed improvement, and I would like to see continued progress.  Maintaining/improving our facilities will offset much larger costs in the future.  Another priority is teacher recruitment and retention.  The teacher shortage is a great concern, and we must be able to recruit and retain top talent to provide the best education possible for our students.  

With the guidance of the superintendent, the board will have to make decisions on priorities within the budget.  Where possible, the district will have to find ways increase revenues and decrease expenses.  The 1% sales tax will need to be optimized and alternate funding may need to be considered (bonds and tax revenue).  

3. What is your vision of the interwoven roles of the school board, administration, and staff (certified and non-certified) at PORTA?

This is going to be an especially interesting dynamic in the very near future with the turnover of 4 key administrative roles (the superintendent in July and three principals next year) and multiple new board members this April. 

The administration is tasked with the day-to-day operation of the district, and the teachers are tasked with the day-to-day management of their classrooms.  At the board level, I would like to receive more feedback from staff, students and administration about how things are going.  I want to hear what is going especially well (so we can work to expand on those things throughout the district) and areas where we could use improvement (so we can ensure concerns are addressed).  When concerns are brought forth, the board will need to ensure they are following the appropriate utilization of the chain of command, so the relationship between administration and the board is not degraded.  I want to foster collaboration throughout the district with one common goal of continual improvement.  

4. What is your own experience with public education? How has your own experience influenced your desire to serve as a board member?

I attended public schools (K-12) in Quincy, IL, where I believe I received a very well-rounded education that prepared me well for my future.  I am not sure anything in particular from my educational experience influenced my desire to serve as a board member.  I previously served in community-based leadership roles and serving on the school board gave me the opportunity to impact more people with the time I volunteered.  I believe strongly that school is one of the most formative experiences in your life, and I want to ensure that experience is positive for as many students as possible. 


5. As the district faces a shortage of teachers and support staff members, what ideas do you have to aid in attracting potential new employees to our district?

I believe we need to continue to assess what surrounding districts and districts well outside of our demographics are doing to be successful in this area.  We need to remain open to change and new ideas and we have to be prepared to get creative.  Beyond just attracting new employees, we need to ensure we minimize the need for replacements by retaining our best staff members.  In my opinion, culture will be just as important as salary and benefits.  

6. If a parent or community member comes to you regarding, for example, a maintenance issue at one of the buildings, a situation involving a particular teacher or coach, or an issue with school lunches, how do you see your role in resolving that issue?

As mentioned in #3, chain of command is such an important aspect of being a board member.  Board members are often very accessible within the community, so it is a natural process for concerns to be brought to a board member’s attention.  It is the responsibility of the board member to redirect to the appropriate administrator, teacher or coach, to ensure the concern has been brought to their attention, and they have been given the opportunity to manage the situation.  In my opinion, it is also the responsibility of the board member to ensure matters have been addressed.  That doesn’t always mean that the “expected” outcome was met, but that the situation was handled appropriately.  If additional concerns remain, it may be appropriate for the board to get involved. Depending on the concern, it may be appropriate for the board to remain involved from the start. 

While my understanding and respect for the chain of command has increased significantly during my 4-year term, I continue to value the line of communication directly between concerned parties and the board.  I believe strongly that anyone should feel comfortable reaching out to the members of the board.  The members of the board must then determine the most appropriate way to proceed.  
7. As a school board member, from whom will you seek advice or input in weighing key decisions? Why would you make that choice

I seek to better understand by getting input from multiple perspectives, including those who have differing opinions than mine, so I can make a decision that is well thought out.  Depending on the situation, this may include students, staff, administrators, parents, community members, contacts outside of our district, etc.  

I generally base my decisions on precedent, risk and evidence, and I always consider the potential impact to all involved parties.  I often rely on input from the superintendent and, when appropriate, our legal counsel. The other board members are also a valuable resource, especially when they have a different experience or expertise than I have.  

While I know there will always be people who do not agree with my decisions, I hope they recognize my decision making is always intended for the greater good versus personal beliefs.  

8. What is your view of teachers’ unions?  What would you consider to be the role of the teachers’ union in our district?  

In my opinion, a well-intentioned, well-informed and well-led teachers’ union contributes to the overall success of the district.  

I believe the role of the teachers’ unions is to be a resource to ensure our teachers’ best interests are kept in the forefront of discussions within the district. 
9. During the COVID-19 pandemic the district was faced with many executive orders. Moving forward, how do you feel the district should deal with future executive orders as well as any potential educational mandates?
As mentioned in #7, I consider risk and precedent in these sorts of decisions.  I have an obligation to protect all stakeholders within the district (the students, the staff, the taxpayers, etc.), and I have to make decisions based on the information that is known at that moment in time, even if it may not be a popular decision.  I will not base decisions on assumptions or solely on my own personal beliefs.  

I rely on input from the superintendent who has a network of other superintendents from which to gather information and opinions.  Legal counsel is relied upon heavily when making decisions about executive orders and mandates.  ​

10. The PORTA District has sought reorganization in the past. Do you think it is important to continue seeking reorganization with our AC Central or other local districts?  If so, what are the reasons we should seek reorganization opportunities? In addition, what are your views on our current sports cooperative agreements?
I believe it is important to continue seeking ways to improve our district and the education our students receive.  If reorganization helps achieve this goal, I am in favor of exploring the option.  This would be a situation where I would seek input from multiple perspectives to better understand the risks and the benefits for our district, and make a decision based on those findings.  
I believe there are great benefits to having sports cooperatives.  There are also considerations which have to be taken into account.  Again, I will seek input from multiple perspectives to ensure decisions are made which impact the greater good of the district.

On April 4, 2023, Five seats for the PORTA Board of Education will be open for election.  During this election seven candidates are running for those Five (5) seats.  Incumbents are Jeff Schonewies and Brandy Zanger and new candidates are Molly Bettis, Alissa Bilyeu, Bill Chick, Tim Davis,  and Troy Eckles.  Below we have shared biographical information on the candidates and invite everyone to attend a "Meet the Candidate Night" on March 2, 2023 beginning at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:30 PM.  During the "Meet the Candidate" event candidates will have an opportunity to share the reasons they are running for the Board of Education and will speak about important school related issues.  We look forward to everyone attending our event on March 2nd at 7:00 PM in the HS Library.  

One issue that invariably causes confusion in the PORTA Board of Education races is the design of the Ballot.  Fortunately this year the ballot is very simple to understand.  This particular Board Election has all the makings of true popular vote election, in that the top four vote getters will receive the 4 open four year board seats and the top vote getter seeking the 2 year open board seat will win that particular seat.  In years past we have had candidates not earn a seat even if they received a higher number of votes because our school district elections are done so in voting districts. The School Board can seat no more than three board members from any one district.  If a voting district has three members seated who are not up for election and a candidate runs for a open seat but resides in the same district as the current three seated members, that candidate could not be seated even if they received the most votes in the election.  
Fortunately, this election year there is no confusion, vote for your top 5 candidates and if they receive the highest number of votes they will be your new Board of Education members.

​Alissa Bilyeu 
School Board Candidate Bio 
I was born and raised in Mt. Sterling, a rural, West-Central Illinois farming community not unlike the PORTA School  District community. I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Western Illinois University and a Master's Degree in Public Policy & Administration from Northwestern University. For most of my twenty-year professional career, I worked in executive leadership positions for United Airlines in corporate, regulatory and government affairs, implementing policy, advocating areas of stakeholder interest, ensuring compliance with regulations, and negotiating operational contracts. In 2016, I married Joe Bilyeu and moved to Petersburg to start our family, get involved in the community, and put down roots. We have two young daughters, Evelyn, a Kindergartener, and Charlotte, a preschooler, at Petersburg Elementary School (PES). 
I am community-minded and actively involved in local community volunteer groups including PES Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and Town & Country Women’s Club (TCWC). I have served as President and Vice President of TCWC and am currently Treasurer and spearheading the Jaycee Park Revitalization Project. 


​As a school board member, I will work to ensure: 

• PORTA offers students a high-quality, well-rounded education and extracurricular  activities; 
• Teachers and staff are supported and valued; 
• There is open and transparent communication; 
• Fiscal responsibility, reasonable and pragmatic solutions. 

Most importantly, I am a parent and nothing matters more than the education our children receive. My husband and I are grateful to be raising our family in this community and it would be a tremendous honor to be elected to the School Board.

Bill Chick
School Board Candidate Bio

I have lived in Petersburg with my wife, Stacy (Sullivan) and our four children Charlize, Walker, Elias and Maryrose since 2015.  After leaving active duty military service flying in the Navy, our biggest question was whose hometown and family we were moving near.  It was either Petersburg or Beulah, ND.  Stacy somehow convinced me that central IL had much warmer winters than ND, and we’ve been here ever since.  Although, I’m still not too sure it’s any warmer!
As far as my background, I grew up in the small town of Beulah, ND similar in many ways to Petersburg.  I played football, basketball, ran track, and worked at the local Dairy Queen through high school.  I knew from early on that I wanted to be a Navy pilot.  In pursuit of that goal I attended Moorhead State University in MN for one year before transferring to LeTourneau University in Longview, TX and graduated in 2003 with B.S. degree in Aeronautical Science.  After college I went to Navy Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and was commissioned in January 2004.  From there I went to Navy flight school, earned my wings of gold in May 2006, was trained to fly the F/A-18 Hornet then received orders to an operational squadron(VFA-15) based in Virginia Beach, VA where we deployed on board the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2007-2008.  In 2010 I received orders to be an instructor at the F/A-18 training squadron(VFA-106) and flew/instructed there full time until 2013 and part time until I left active duty in 2015.  From 2013-2015 I was assigned to Support Activity Two in Little Creek, VA and deployed to Cameroon in 2014 as a liaison in the US Embassy.
Since leaving active duty service in the military, I flew for Delta Air Lines for one year before being hired by FedEx Express, where I’ve worked flying MD-11s delivering packages all over the United States and around the world for the past five years.  I also continued to serve in the Navy Reserve before transferring to the 183rd Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard in Springfield, where I’ve been for the past three years and was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.  Although traveling regularly is part of my job, I have a flexible schedule and can easily communicate remotely.
As far as formal background in education, I don’t have a teaching certificate but, during college, I spent multiple years training in both the classroom and in an airplane to become a certified civilian flight instructor.  During my time in the Navy I instructed Navy pilots in all aspects of flying the F/A-18 to include landing on an aircraft carrier both day and night in any weather. 
I’ve served our country in the military for almost twenty years and as the time for that is drawing to a close I’d like to continue to serve in other capacities closer to home and in our community.  Stacy and I are active members in the church we attend and I serve as an elder there.  I’m particularly interested in the school board as Stacy and I have four children, two of which are currently in school at PORTA Elementary and Central.  Our two youngest will be soon to follow.  I also have 18 nieces and nephews as well as many extended family members either currently attending PORTA or will be shortly.  I believe children are our greatest resource and I have a vested interest in wanting to help ensure PORTA develops each one’s character and gives them both the foundation and opportunity to follow their dreams and be successful in accomplishing their goals.

Tim Davis
​
I am a lifelong Menard County Resident, growing up on my family’s farm near Tallula.  I graduated from Porta and am currently living in Petersburg with my wife Kendra and our son Kendall who is a sophomore this year.  I have been involved in many community activities including coaching several local youth baseball and basketball teams as well as supporting our Menard County Fair as Beef Superintendent.  Recently, I am leading our Porta A-C Baseball Diamond Club which is a new parent led support group that is enhancing our players experience and promoting our team through several community activities. 
Previously, I have worked for 3 fortune 500 companies and have held many leadership positions throughout my career.  I am currently VP of North American Sales for CropX.  Our company provides precision irrigation soil sensors as part of an entire digital solution platform for agronomic farm management.

My leadership style has always been one of Servant Leadership.  My goal is to help in any way I can, supporting the team and the individual to succeed.  There is no question that being a school board member is a servant position and therefore I am hopeful that I can serve this district as a member of the Porta School Board. Simply put, I want to use a commonsense approach that is aided by 30+ years of experience in managing people, overcoming obstacles and leading discussions where everyone is heard, and group consensus is achieved.  I am excited and motivated by the thought of helping our board make the most informed decisions possible that will support our communities and provide the best environment possible for students and faculty to thrive.  

​

Jeff Schoneweis
​
I was born and raised in Tallula, Illinois, where I attended Tallula Grade School, and graduated from Porta High School in 1978. I then attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins Colorado for two years majoring in ag-business, finance, and marketing. I continue to farm in and around Menard County, striving to be a good neighbor, and steward of the land.
My wife Wanda has worked for the Illinois State Board of Education for 19 years, previously in the Special Education Services, now in Software Solutions.  We have two daughters; Amelia, a sophomore, and Lilli, in 8th grade. Both girls were active in our PAA sports program, playing softball, soccer, and basketball, which I’ve had the opportunity to help coach.  Both girls are still active in Porta sports, enjoying all that PORTA has to offer. I am very proud that both girls are on the high honor roll, which I attribute to the great teachers and staff they have had growing up in the Porta School system and Petersburg community.
We attend Tallula Christian Church, where I have previously held the office of Vice Chairman of the board, head of the property committee, and served as a deacon and elder. I am a member of the Menard County Farm Bureau, previously serving as chairman of the Young Farmer’s Committee.
I have  served on the school board for 4 years now, learning how to deal with state mandates , and all the hoops our district has to go through to try to educate all our students at all levels in our district. I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with some outstanding teachers, principals, staff, and a great superintendent, who are trying to educate our youth. They all work hard, and we are very fortunate to have the quality of staff at PORTA that many districts can only dream of.
I feel strongly that our early education programs are vital to our children’s overall education. If the kids have not learned the difference between right and wrong at home at an early age, then they and their parent’s need to know that there are consequences to their actions at school. We can’t expect our teachers to raise these kids, that is the parent’s responsibility. We are paying our teachers to TEACH, not run a day-care. If we can’t do that because of school policy, then maybe we need to change our policy. Maybe we need to teach more common sense, and less common core.
I realize that not everyone agrees with my views, which is great, because we need a variety of different opinions to make good decisions as a board.  I feel we should work together, to get the brightest ideas, to make the best decisions, and do what is right the first time around. It’s a lot easier and less expensive to do it right the first time.

​

​             Brandy L. Zanger, MBA
Born and raised in Quincy, IL, my husband, Mark Zanger, and I moved to Petersburg in 2002 to start our family.  Our son, Wolfgang, graduated from PORTA in 2022 and is serving in the United States Air Force.  Our daughter, Ripley, is a PORTA senior and is actively involved in the district.  I have worked with HSHS Medical Group for nine years, and I currently serve as the Director of Occupational Health & Employer Health Services.  I have worked in the healthcare industry for 21 years, where I have gained significant experience in marketing, finance and operations management. 
Aside from my family, I have two very definite passions - education and serving the community.  I have a Bachelor of Science from University of Illinois at Springfield (Chemistry major with a Biology minor) and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Benedictine University at Springfield.  While I am likely finished with my formal education, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and continually look for ways to broaden my understanding of various topics. 
In high school and college, I was heavily involved in school and community activities, and I continue to be as involved as my free time will allow.  I have previously served as President of Town & Country Women’s Club, President of PORTA PTA (now PTO), Girl Scout Leader, Assistant Cub Scout Leader, Petersburg Girls’ Softball League/Petersburg Athletic Association Softball Coach, and I have volunteered at more school events/concession stands than I probably realize.  Each of these opportunities has been so fulfilling and I enjoy getting to know the people of our community through these activities.  
For the past four years, I have served as a member of the PORTA CUSD #202 Board of Education, and I have served as Vice President since April 2021. While this term has been full of twists and turns, I am proud to have been able to serve our district and taxpayers in a way that helped guide our district through such uncertain times.  My goal has always been, and will continue to be, to serve our school (students/teachers/staff/administrators) and taxpayers/community in a way that ensures our students are receiving the best education possible while remaining fiscally responsible for our taxpayers and supportive to the teachers/staff/administrators.  
The district is facing substantial change in the coming years, regarding turnover of administrative leadership – superintendent in 2023 and three administrators in 2024.  No doubt, these changes will be unsettling, but it will be a great opportunity to breathe new life and ideas into our district.  Our current leaders have dedicated so much of their time to PORTA, and that certainly does not go unnoticed – they have given the incoming leaders a great foundation on which to build, and I consider myself very lucky to get to be a part of this exciting process. I am looking forward to helping successfully guide the district through these changes.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me (217-971-1146 or brandyzanger@yahoo.com). I would greatly appreciate your support at the April 4, 2023, election.  I also invite you to attend the PORTA Board of Education meetings – they are open to the public, and are generally held the third Thursday of each month in the PORTA Library (and online) at 6pm (visit PORTA202.org for more details).

Well it looks as if this is a good time to discuss "snow days".  Within the last few years we added remote learning to our daily lives and how that affected snow days.  It would seem that it would be easy to halt snow days and move to remote learning on those days instead.  However, after having our fill of remote learning opportunities we believe that it is even more evident that every day we have students in the classroom with our professional staff, the better off our students will be.  Additionally, many times our snow days result from a last minute decision to cancel classes and our staff and students will likely not have the resources they need to fully engage in remote learning.   So, for those students who love the anticipation of having a snow day and all the fun that can be had during an unexpected day off from school, you are in luck "Snow Days" in the PORTA District are still a possibility.  But as you know, those days do not come often or easy as it is still important to hold school so that students can learn and parents can get to work uninterrupted.   As such here is our yearly information on how and why we might call a "Snow day".

Each Winter, usually in February or March we create and set the school calendar for the upcoming school year.  Each calendar must have 174 student attendance days and 180 teacher work days and an additional 5 emergency days built into the calendar.  Typically, you would see those emergency days built in on the last five days of the calendar and as we use emergency days we change those calendar dates to attendance days, extending the school year for each "snow day "we use.  At the point that the district uses all the emergency days the new calendar would show that students would be dismissed 5 days later than expected.  Also, after the 5 emergency days are used the district can begin requesting "ACT OF GOD" days.  If Act of God days are approved students are not required to attend any longer than the original 5 emergency days and the School District's General State Aid is not reduced.  
Back to the Calendar, we have used zero emergency days at this point in the year, so our expected last day for student attendance, at this time, is May 19, 2023.  We are planning on holding High School Graduation on May 26, 2023.  With winter  weather on our doorstep it is possible we will utilize one or more emergency days this year, which in turn will push the last day of attendance back by each emergency day used.
Ok, now the decision making process we use to close school because of weather related issues.  I guess I would start by saying there is no set guideline or policy that the PORTA District follows.  I will say that at-20 degrees wind chill I am very concerned about the safety of our students, especially when I see our youngest students on a daily basis showing up to school with only a hoodie on or lite jacket.  So, when we hit those marks of -20 degrees or above you can expect that we may cancel school.  Most often snow and unsafe roads are the main issue.  The process I use to determine if we have school  begins with me driving many of our bus routes and worst roads to determine safety.  Sometimes it only takes me a matter of minutes to make a determination, others an hour or more.  During my driving time I usually talk with all the local Superintendents, road commissioners and County Commissioner.  All of the driving and discussion takes place prior to 5:30 AM because as a rule I like to make the decision by that time and get parents notified.  Of course, depending on the timing of the weather we may make that decision earlier or slightly later, but not much later.  If the weather on the previous evening indicates that we will likely close due to poor road conditions, poor timing of snow fall, and/or that we will have difficulty clearing our lots and sidewalks we will try our best to make that decision the night prior.  One aspect to school closures that I have only recently had to contemplate is insuring staff can make it to school and if they cannot will be have enough subs to cover classrooms.  With the shortage of subs in the State of Illinois we have to be cognizant of how many subs we have available to insure classroom coverage, if we foresee a shortfall that will also be a factor in making a decision to close school.
Once the decision is made to cancel school I create a SchoolMessanger call, notify all supervisors and each of those individuals have a specific task to complete as well, some of which might be calling radio and television or starting a phone tree.  We have to consider what events are occurring and when, how we can reschedule those events and how much time and manpower it will take to make the parking lots and sidewalks safe before we allow anyone in the buildings. 
Closing school because of extreme weather is a matter that we take very seriously.  In the end we want to balance the need to have the students in class with there overall safety and well-being.  Attending a few extra days at the end of the school year is much easier than having students placed in danger in a bus accident or getting frost-bite while walking to school or waiting for a bus. 
 Thanks for taking the time to read this piece.

The holiday season will be here soon and each year Central Illinois Services are asked to supply the names of families in need to local organizations and individuals. These organizations and individuals give clothing and toys with the desire that all Menard County residents, especially the children, will have a happy holiday season, so please limit your requests to BASIC necessities. The application Linked Here is utilized to gather information regarding clothing sizes and age/gender appropriate toys.
 
If you are interested in having your name referred, please complete the application in its entirety, sign your name and return it to Central IL Services (PO Box 168, Petersburg) no later Friday, October 28, 2022. It is important to get the application in as soon as possible so we have time to plan. Please fill out one application per household.

 
Pick up date for all Angel Tree gifts will be December 17th from 10am to 2pm @ the Antle Community Room (113 W Antle St in Petersburg) 

​Angel Tree Application Link

As we come closer to another Homecoming season, we feel it is a good time to ask our school community to be aware and vigilant when incidents of intimidation, harassment and bullying occur.  It is important that everyone in our PORTA School community feels safe and welcome during our homecoming festivities and a sure way to make that happen is to practice kind behavior and compassion.

At our school, bullying of any kind, by any person, is unacceptable. All students should be free from worries about being bullied. Students who bully others must be taught other, appropriate ways of interacting with peers. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information concerning the School District’s anti-bullying program and to encourage you to help us identify students who are being bullied.
The School Board policy on bullying begins with this goals statement:
Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors is an important District goal.
Bullying is defined as follows:
Bullying means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.
   
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.
   
3. Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance.
   
4. Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
   

Bullying, intimidation, and/or harassment may take various forms, including without limitation: threats, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.
We ask our school staff members to respond immediately and with compassion to a student who reports bullying or school violence. After evaluating the situation to determine if an immediate referral is warranted, a staff member will request the student report the incident to a building administrator. 
I we asked our staff members for their feedback and concerns specifically regarding locations that may be bullying hot spots needing additional supervision or monitoring or if there are any known bullies or targets of bullying in our building. We ask you to do the same thing. Please inform us if you know of any bullying hot spots in or around our school, or if you are aware of a known bully or target of bullying.
Finally, our staff members are requested to intervene immediately to stop a bullying incident. They will immediately contact building administration and or the district Resource officer if the incident involves a weapon or other illegal activity.
Below are some of the signs that a young person is being bullied:

• Does not want to go to school and refuses to explain the reason
  
• Talks about not having any friends
  
• Has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches, or abrasions
  
• Has unexplained damage to clothing, possessions, books, etc.
  
• Frequently loses money or possessions
  
• Loses interest in school and/or has declining grades
  
• Becomes withdrawn and/or has stress or depression symptoms 
  

These signs do not necessarily mean your child is being bullied, but if present, ask your child whether he or she is being bullied. 
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Matthew W. Brue

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As the new school year begins we would like to remind our families that PREK and Kindergarten students will be needing their physicals completed by 10/15 or they will not be allowed to return to school following that date.  In addition to physical requirements, the State of Illinois also requires vaccination records be up to date by October 15, 2022 as well.  Those students who have not be the requirements must be excluded after the 15th of October.
Vaccination Requirements The State of Illinois requires vaccinations to protect children from a variety of diseases before they can enter school. Students must show proof of immunization against up to 12 vaccine-preventable diseases (the number and schedule of these vaccinations depend on a student’s grade and age).

ILLINOIS SCHOOL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

All students MUST have an Illinois physical exam and up-to-date immunization record on file for attendance to school. Now is a great time to schedule physical and immunization appointments so that your child will be ready to attend school in the fall.
Preschool:
● Physical exam on an Illinois form with immunizations is required every 2 years while in preschool.
● Complete up-to-date immunization record.

Kindergarten:
● Physical exam on an Illinois form within one year prior to the first day of school with an updated immunization record including:
Two doses of the Varicella vaccine and Two doses of the MMR vaccine,
Four doses of Polio Vaccine,
Four doses of DPT/Dtap Vaccine. Due October 15, 2022.

● Dental Exam on an Illinois Dental Exam form dated between November 15, 2021 – May 15, 2022 and turned in by May 15, 2023.
● Vision Exam by an Eye Dr. on an Illinois Eye exam form completed within the previous year and turned in by October 15, 2022.

1st Grade:
​No additional physical/Immunization requirements if up-to-date.

2nd Grade:
● Dental Exam on an Illinois Dental Exam form dated between November 15, 2021 – May 15, 2023 and turned in by May 15, 2023.

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade: No additional physical/Immunization requirements if up-to-date

6th Grade:
● Physical Exam (Sports Physical form not acceptable) must be on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Exam form and done within one year prior to the first day of school with up-to-date immunizations including One dose of Tdap vaccine,
One dose of Meningococcal vaccine after 11th birthday (If your child turns eleven after October 15, you must submit proof of an upcoming scheduled appointment)
Two doses of Varicella vaccine,
Two doses of MMR vaccine and
Three doses of Hepatitis B at the required intervals. Due October 15, 2022.
● Dental exam on an Illinois Dental Exam Form dated between November 15, 2021 - May 15, 2023. Must be turned in by May 15, 2023.

7th and 8th Grade: No additional physical/Immunization requirements if up-to-date.

Tired of traveling to your workplace, high cost of fuel, extended day? Consider joining the team at PORTA.
 
HS Chemistry and Physics Teacher
Elementary counselor/social worker
2-Individual aides—Starting hourly rate $15.69
2-1/2 time Individual Aide Positions--Starting Hourly Rate $15.69 
Teaching Subs--$115 per day
Aide Subs--$15 per hour
Sub Bus Drivers--$21.50 per hour

The PORTA Board of Education is accepting letters of interest to fill a member seat that was vacated as of July 26, 2022 by Board member Jackie Brant.
The appointee would serve on the board until the April 2023 election, at which time the PORTA Board will have Four 4 year seats and one 2 year unexpired term seat open for election.  Brant was elected to the board April 2021, leaving a two year unexpired term available for election. 
No Township/Range can have more than three members on the Board of education at any one time. Currently, members Bettis and Vice President Zanger reside in Township 18 Range 6, President Smith resides in Township 18 Range 8, Member Schoneweis Township 17 Range 8, Member Thornton Township 19 Range 6 and Secretary Henderson resides in Township 18 Range 7. 
The PORTA Board notes a board member must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old, be a resident of the district for at least one year prior to appointment, be a registered voter, must not be a school treasurer or trustee; and must not be a child sex offender. Those interested should submit a letter of interest to Board President Jeff Smith either at the administrative office, 17651 Bluejay Road in Petersburg or by email to mbrue@porta202.org by August 17, 2022.   
Upon receipt of qualified applicants, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting to interview candidates and then will officially appoint the new member at the regular meeting on September 15, 2022 at 6:00 PM.

The PORTA Board of Education typically meets at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the PORTA High School Library at 17651 Bluejay Road, Petersburg IL 62675.

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Many families will see changes in school meals this fall. School nutrition professionals have worked tirelessly to get healthy food to children during COVID-19, and they will keep working hard to serve children healthy meals this coming school year. As we all get through this change, we ask everyone to be patient with school nutrition professionals and thank them for working to help children during such a tough time. 
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Will all meals be free?
Schools had some flexibilities during COVID so they could serve all kids free meals.  Those options have expired for the PORTA School District, so the district school cafeterias will not serve all meals free anymore. Instead, families will do what they did before COVID.  Schools will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free, reduce-price, or paid meals.

My child’s school is going to start charging for meals again, but I can’t afford to pay. Is there a way my child can get meals for free?

Yes. There are still many ways children can get free meals. Children are automatically eligible for free meals if anyone in their household gets SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits. In some states, families with Medicaid may also qualify, depending on their income. The PORTA Schools have already notified our families who are direct certified and are eligible for Free Lunch. 
You can also fill out an application to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, runaway youth, or children of migrant workers all qualify for free school meals when their household fills out an application. Children can also qualify for free or reduced-price meals through an application if their household’s income is under a certain limit. Schools will help you understand if you qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on the information you put on their school meal application.
For example, a child in a family of four with a yearly income of $51,338 or less would qualify for reduced-price meals. Families that believe their income is under the limit should fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals through their school.
Children who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals may pay full price for a healthy breakfast or lunch at school.

It seems like my child’s school isn’t always serving what shows on the school menus. What is going on?
Schools are facing the same challenges many grocery stores and other places are having with getting all the food and supplies they need. When this happens, school nutrition professionals are doing everything they can to serve healthy meals to your child. Sometimes that means needing to swap out some foods for others because some foods are easier to get. Please be patient with the school nutrition professionals striving to serve our kids. They are committed to making sure our kids get the healthy meals they depend on during this challenging time.
School meals have to meet strong nutrition standards, and schools are continuing to work hard to serve students the nutritious, delicious meals they need to learn and grow.
How can parents and guardians help their children get healthy food when they are not in school?
USDA’s Team Nutrition has many resources to help parents and caregivers serve healthy food and teach children about eating healthy.

• Meet MyPlate introduces families to the MyPlate icon and includes a MyPlate menu planner. [Spanish Version]
• Snack Time! provides information about choosing snack foods and beverages with less solid fat, added sugars, and sodium (salt). Children can count family members' favorite ways to drink water. [Spanish Version]
• Be Your Best With Breakfast encourages families to eat breakfast and to check out the School Breakfast Program at their school (if available). A fun breakfast tracker and badge are included. [Spanish Version]
• Welcome to School Lunch! shares information about how school meals have gotten healthier and includes an activity for children to sort lunch foods into the five food groups. It also includes a “Color Adventure” challenge where families taste-test new fruits and vegetables of different colors. [Spanish Version]
• Move, Play, Have Fun! offers a table of fun physical activities that families can cross off as they complete them. [Spanish Version]

For other resources and food assistance programs, reach out to USDA’s National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (for English) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish). To find free summer meals for kids near you, visit USDA’s Find Meals for Kids site. In most states, you can also call 211 for help and services.

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps low-income households pay for broadband service. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a federal government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The ACP will provide a discount of up to $30 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. The ACP is non-transferable and limited to one monthly internet discount. If the Program ends, or when a household is no longer eligible, subscribers will be subject to CASSCOMM’s regular rates, terms, and conditions.
Who is Eligible?
A household is eligible if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria:
 
*Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
 
*Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline
 
*Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
 
*Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision
 
*Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
 
*Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program
 
Where can I find additional information and how can I apply for the ACP?
Please check out the CASSCOMM website https://home.casscomm.com/acp/ for more information or visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp for the FCC FAQ’s and the consumer application.
Consumer Complaint Process:  All consumers have a right to file a complaint with the FCC regarding the ACP supported service or difficulties enrolling in the ACP.  The FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center information is below.

• Phone Number:  1-888-225-5322
• Video Phone Number:  1-844-432-2275
• Website address:  https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

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The PORTA CUSD 202 Board of Education is conducting a search for a new superintendent.  The selection of a new superintendent is probably the most important decision a board of education has to make; therefore, the Board has hired the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) to assist in this process.
 
The Board of Education is seeking everyone’s input in the search process.  The Board requests that all staff, all parents and community members complete an online survey provided by the IASB.  The results will be tallied and used by the Board and Screening Team to develop a brochure to advertise the position.
 
The survey can be accessed at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZC9YN2G
The survey deadline is:  June 12, 2022 at 11:45 p.m.
 
Thank you for taking time to complete the survey.

For a number of years we have been lamenting the fact that we are deep in a teacher shortage and it is at a crisis point here in the State of Illinois.  It is very difficult to pin point why we have such a shortage, especially when someone asks and giving a short answer is just not in the cards.  Below is an article written by Dr. Jim Rosborg McKendree University professor and retired Superintendent from Belleville #118 that does an excellent job of giving some history of our current shortage, reasons we are in the place we are and some potential solutions.  I hope you have the time to read this piece.
Thank you

A Short History of the Current Teacher/Administrator Shortage and Some Ideas How to Solve It
                                                          
Dr. Jim Rosborg
 
 
In the February 1 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Kathryn Dill wrote a compelling article entitled “Companies Are Hot to Hire Teachers Quitting in Droves." She stated that teachers are leaving the education profession to "work in sales, software, healthcare and training and other fields."  It is not surprising Dill stated that Covid protocols such as switching between online and classroom instruction, with the additional problems of teaching challenging students, and dealing with difficult parents and administrators, has led to a mass exodus of teachers in our profession. This departure should be no surprise in Illinois. The downward spiral of teachers and administrators leaving the profession began in 2010.  The elaborate teacher/principal evaluation process from the Charlotte Danielson framework, as well as further requirements from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) staff, created unnecessary burdens on educators. An additional major factor included no teacher license state-to-state reciprocity which discouraged teachers from coming to Illinois. Other issues causing the teacher shortage long before the Pandemic include the lack of social and emotional support, very few state incentives (such as teacher tuition scholarships as given in the 1960s and 70s), and low competitive salaries exasperated by Illinois having no State budget for three years.
 
Most of us know the history. The licensure division of ISBE, along with the Center for the Study of Educational Policy at Illinois State University, used the resources of a $6 million Wallace Foundation School Leadership Grant to force a major teacher and administrator licensure change in Illinois. This effort, which included a very unfair university-required entrance examination, titled the Teacher Basic Skills Test, was created specifically to reduce the number of licensed teachers in Illinois. The developers of this test were successful in achieving their goal. In the process, they used skewed data, such as including individuals that had retired or left the profession, to get support for their misaligned messages from educators and the public. The reduction of teacher licenses has had a cascading effect leading to a reduced number of principal licenses issued by the State, and, accordingly, fewer superintendent licenses.  Many educators also fell for their plan of attack in the spirit of reform. Several of the decisions were made by individuals who had never been principals and/or superintendents. Sadly, many highly respected educators, such as Dr. William Phillips at University of Illinois Springfield, Dr. Nick Osborne at Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Ken Jandes at American College of Education, Dr. Howard Bultinck at Northeastern Illinois University, and myself at McKendree University, were looked upon as obstructionists as we strongly disagreed with many of the efforts.  These individuals were all award-winning school administrators before they went on to university positions. Sad to say, The Center and ISBE at the time made little effort to listen to seasoned and honored practitioners.  Below are some of the key points we made in 2010:
 

1. We should not try to limit the number of “teacher certificates” (the terminology at the time) as many of the graduates go into other fields which then reduces the pool of teacher candidates. We also stated that it was very important that there was a rich resource of teacher candidates from which school districts could choose. Now, as expressed by Ms. Dill in the Wall Street Journal, teachers are qualified for other work force positions, and they are leaving the field of education. This concern has been verified by Dill as she cited data from the Labor Department that from January to November 2021 nearly 550,000 educators resigned their school jobs in the United States. Because of the efforts to minimize both administrative and teacher certificates (licenses) from 2010 – 2020, we currently do not have enough qualified candidates to replace individuals leaving the field. 
2.  Universities knew that their principal preparations programs included individual student candidates who might not want to be administrators but were completing administrative programs to become better teachers or teacher leaders.  Universities and school districts knew that the graduate-level principal preparation programs made these candidates better teachers and the program, notwithstanding teachers becoming administrators, was better for our profession. Sad to say, ISBE created a new rubric for principal preparation programs which had 181 items and 46 pages of requirements which forced university personnel to write more than 500 pages of explanation to ISBE to simply offer the principal program.  Many of the 181 items in the required one year internship led to positive experiences for future principals, however dozens of the items were nothing more than unnecessary “busy work” which resulted in significantly reducing the number of principal candidates.   All university principal programs had an intense curricular component. One of the most egregious components in the initial ISBE rules was eliminating Type 73 (guidance counselors, school psychologists, speech therapists, and nurses) from achieving the principal license. Under the current ISBE leadership, this has now been changed to allow Type 73 personnel to earn their principal licensure.
3. We stated the Basic Skills test (later changed to the Test of Academic Proficiency) was not fair and would adversely impact Teacher Education programs at the Universities. Why test language arts teachers and elementary teachers in Math areas such as analytical geometry and trigonometry to obtain university admission?  University passage rates on the state test declined from nearly 90% to 25%. Passage rates for minority students dropped to 10%. A significant number of potentially outstanding teachers were not allowed in the education field because of this unfair test. Some of my best teachers when I was superintendent of Belleville District #118 were those who did not earn straight A's in college. Also, I have not observed a dramatic increase of principal and teacher skill sets due to these restrictive efforts. Now, Boards of Education have dramatically fewer choices in hiring. Their main goal has shifted from employing the highest quality teacher candidates, to attempting merely to fill vacant positions A great deal of damage to education took place in these years. We are thankful that ISBE and the Legislature has ended this unfair entrance test. This is a big start to assisting the teacher and administrator shortage.
4. We said the decrease in the number of education candidates would force Universities to increase tuition. This happened. The results in increased university tuition costs are staggering. Increased tuition also has limited many outstanding economically challenged and disadvantaged students from applying to universities. This was verified by some of the initial research Dr. Patrick Rice and I performed in 2015. We are still doing research seven years later and the number of students going into education is not good. The most recent observation is the number of middle school teaching certificates being issued in Illinois is going down because of the change in licensure requirements. The new middle school licensure requirements need to be changed.  Note: This seven-year research shows the teacher shortage did not occur simply because of the Pandemic. 
5. We stated that more strict certification requirements would lead to a teacher shortage which would eventually lead to either no certification requirements or declining standards. In the recent Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) November/December Journal, authors Hans Andrews and William Marzano stated that quick fixes, like bringing back retired teachers (now in legislation), increasing current teacher workloads, bringing in foreign teachers (occurring in Arizona), and using paraprofessionals in licensed teacher positions, are already being discussed. 

Below is my most recent 2021 article published in Leadership Matters by the Illinois Association of School Administrators regarding the current teacher shortage. This was the 6th year of our research. The article is found on pages 10-14. The PDF version below just includes the article.  
https://user-39430906818.cld.bz/LM-april-2021-final-hi   I have included the article as it includes a discussion about possible alternatives to assist in slowing down the rapid decline in the number of teachers either staying or entering the profession. Current efforts at the legislative level are not going to be effective at reversing this trend. Teaching scholarships to enhance minority and financially challenged students and the overall pool of candidates, Growing Your Own programs, salary bonuses in subjects where there is a dire need of teachers, focused training programs, lowering the current retirement age of 67, etc. are achievable and worthy of discourse by decision-makers. Not included in the article are suggestions made in the latest Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) Teacher Shortage Survey titled, “Superintendents’ Perceptions of the Teacher Shortage” can be found at https://iarss.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Persistent_Educator.pdf.
 
 I might add other suggestions such as modifying the Danielson Teacher Evaluation Program as too much time is being taken away from the students, adding more needed social and emotional support, and finding additional funding to make teacher salaries more competitive. Teachers and administrators need specific and succinct rules from ISBE, the legislature, and the Governor to keep from being caught in the middle of Covid turmoil.  Increasing retired teacher workdays, now at the legislative level, is a nice effort but will not even come close in helping to end the current teacher shortage crisis.
 
Now is the time for immediate and real action that helps to significantly reduce or even eliminate the shortage. We know we have the Covid challenge which is a terrible situation. We have to take strong measures to overcome this devastating impact.
 
 I should note that Jason Helfer and Emily Fox, part of the current licensure leadership team at ISBE, have been very receptive to many of these ideas and have assisted my research during the last three years. Thank you for listening to my thoughts. I know I am passionate about this issue as I am in my seventh year researching this topic. I am now in my 50th year in education with experience at all levels P-20. My passion is that I want highly qualified teachers to teach in good work environments. I want my six grandchildren and all students to have the best teachers possible. I want Boards of Education to have choices in their hiring practices. I want all individuals, no matter their race, creed, or economic status to have the opportunity to become a licensed individual in the education field. The bottom line is that we need more action NOW on this topic to solve a problem that is not going away under current conditions.
 
Dr. Jim Rosborg
Semi-Retired
McKendree University and Belleville District #118
 
jtrosborg@mckendree.edu      
 
618-604-0515

Due to inclement weather predictions and poor timing of the impending winter weather, PORTA Schools will be canceled tomorrow February 17, 2022.  The second night of Parent/Teacher conferences will be moved to February 22 from 4-7 pm with a 2pm dismissal time for students on the 22nd.  If you have a scheduled time for conferences on Thursday please plan on attending Tuesday at the same time.  If you have a conflict please contact your teacher or building administrator.
The PORTA Board of Education meeting will be moved to February 22, 2022 at 7:00 PM. The showcase day at PORTA Jr/Sr High will be moved to Tuesday February 22nd as well. After school activities will be canceled. The High School dance will be canceled with a new date to be determined. 

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Prior to returning to school tomorrow we would like to share some additional and clarifying information in relation to the recent court ruling on masking and quarantine.  We are aware of the ruling, and we are monitoring the situation.  We are aware the State has moved for a stay, and are awaiting further word on what will happen.  In the meantime, the District will abide by the Order.  The District will keep the community apprised when changes are made.  This Temporary Restraining Order on masking and close contact quarantine is temporary and is not the final word on these matters and in fact could be reversed, stopped or remain in force in the days to come.
Until we have some final decisions we understand there are many questions our families have at this time.  
To begin, The district has been and remains committed to being open for in-person learning after the initial outbreak and we have worked diligently to remain open for in-person learning throughout the pandemic to better serve our students and families. The district has followed changing CDC recommendations since the beginning of the pandemic. The recommended mitigations include universal indoor masking by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to our school, regardless of vaccination status. In compliance with the court’s order, beginning tomorrow, the use of universal masking is highly recommended for all staff and students but is not required within the building.  Additionally, while the latest ruling diminishes current quarantine rules, those rules do not suggest that a child who is ill cannot be sent home and asked not to return until the illness has passed and the child is fever free for 24 hours. The school continues to have a duty to keep children safe and as such will follow prior established guidelines for students who are ill and/or have a fever.  The district will still maintain our ability to test students on a voluntary basis for parents if their students have been in contact with positive cases or are exhibiting symptoms.  We will also continue the voluntary Shield Testing on Thursday of each week.
As we move forward, please have patience, it is likely that a resolution to this issue will be presented in the near future and at that time we will continue to follow State and Local laws and the court’s decision.  Additionally, our practices will focus on safety for our students and  providing a quality learning environment.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact your building principal or myself at your convenience.

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Late yesterday evening we shared that an Illinois judge ruled on a lawsuit filed by more than 700 parents across the state that challenged state-mandated COVID-19 mitigations.  Since we have learned the judge ruled that school districts in Illinois may not continue to follow mandates requiring masking and our current rules for quarantine. 
At this point there are still many unanswered questions that we hope to have answered in the next 24 hours and when we do we will report out to you again.  
At this point there is no plan to have a special or emergency meeting on this matter because it is clear the district is under order to not follow current mandates from the State of Illinois and IDPH.  The courts ruling would not constitute a valid reason to hold an emergency meeting, but of course this topic will be discussed at future meetings and if the need arises proper notification will be given prior to any meetings discussing this or any other important matter. 

More information will be shared with our community on this matter later this weekend.  

Due to hazardous road conditions PORTA Schools will be closed on Friday February 4th. 

PORTA Schools will be closed and all events will be cancelled on February 3, 2022.  If roads are open and passable by Friday Morning school will be in session on Friday February 4th.  Roads will be driven in the early morning on the 4th to determine if they are safe for our transportation services. If the need arises to cancel school we will do so by 5:30AM on Friday.

With the impending winter storm's arrival later this evening, the PORTA School district will utilize an emergency day on February 2, 2022.  Students and Staff will not be in session on the 2nd of February, all events will be cancelled and any practices should be voluntary and coaches should be extremely cautious if there is a plan to hold voluntary practices.  We realize this winter storm will interrupt many activities, most of which are nearing end of season tournaments.   Please be prepared for one or possibly even two additional emergency days following Wednesday February 2nd.  Depending on the timing of additional snow, cleanup and affects of the wind on our facilities we will make those decisions on a daily basis.  If we feel the need to extend the emergency day usage into Thursday February 3rd we will notify you in the early afternoon on Wednesday February 2nd.   Please be safe.