​“What Can I Do To Help?”
It’s a question we always ask, and sometimes it’s hard to find the answer. 
These teacher-led workshops are designed to give you some insight into school based activities that you can use at home to help your student. 
Held on the first Wednesday of each month, you are invited to come to our classrooms and work with us to come up with new and exciting ways to advance your student’s first classroom – your home!

Please come out and support your classroom teachers. They are giving their free time to help ensure your children succeed.

First Wednesday of Every Month
Petersburg Elementary School
6:30 – 7:00 PRE-K and K
7:00 – 7:30 1st and 2nd
(All are welcome to attend regardless of age group!)
Childcare provided!
​

“Getting to spend time in my child’s classroom opened my eyes to things I can try at home without making it seem like work!”
-Second Grade Parent (2016-2017)

Workshop Schedule
September 6
INTRO TO DOJO AND BACK TO SCHOOL Q&A Join Mrs. Kyes, Mrs. Wankel and other members of our staff for a night of getting to know our schoolwide behavior management program, ClassDojo.  This night of fun will help you make the most of the Dojo connection as well as give you a chance to ask staff any questions you might have!

October 4
FLUENCY FUN! Fluency isn’t just about speed, it’s about building strength as an oral and independent reader.  Learn how to find texts that are appropriate for your child, different skills to build their confidence as a reader and observe some classroom strategies that you can use at home or on the go. Pre-K and K families will learn how to master the alphabet and reading fundamentals, while families with older students learn how to develop speed and comprehension!  Mrs. Garner and staff will present this workshop.
 
November  1
MASTERING MATH FACTS  Join Miss Mountain and Miss Rita to brush up on fun and engaging ways to build math mastery at home.  You may even go home with supplies to help engage your child while helping them gain skills by using math everyday!  Math isn’t scary…come learn how to make it fun!

December 6
SPELLING TIPS AND TRICKS! Spelling is one of the most common ways we teach our students to study and learn at home, and something that will serve them well their entire lives!  But we can only write those words so many times.  Come to the classroom and play fun spelling games and activities that arm you with a bag of tricks that make spelling study feel like game time!  Join Mrs. Smith and staff for a night of spelling challenge fun!

 January 3
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX! Sometimes our students learn in ways that don’t fit into reading or math.  They are learning all the time and sometimes a challenge is just what they need!  Mrs. Hacke will discuss ways to encourage and enrich thinking in your student: create home-based projects and challenges and get them learning in their community.
 
 February 7
TECHNOLOGY HACKS! We all know the struggle of limiting screentime, but sometimes we can use technology to our advantage! Come play on our smartboards and ipads with Mrs. Thomas, and try your hand at some apps and websites that you can access at home to make the most of your students screentime.  Link your home technology to school and open up endless possibilities.

March 7
BUILDING RESPONSIBILITY! Some students work well when you are looking over their shoulder, but struggle to work independently.  How can we help them go out on their own to gain pride in their own work? Join Mrs. Beckerman and Mrs. Vincent to look at some different ways you can encourage growth in your student both academically and emotionally and let them show you what they are capable of!
 
May 2
SUMMER SLIDE STOPPERS! All students struggle to retain what they learn from year to year after taking a three month summer break!  Learn some ways you can engage them over the summer!  Find some resources that you can use to get materials at home or at school that will give you the tools to teach at home in ways that keep them excited about learning.
 
 
 
 
 

​PORTA District #202 is fortunate to have a stellar cast of teachers working with the pre-k and kindergarten students, those youngsters who are just beginning their school experience. Welcoming these students to the Bluejay family are Pre-K/K teachers Hailey Blair, Tammy Garner, Jill Hoke, Kristin Johnson, Hannah Kyes, Brooke Mountain, Samantha Sloman, and Nikki Zimmerman.

People often wonder what draws teachers to pre-k and kindergarten classrooms, and PORTA's teachers have a wide array of reasons for engaging with the youngest students.  Samantha Sloman identified her "love of working with children," as did many of the pre-k/k teachers. Jill Hoke added the very practical "having the same schedule as my own children," while Hailey Blair couldn't "remember a time when I didn't want to be a teacher."  She said, "I watched my mom work in Pre-K and knew that's what I wanted to do."
 
Teaching, though, is not an easy profession, and prek-k comes with its own unique set of challenges.  As Kristin Johnson stated, "There is a very large gap between the state's expectations for pre-k and kindergarten, which makes it difficult to find ways to prepare children for kindergarten while still following state guidelines." People may not realize how small changes, such as 2013's mandate that all pre-k students go to school five days a week, instead of four, or shifting a child from half to full day, can have big implications for the school day.  Everything from bus routes to nutrition must be considered.  For example, pre-k students are often grazers, which can make proper nutrition with only one meal a day a challenge. Adding another day to a four-day week means running more buses, which means higher expenditures generally without additional money from the state to cover the new mandate.  
 
PORTA's pre-k/kindergarten staff brings a wealth of experience to bear on all the challenges of early childhood teaching.  They average 10.5 years in the profession.  Many of the staff came to PORTA from other districts, such as Hailey Blair, who is in her fifth year at PORTA, having come from A-C Central, and Jill Hoke, a ten-year veteran, who joined PORTA two years ago from Havana. 
 
Although PORTA does draw teachers from surrounding areas, it is fair to say PORTA has a sort  of "grow your own" program going.  Students who went to PORTA often come back to become teachers in the district. Nikki Zimmerman reported, "My husband and I both attended PORTA schools (we were in Mrs. Conklin's sixth grade class together) and most of our family lives in or around Petersburg. It was always our dream for me to get to teach in the same district where our own children go to school. I feel there is no better place to teach or attend school."  Hannah Kyes, another home-town teacher, echoed Zimmerman's comments.  "Growing up in Petersburg and attending PORTA from K-12th grade, I always had a desire to come back and teach in my hometown. I love working with and teaching familiar faces that I know from the community."
 
Even if they don't come from the immediate vicinity, teachers tend to come to PORTA to stay, which makes the students' experiences in pre-k and kindergarten much richer. Every teacher interviewed pointed to the support given Petersburg community and families as a primary reason for staying with the district. Tammy Garner summed it up succinctly:  "I love teaching at PORTA."
 
 
 
Parents/guardians often wonder how they might best get their students ready for pre-k or kindergarten.  PORTA's teachers offer practical advice for parents and guardians helping their children transition into school.  For those whose children aren't old enough for school, Nikki Zimmerman advised, "the best thing you can do with your children to prepare them for school is to read to them when they are babies and never stop."   For those beginning school, Samantha Sloman suggested "Before school begins, starting routines and expectations at home, helps prepare children or the routines at school."  Once school is underway, Hannah Kyes recommended "simply taking time to ask your child about what we are doing in class; show them that you are interested in their schooling, and help push them academically. Together parents and teachers can do more than either can alone." 

​PORTA High School is delighted to welcome a number of new teachers this year, including Andrew Biermann, Melissa Blankenstein, James Brauer, Elizabeth Carter, Jill Hoke, Linnay Taylor, and Brianna Todd.  They join the district as PE/driver’s ed teacher, 5-12 band director, high school ag teacher, part-time junior high English teacher, part-time pre-K teacher, high school guidance counselor, and school nurse, respectively.
 
Many of the new teachers have long associations with PORTA.  Jim Brauer, for example, credits his daughter, Sara, for having inspired him to teach, while Andrew Biermann points to  “coaching at PORTA the last seven years and getting to know the kids and faculty” as the root of his desire to teach for the district.  Seventh grade English teacher Elizabeth Carter’s observation that “PORTA school district offers that small town community feeling that was important to me as a teacher and as a parent of three kids in this district” tends to typify the general feeling of both new and returning teachers in the PORTA district.
 
When asked about the things they wished everyone knew about teaching, the new staff commonly identified the time and effort required to develop rigorous and relevant lessons for their students.  The common joke, “What are three reasons to get into teaching?  June, July, and August,” really doesn’t reflect what teachers do today.  Most teachers spend much of their summer time taking classes and/or workshops to enhance their teaching skills or revisiting and revising lessons  to improve them for the coming year.  As Andrew Biermann states, “I wish people knew how much time teachers spent working after school and in the summer preparing to educate children.”  In its 2015 article “The Myth of a Teacher’s ‘Summer Vacation,’” The Atlantic pointed to the variety of items that can populate a teacher’s summer, including, “attending meetings, developing school curriculum, helping train new teachers, contacting families of  students...graduate-school coursework...classroom organization or relocation, and so on.”
 
Another common thread uniting the new and veteran PORTA teachers is their dedication to student success.  Guidance Counselor Linnay Taylor identifies one of the magical moments that makes teaching such a personally rewarding profession, saying, “It is amazing to help a student discover what they want to do with their life, set goals towards reaching those dreams, then be able to accomplish that after high school.”
 
Educators may not always get the chance to see the results of their work many years down the road, as it’s often difficult to measure the degree to which teachers influence their students. Andy Biermann knows, however, the joy that results from seeing gains students make over the course of a year.  He describes his “favorite part [of being a teacher] as watching how kids grow academically from the beginning of the year to the end.”
 
The challenge of creating a demanding, yet supportive, school climate is especially important today, and one that PORTA teachers gladly embrace.  Guidance Counselor Taylor notes the significant challenges teachers face as they “not only teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also support students socially and emotionally.  Teachers are mentors as well as educators, guiding students on this journey we call life.”
 
Picture l to r:  James Brauer, Linnay Taylor, Brianna Todd, Melissa Blankenstein, Elizabeth Carter, and Andrew Biermann

As many of you know, the first day of school (August 21st) is also the date of a very rare solar eclipse that will be near totality in our area.  We believe this is an amazing opportunity for our students to learn and witness the solar eclipse.  We are planning on an organized effort to allow students to witness and learn about the solar eclipse on the August 21st.  We have purchased solar viewing glasses, will live stream the solar eclipse to classrooms and other area’s in the buildings and have various activities designed to help student better understand the solar eclipse and rare nature of such an event.  While we feel this is a great learning experience, Safety of our children is our first priority and as such we will have a dedicated time period in which we will allow students outside under the supervision of staff to view the eclipse.  Students will understand the dangers of viewing an eclipse and safety will be stressed.  As always we would ask your help in emphasizing safety to your children when discussing the eclipse.
 
The plan will be to allow students to be outside (weather permitting) to view the eclipse between 12:50 to approximately 1:50 PM, with the near total eclipse taking place at 1:17 pm our time. Please see the link with the animated solar eclipse timeline.  During the hour period students will have the opportunity to view the eclipse and share learning opportunities. 
 
We invite parents who would like to participate to attend the event at your particular school.  All we ask is that you notify the office by phone or send a note with your student explaining you plan on attending the solar eclipse viewing.  This is a great opportunity for you to take part in a school event and you can help us insure the safety of our children. 
 
We understand some families might choose to drive to Southern Illinois in order to see the full eclipse and we are happy to excuse your child to do so.  We also understand some parents might not want their children to participate and will not send them to school on the 21st.  We understand your concerns as well. 
 
It is our goal to utilize this momentous occasion as a great learning opportunity and hope all can attend in some fashion or another.  We thought about sending buses to southern Illinois to view the eclipse but felt doing so would put students in danger because of the mass amount of viewers who are already traveling to the region for the eclipse.  We also considered delaying he opening day to avoid the eclipse, but felt many if not most children would not have the opportunity at home to view this wonderful phenomenon safely.
 
We thank you for your support in this endeavor, and reiterate we would love to have family participation in our activities for this once in a lifetime event.  We offer several attachments that may give you more information about the eclipse, safety tips for viewing and activities that can be completed.  We look forward to our 1st day of school on the 21st of August.  
Solar Eclipse Safety Tips
​Animated Solar Eclipse Timeline 
​Solar Eclipse information
Solar eclipse viewer

Semi-Annually the Board of Education receives a "State of the District" report.  At the end of the Fiscal Year that report gives information of the previous school year in a summary fashion.  Please find the "State of the District" report here.

Dear Parents and Guardians:
This letter is to make you aware of the popular Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why.
Within the last week or so, our staff have been made aware of a new series that is being shown on Netflix which has the potential to glamorize suicide and has a large amount of graphic content and as such, the PORTA District would like to make sure parents are aware.  The story revolves around a High School student who leaves behind 13 tape recordings telling why she took her own life.  Her friends try to piece together Hannah's final days in the series, "Thirteen Reasons Why". 
After hearing from students about the series, several PORTA Staff Members have taken the time to watch the series and feel that, young people and teens could interpret the message that suicide is a viable and/or romanticized option. The show’s content is extremely graphic, with disturbing scenes in each episode, which may be difficult for young impressionable minds to watch and process in an appropriate manner.
What has become evident to our staff is that the show mentions no behavioral or treatment options that were or could have been offered to Hannah, it glamorizes Suicide and there is no notion of teens seeking help for any indicators that might lead to suicidal tendencies. Additionally, there are several scenes depicting rape, bullying, alcoholism and suicide in which teens do not seek help or any kind of resource. Finally, the graphic portrayal of Hannah's suicide is/was disturbing to the degree that staff have reported the scenes cause them to lose sleep at the thought of young impressionable teens witnessing the event.
While we cannot determine what parents allow students to watch or read we caution everyone to monitor programming students are watching and if you feel watching "Thirteen Reasons Why" is appropriate please use the opportunity to discuss a very complicated issue with your children.   However, as the time passes staff members will continue to monitor conversations and actions within the school walls and as we become concerned about any student or students parents will be notified as a step to insure the safety of our children.

We also encourage parents to research the series to fully understand the graphic nature  and the potential harm it could cause your child.  
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. Should you feel the need for more information or support, please contact your child’s principal.

As a way to begin a conversation with your child, the Jed Foundation offers talking points associated with "Thirteen Reasons Why", Please feel free to click the link below to begin your dialog with your child.  

​https://www.jedfoundation.org/13-reasons-why-talking-points/

Did you know the State of Illinois has gone two years without a budget, let alone a balanced budget?  You might have also heard that schools are receiving full funding, but a little digging will prove that statement untrue.
While every school district in Illinois has very similar financial concerns, We can only share those that impact PORTA.  The PORTA District receives funding from the State of Illinois for Transportation, Early Childhood Education, Special Education reimbursements, School Lunch and breakfast and General State Aid.  To the State of Illinois’ credit it has maintained General State Aid Payments throughout the 2016-17 school term, but that has not been the case in several previous school years and in the case of PORTA Schools General State Aid has been reduced from 3.4 Million dollars in 2009 to just under 1.7 million in 2017.
As of April 1, 2017 the State of Illinois owes the PORTA District a total of $687,829.90. 
                Special Education Funding owed--$172,131.70
                Transportation Funding owed--$325,173.50
                Truancy Program funding owed--$49,491
                PreK Funding owed--$138,196
 
While these numbers are staggering and have a dramatic impact on cash flow and budgeting within our district the final outcome is more devastating. If the current trend continues we estimate the State will owe the PORTA District $1,183,799 as of June 30, 2017.  As a quick perspective the $1,183,799 is nearly 12.5% of the PORTA Education Fund budget. 
One could say that politics are holding up the passing of a budget and to a degree most would agree, but did you know that in the past year the Illinois Legislature was able to introduce 6000 bills while in political gridlock, all within the 3 whole months your legislators were in session.  That is an average of 67 bills introduced each day over that 3 month period.
Did you know in the last 5 years the Legislature passed 50 School Mandates with no additional funding and as you read this the latest mandate will require seat-belts on school buses?  If a seat-belts on buses law passes it is estimated that the PORTA District will need to increase the bus fleet by 4 buses at a cost of $80,000 per bus and the seat belt addition alone is expected to cost about $7000 per bus.  The PORTA District could see an increase in transportation costs of $474,000 in the initial year if this legislation passes.  All while receiving no transportation payments from the State of Illinois in the 2016-17 school year.
 
As Taxpayers and supporters of the PORTA District we should not allow this “dysfunction” to continue.  Schools need the State of Illinois to pass a budget that fully funds schools at a level that is adequate to provide a consistent and appropriate education across the State of Illinois.
 
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND DEMAND THEY PASS A BUDGET and Fully Fund Schools!!

​Senate District #44                                                                                                              Representative District  #87
William E. Brady--Republican                                                                                         Tim Butler
State Senator                                                                                                                         State Representative
contact: http://brady.senategop.org/Contact/Contact-Form                                    Email:  butler@ilhousegop.org
103B State Capitol Building                                                                                                 1128-E Stratton Office Building
Springfield IL 62706                                                                                                             Springfield, IL 62706                                                  
Phone: 217-782-6216                                                                                                             Phone:  217-782-0053
Fax:  217-782-4079

 On March 8th the PEA held the "Meet The Candidate Night" in the High School Library.  The Event was live Streamed on HFS Network and for those who would like more information about the evening and the candidates please click on the following Link:  "MEET THE CANDIDATES"

On April 4, 2017 voters will be asked to go to the polls and cast their votes for various elected officials.  As part of the April 4th election 8 candidates are running for the PORTA Board of Education.  Voters will be asked to vote for the following candidates who hope to fill four open seats on the PORTA Board of education.  The Board open seats include 3 four year terms and one 2-year term.  All candidates are running for a four year term and so the ballot will ask voters to vote for three of the following candidates and then following the election the new Board will appoint the fourth to a 2 year unexpired term from the candidates who received the next highest number of votes after filling the three four-year terms. In the April 4th election candidates reside in three different townships and no more than three members can be on the Board from any one township.  As such, in the upcoming election two members will be elected from Township 18n6w, one member will be elected from 18n7w and one member will be elected from 18n8w.  Below are individual Bio's of each candidate, as you consider their credentials please keep in mind that only those who receive the most votes in each township will be elected to the board seat and because there is a limit to the number of members that may come from each township it is possible to be a top three vote recipient and not be elected.  For a better understanding candidates are listed here by Township and the total number of candidates who can be elected from each is also noted.
 

Township 18N6W- Not more than Two could be elected or appointed
Jason Burris
Jeremy Garner
Mindy Kinder
Ryan Woods

Township 18N7W--Not more one could be elected or appointed
Bill Shaub'
Ashley Trueblood
Toby Turek

Township 18N8W--Not more than one could be elected or appointed
Jeff Smith

​Jason Burris
Wood Land Lakes, Petersburg, IL
 
I currently serve on the PORTA School Board and am running for my second full-term. 
 
I was born and raised in Havana, IL graduating from Havana High School in 1990 and from Western Illinois University with a B.A. Degree in 2002.  I have served with the Illinois Army National Guard for 27 years and am employed as a Senior Human Resources Supervisor for the Illinois Army National Guard.  My wife Annette and I have two children.  Our daughter Devan is a 2015 PORTA graduate and current sophomore at the University of Kansas, and Joseph is an 11th grade student at PORTA High School. 
 
A career opportunity brought us to the Springfield area in 2004 and at that time we chose to move to Petersburg specifically to put our children into the PORTA School District.  What we found in PORTA was a district with a small school feel that had a very good academic reputation as well as an abundance of extra-curricular opportunities for our children.  We chose PORTA over other neighboring school districts and have never regretted that decision. 
 
In my time living in the PORTA School District I have previously volunteered and served as the Committee Chair, Cub Master and Den Leader with local Cub Scout Pack 54.  I have volunteered as an Assistant Coach for several youth sports leagues.  I currently volunteer as an Assistant High School Wrestling Coach at PORTA.  I am also a member of Clinton Lodge No. 19 in Petersburg. 
 
With our current state budget issues education funding has become a challenging issue for our small district.  While we must be fiscally responsible to ensure the long-term health of the district, we must work to find creative means to ensure continued opportunities for our students.  I believe in providing a well-rounded education and numerous opportunities for all of our students.  College-bound or those looking for vocational or technical education opportunities should have those choices available to them at PORTA.  I have always appreciated the abundance of opportunities our district offers and will work to ensure those opportunities continue and expand for future PORTA students. 
 
My ultimate goal is for PORTA School District to become the top small school district in Central Illinois.  

​Jeremy Garner
Jeremy Garner has been a resident of the southeastern part of the Porta district for three years. He is married to Mrs Garner who is a kindergarten teacher at Porta elementary. He has two children Sierra ( who is in 8 th grade) and Westin (who is in pre-k). Jeremy is a graduate of A-C Central and majored in secondary education at Illionis College. He has worked for the Illinois Department Of Corrections for the past 20 years. He was on the A-C Central Board Of Education for 7 years. 

" I believe I have the experience needed to be an asset for the Porta board of education. Prior to moving to Petersburg, I was on the A-C board for seven years. During those years, we had to make changes to education and come up with several cost cutting solutions to deal with the lack of payments from state funding. I feel during that time we made smart decisions that kept education at the highest level possible with less funding.  If I am elected to the board I will bring that experience with me and the thought of education first with the least amount of stress on the tax payers as possible."

​Mindy KinderMy name is Melinda (Mindy) Kinder.  I am running for school board and I am asking for your vote. 
My family and I have lived in Petersburg since 2008.  My daughter graduated from PORTA High School in 2016 and is now attending Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.  My son is currently in kindergarten at Petersburg Elementary School.  The school district was a major part of our decision to relocate to this wonderful community, and from academics to sports we have not been disappointed. 
My husband and I are active members of the Petersburg/Menard County community.  My husband is a volunteer firefighter and I am a member of the Menard County Jaycees and Town and Country Women’s Club.  I have served as President of both clubs, and Treasurer of the Jaycees.  I am currently co-president of the Petersburg Elementary School PTO.  I have participated in organizing and overseeing several events that benefited the community, including but not limited to, organizing the Super Hero fun run for the kids at Harvest Fest (the proceeds of which were donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital), organizing the children’s Halloween parade and working with the community to fight the flood. 
I graduated from Beloit College in Beloit, WI in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree majoring in psychology and minoring in legal studies.  I am currently attending the University of Illinois at Springfield to obtain my Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).  I have worked for the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) for over 13 years.  My current position is an auditor.  As an auditor, I review school district records to ensure accurate reporting of TRS members (teachers, administrators, etc.) service and earnings.
I am running for school board because I feel a sense of duty to provide back to the community and to ensure the future for our children is as bright as possible.  I want to be part of a team that creates a model that ensures all children have access to the best education in this fast moving world while holding true to the small town values that are so critical to grounding them as people.  I am looking forward to ensuring PORTA reaches its current goals, as well as set the vision and goals for the future.  I want to devote my knowledge, skills and energy to making PORTA the best school district in Illinois.  I feel my education, community spirit, and background make me a highly qualified candidate to serve on the board.  I want to make sure that not just my child, but that all children receive the best education possible.    
I thank you for your consideration.

​Bill Shaub was born in Grand Rapids, MI and grew up in Lockport, IL. He is the oldest of four boys. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school and was recruited to play football at Millikin University, where he played all four years.  Bill was also a Millikin defensive line coach for one year as he completed his double major. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in History as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Education.  After student teaching at Decatur MacArthur High School and serving as the high school girls softball coach, Bill was offered a full-time management position with Walgreens, where he’d been working part-time as a photo clerk.  Fifteen years later, Bill continues to work for Walgreens as a District Manager.  Bill is married to Lindsey Shaub, an individual aide at Petersburg Elementary and PORTA junior high volleyball coach, and they have two children, Trace, a 6th grader, and Tristan, a 3rd grader, both at PORTA Central.
Bill has been a volunteer teacher for 7 years for the Junior Achievement Program, an organization which teaches children to value free enterprise as well as basic financial management skills. He has also served on numerous boards of directors, among them, the Bourbonnais Bears Youth Football Organization, Kanakakee County Drug Court, having served as president for one year, Committee Member for the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Riverside Hospital PULSE Board Member.
A month after moving to Petersburg in 2015 from Bourbonnais, IL, Bill began volunteering as a coach with the Petersburg Junior Football program as well as the PORTA wrestling program. 
Message from the candidate: the reason I have chosen to run for school board is to be an advocate for both the students and the parents.  I enjoy being involved with the community and I hope to support an already established school system with a new perspective.  

​Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith was born and raised in Petersburg, IL and has continued to live here all his life. He graduated from PORTA High School in 1989 and from the University of Illinois in 1992.  After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural Economics, Jeff worked as a substitute teacher while continuing his career in the agricultural field.  Now, Jeff farms full time with his father on the family farm west of Petersburg.  Jeff has one son, Luke, who is currently a freshman at PORTA High School.

Jeff has volunteered to coach many youth sports, including baseball, basketball and soccer.  He is also on the Menard County Soil and Water Board where he serves as Treasurer. 
​
Message from the Candidate—I have chosen to run for the PORTA School Board so I can contribute to the well-being of our school district.  During the last two years, I have served on the negotiating committee with certified staff and on the building and grounds committee.  Now that I have a better understanding of the budget, I appreciate both its constraints and complexities.  After serving on the PORTA School Board the last two years, I know the time commitment and am willing to serve the school and community.

​Ashley Trueblood and her husband, Kerry, have been residents of Petersburg for the last 17 years. She has one child in the district and one that graduated from Porta High School in 2016.  Ashley is the K-6 art teacher (13 years) and district union president for Athens Schools.  She also has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.  She values teachers and their educated perspectives when it comes to solving problems within the district.  
 
Mrs. Trueblood made the decision to run for School board because of some of the truly amazing teachers her children have encountered during their time in the district.  Her oldest son, Clayton is now at Murray State University where he is working successfully for his degree in Agricultural Business because of the tremendous influence of teachers and staff in the district. Ashley has found in her experience as a teacher that the teachers are the heart and soul in any district.  
 
Ashley has also worked closely with several organizations and fundraisers in the district throughout the past few years.  Her own small business, Picasso On The Prairie (whose mission is to bring arts enrichment and education to adults and children alike) has hosted numerous fundraisers and supports for various district organizations, giving her a unique insight into the skills and needs of several school groups.  

​Robert “Toby” Turek
I was born and raised in Petersburg, and graduated from PORTA in 2000.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration.  I currently work for the Illinois State Board of Education in the Federal and State Monitoring Division.  I am familiar with school finance as my job entails auditing school district programs including General State Aid, Transportation, Title I & II and many others. 
I have a long history of volunteering my services at the PORTA School District from coaching wrestling, compiling stats for football and helping in the construction of the fitness center. I view service on the school board as the greatest way to give back to the community that started my life of learning. I have a strong desire to ensure that the students of the PORTA School District get the best education possible.

​Ryan Woods
Ryan Woods currently is employed for the Illinois State Police as a Trooper.  Received a Bachelor's degree in both Accountancy and Business Administration from UIS.  My wife and I have lived in Petersburg since 2006 on a farm my grandfather bought in the 1940's.  I have two kids, one in first grade and the other in second grade at Petersburg Elementary.  They currently participate in basketball, baseball, wrestling, cheerleading, and swimming at PORTA. I have been a volunteer coach for both basketball and baseball in the Petersburg community. 
My experience in Accountancy and Business Administration would be beneficial to balancing budgets and making difficult financial decisions associated with the school.  My work experience has provided me with an advanced ability to make tough decisions in a stressful environment. I am interested in serving on the school board to ensure continued and future success of the PORTA school district. 

​Good Afternoon,
After an extensive investigation by PORTA Administration and Menard County Sheriff’s office we have determined any threat to the School in relation to the most recent reports received last evening are not credible at this time. All parties have been interviewed by the Menard County Sheriff’s department and all are confident that PORTA Schools are safe from any threat at this time.  Therefore, at 1:00 PM on January 25, 2017 the soft-lockdown of the PORTA Schools has been lifted and all activities will resume to normal.
We understand this event took some time to resolve but the investigation was further complicated by the fact that interviews had to be conducted from residents outside Menard County.  Thank you for your understanding in these matters as we strive to continue to provide a safe learning environment. 
Thank You
Matthew W. Brue  

​Good Morning,
The PORTA District is on heightened alert this morning after an investigation of an incident that occurred last evening.  The Menard County Sheriff’s Department and PORTA Administration were made aware of an unusual situation that raised the cause for concern.  The matter has been investigated over the late evening hours and all parties concerned believe there is no credible threat.  But as a precaution, increased police presence at District buildings will be maintained and Staff has been notified of the situation and are on heightened alert as well.  While the actions taken by the district and Menard County Sheriff's office might be excessive in this case, our main concern is the safety of students and staff. 
We have every inclination that there is no credible threat at this time and our actions are precautionary at this time.  If other information comes available that would change the alert status the district will notify families and the community immediately.
Thank You
Matthew W. Brue  

​Megan Kruse, who has been offered the PORTA Jr. High Principal has already, in her short career, proven herself as a distinguished educator. As the 2015 recipient of the Illinois Principals Association Award for Outstanding Service to Children, Megan has been recognized by her peers as an outstanding educator.    She started her education career teaching Spanish to 7th- 12th grade students and spent six years in the Ridgeview School District. While teaching at Ridgeview, Megan participated on the District Leadership Committee, led a student mentoring effort to help student course planning and time management and wrote a successful IPAD grant that benefited the school’s programs.  Ms. Megan Kruse’s dedication to children, families and the PORTA Community was extremely evident throughout the interview process.

In the Fall of 2016, Ms. Kruse became an administrative intern for the PORTA District, while also being employed as the Jr High Secretary.  In the six months Megan has been employed at PORTA, she has taken a proactive role in supporting students, families, and educational professionals. Ms. Kruse will finalize her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Foundations from Illinois State University, following the successful completion of her current internship.
 
Megan Kruse’s educational background and personal experiences have helped shape her philosophy of education. As a PORTA Alumni, Megan has shared her desire to help all PORTA students learn at the highest levels possible and to become a valuable member of our community. 
 
The interview process for the PORTA Jr. High Principal consisted of two interview teams, the first comprised of parents, teachers, a student and Board member and the second comprised of administrative personnel and a board member.  Select candidates were interviewed by both teams and the final two candidates were interviewed by the combined committees on Saturday December 3, 2016.  At the conclusion of interviews Ms. Megan Kruse was the unanimous choice of the committees. Two parent committee members, Betsy LaMaster and Brandy Zanger shared the attached comments about the process and outcome.
 
The PORTA Board was excited to include various interest groups in the interview process and feel the transparency involved in the process is a positive method of building community, family and staff support.  Additionally, the Board of Education would like to extend a sincere “Thank You” to all who participated in the successful interview process. 

​After 23 years of outstanding service, Mr. Darren Hartry is retiring as Principal of PORTA JR/Sr High School at the end of this school year.   The PORTA Board of Education has elected to transfer Mrs. Amy McMahan to the High School Principal’s position and to seek a new Jr. High Principal for the upcoming 2017-18 school term.  As such, a committee comprised of staff, parents, community members and a student will be sought to conduct interviews beginning on November 30, 2016.  The Interview team will be expected to be available on the 30th of November, December 3rd, 6th, 7th to interview candidates and deliberate within the committee on a final candidate.  Interviews held on November 30, December 6 and 7 will be held in the evening, while December 3rd may be held throughout the day.
If you or someone you know might be interested in participating on the interview committee please contact Matt Brue at 217-632-3803 x 1403 or at mbrue@porta202.org to express your interest.  

Have you or someone you know thought about working as an Aide (paraprofessional) for the school district, but did not know where to start or who to talk to about becoming certified and employable.  On November 9, 2016 you can learn about the steps one must complete to qualify as a Certified Paraprofessional.   
The PORTA District, as well, as most other school districts in Illinois are in need of Qualified/Certified paraprofessionals.  After earning certification you will be qualified to work as a paraprofessional in any Illinois school district.  This meeting is developed to help interested participants become certified to fill future open positions.

PORTA CUSD 202 and ROE 51 will host an informational group session for anyone interested in the Paraprofessional Certificate. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2016 in the PORTA High School Library.
Regional Assistant Superintendent Shannon Fehrholz and Superintendent Matt Brue will host the group informational session for anyone who has an interest in becoming a Certified Teachers Aid (paraprofessional). Program and certification questions will be addressed.  

Any questions can be directed to Supt. Matt Brue at 217-632-3803 ex. 1403 or by e-mail, mbrue@porta202.org
 
 The following licensure stipulations will be discussed and potential candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions and begin the process of certification. 

To qualify for an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for Paraprofessional You must be at least 20 years of age AND One of the following three (3) options must be demonstrated:

1. Completed 60 semester hours of college credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education (evidence is an official transcript); or
2. Obtained an associate degree (or higher) at a regionally accredited institution of higher education (evidence is an official transcript); or
3. Present Proof of a High School Diploma and meet a formal State assessment by ONE of the following means:
   1. Passed the ETS ParaPro assessment with a score of 460 or higher (evidence is an official score report); or
   2. Passed the applicable ACT WorkKeys assessments (Applied Mathematics-4, Reading for Information-4, Writing/Business Writing-3)

Application Process:

1. A submitted application and fee in the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS); and
2. ONE of the following:
   1. Official* transcript(s) from a regionally accredited college or university; or
   2. Evidence of a high school diploma or its recognized equivalency**; and A copy of the ETS ParaPro score report (460 or higher); or
   3. Evidence of a high school diploma or its recognized equivalency**; and A copy of the WorkKeys score report (Applied Mathematics - 4, Reading for Information - 4, Writing/Business Writing - 3)

 
*To be official, transcripts must be submitted in an envelope sealed by the college or university or be sent directly by the institution. Transcripts received that are not in a sealed envelope from the university or not sent directly from the university will be considered unofficial and cannot be used for evaluation purposes.

​Research shows that family engagement promotes student success. Students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades, pass their classes, attend school regularly, have better social skills, and go on to postsecondary education.
The PORTA District has taken initial steps to identify ways to engage our families more consistently and purposefully.  Increasing communication options has been a Board of Education goal and as such the District will begin to use “Remind” as an additional district-wide communication tool. 
Remind is a free messaging app that’s built for the way educators work today. More than 2.5 million educators in the United States currently use Remind to reach students and parents with quick, simple messages on any device.
Over 80% of the teachers who use Remind say that the product has positively impacted teaching and learning in their classrooms— and administrators have used Remind to change the way they communicate with their school communities,  too.
Remind messages can be received by text, app, email, or web— no smartphones necessary.
Remind is free to use for teachers, students, and parents. Standard text messaging rates apply to text notifications, but there are no additional costs. In other words, getting a Remind message is just like getting a message from a friend.
Remind saves all communication to user accounts. This record can’t be edited or deleted within an account, so teachers, students, and parents can access a complete message history at any time—great for communication logs and general FOIA requests. Personal phone numbers are never connected to “Remind” messages. Students and parents don’t see educator phone numbers, and educators don’t see student and parent phone numbers, either.
Remind takes data privacy very seriously. Personal data is never shared or sold, and standard encryption methods like SSL are used to protect user information. Remind is also COPPA-compliant, which means that safeguards are included to help protect children under 13.
 
As a Parent or Guardian you will receive a notification either via email or cell number from “Remind” offering you the ability to receive notifications from your school.  If you are concerned your cell number or email is not updated in Skyward please contact your school’s office and offer correct information.  Remind will be of great value to you as a parent/guardian, whether information received relates to school safety or general announcements.  In any case you will be better informed.  Please look for your upcoming notification.

First many might ask, "What is a VPN?"  A VPN is a Virtual Private Network that is commonly used to protect users who utilize open access wifi.  Many businesses pay for employees to use a VPN as a means of protecting company secrets and vital information of a personal nature.  Many of you may be aware, there has been a focus on the use of VPN’s on the school wireless.  This is something that was not allowed in the past and remains prohibited.  In accordance with the acceptable use policy, students have agreed to not use any filter circumvention methodology.  The School District is required to provide a secure system that has the capability to block unwanted intrusions on private data and other viral issues that are too common in today's world. When VPN's are used in conjunction with our wireless capabilities our security systems are more likely to be compromised.  But more importantly, using VPN's, especially those advertised as "Free" VPN's are a free invitation to have your private information compromised. 
While we know students want access to programs that are currently blocked by our security systems, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone to closely monitor programs students have access too during the school day.  If we find students who circumvent our security systems we have suspended their access to the public wifi in our buildings.  If the offenses continue we will lengthen the suspension from access in our buildings. In hopes of determining a solution that protects students and the district, while offering opportunities for social media use, we plan to create a discussion group with the HS Student council and other student representatives to better understand their needs. In turn we hope to educate our students on the the legal requirements we must meet and the dangers of bypassing security systems.  
There are many reasons why you shouldn't use a VPN. Thanks to Alan Summers of La VPN and Author of "5 Reasons You Should Not Use a Free VPN Service" for the following information.  Additionally, we have included to other links discussing VPN's later in this publication.  

It is hard to say no to anything that is free, but when it comes to internet security and privacy, it might not be such a good idea to take the free option. Free VPNs have been becoming more and more popular, as with anything that is advertised as free, but you have to be careful what you (don’t) pay for. Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t use a free VPN service.
1. Security
When it comes to free VPNs, you have to be careful that they actually do securely protect your presence online, with free VPNs they don’t necessarily have to ensure your privacy is protected. In some cases, free VPNs have been known to sell access to anyone who is willing to pay for an ‘anonymous’ IP service, which in fact just diverts through your connection.
2. Tracking/Anonymity
A free VPN has recently been caught out in allowing users to be tracked across the internet, also allowing other users traffic to divert through your connection, which means you could be responsible for any activity that happens when connecting through your personal connection. Logging is a serious concern for users after a VPN, most paid VPN services do not keep logs, all in order to protect the privacy of their users, but free VPNs have no obligation, so at any point, your details could be passed on.
3. Unreliable connection
With paid VPN services like Le VPN, you are paying for a service that ensures your connection remains constant and reliable, so your security isn’t compromised by slow speeds and connection drop outs. When trying to download or stream content, connections that constantly drop out can be frustrating, another issue with a VPN that is offered for free.
4. Bottlenecked Speeds
When it comes to security and privacy online, you don’t want to have to sacrifice internet speed just to make sure you stay safe. Aside from security, if you are trying to access content from another country by using a different IP address, you don’t want to lose speeds as you’re trying to watch the game, with a paid VPN service, you will be able to guarantee your speeds remain unaffected.
5. Protocols
Security protocols are important to ensure your connection is as secure as possible, with a few options available to you, being able to choose which ones can be of use. Paid VPNs should provide you with a choice between the most common and popular types; PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP. Free VPNs will not allow such freedom of choice.
So when thinking of choosing a VPN, it is always worth checking out each of the features on hand, and when it comes to security, the free options are not the most secure. Le VPN offers you all the features required to keep your connection secure and safe, as well as a reliable connection with no drops or bottlenecked speeds. 
https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/low-cost-free-vpns/?domain=www.expressvpn.com​
​http://blog.spotflux.com/debunking-the-myths-of-vpn-service-providers/

​During the 2015-16 school term the Physical Education staff implemented new practices in the PE program prior to thenew Physical Fitness Assessments for the 2016-17 school Term.  Below is a Summary of New Rules: Physical Fitness Assessment, Data Collection, and Reporting
Public Act 98-0859, signed into law on Aug. 4, 2014, created the Stakeholder and Expert Task Force on Physical Education (SETFPE) comprised of members representing organizations that represent physical education teachers; school officials; principals; health promotion and disease prevention advocates and experts; school health advocates and experts; and other experts with operational and academic expertise in the measurement of fitness. SETFPE was tasked with submitting recommendations to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) on physical fitness assessments as well as the collection and reporting of aggregate student fitness data. STEFPE submitted its recommendations to ISBE and after seeking public comment, ISBE adopted fitness assessment and data collection rules for Illinois schools (Part 1, Section 1.425) effective SY 2016-17. 
Starting with school year 2016-17, public schools must:

• Ensure that school personnel administering the assessments participate in training related to the proper administration and scoring of each of the four required FitnessGram assessments outlined below. At a minimum, staff must review the required administration manuals and it is recommended that staff also view training videos.
  
• Ensure district maintains evidence of individual school personnel’s successful completion of the training and make it available to ISBE upon request.
  
• Establish procedures and protocols to ensure the confidentiality of individual student assessment results consistent with the requirements of the Illinois School Records Act and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
  
• Begin administering, in the second semester and each year thereafter, the following four FitnessGram assessments (first semester assessment is optional and will not be reported):
  

• • for Aerobic Capacity - the PACER test (recommended) or Mile Run Test (alternate) or Brockport test (any of the adapted tests for aerobic functioning for students with disabilities) for students in grades 4-12 (Note: If your district chooses the alternate Mile Run Test, student height and weight will need to be collected in order to calculate healthy fitness zones.)
    
  • for Flexibility - the Back-Saver Sit and Reach test (recommended) or Trunk Lift test (alternate), or Brockport test (any of the adapted tests for flexibility or range of motion for students with disabilities) for students in grades 3-12;
    
  • for Muscular Endurance - the Curl-Up test or Brockport test (any of the adapted tests for strength and endurance for students with disabilities) for students in grades 3-12; and
    
  • for Muscular Strength – the Push-Up test or Brockport test (any of the adapted tests for strength and endurance for students with disabilities) for students in grades 3-12.
    

• By each district’s established date, collect the second semester aggregate data outlined below from its schools. The district in turn must report results electronically to ISBE through the Student Health Data Section in IWAS by May 1 (possibly June 30*) of each year. *ISBE will soon release for public comment a proposed amendment to Part 1 of Rules that changes reporting deadline to June 30.
  
  • number of students tested by grade (5, 7 and 10 only) and gender;
    
  • number of students that achieved a healthy fitness zone by grade (5, 7 and 10 only) and gender;
    
  • number of students that were identified as needing improvement by grade (5, 7 and 10 only) and gender; and
    
  • for aerobic capacity only, number of students that were identified as needing improvement-health risk by grade (5, 7 and 10 only) and gender.
    

PORTA High School and Lincoln Technical Education Center are excited to announce that the Industrial Technology department is expanding! A Building Trades program has been added and will begin this Fall.  Lonnie McAnally has been hired to be the new Industrial Technology Teacher. The Automotive program will continue and Don Quigg will be the new Automotive Instructor.  Mr. Quigg had been the Industrial Technology Teacher at Winchester until his retirement at the close of last school year.  We are very fortunate to bring in such an experienced instructor on a part-time basis allowing us to continue training students in automotive mechanical repair. Mr. McAnally has a strong construction background working for both Ozella Construction and Custom Structures for many years, this along with a degree in Computer Assisted Drafting makes him an ideal fit as the Industrial Technology Instructor as we start two new programs.  2016-17 will see the start of a new Pre-Engineering course sequence along with a new Building Trades course sequence.  Pre-Engineering I will be offered this year with Pre-Engineering II & III added in the future.  This course sequence will be a true STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) offering as long time PORTA instructor of the Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) David Stier will co-teach Pre-Engineering I.  

The Building Trades program is a new L-TECH offering at PORTA and joins our existing programs in Culinary Arts, Automotive Repair and Health Occupations (Certified Nurse Assistant). The Building Trades program is designed to expose students to all phases of the small-home construction industry over a two year period.  In the first year, BT I students will focus on “rough-in” construction with much of the building being performed in the wood shop.  Site visits to construction sites will allow students to see the application in each stage of the “rough-in”.  Many community partnerships will be needed for these site visits, at this time the following businesses have agreed to partner with us on this exciting venture:
Ozella Construction
Custom Structures
Henson Robinson
Spivey Heating and Cooling
Tri-County Electric
Thurber Excavating and Concrete
Image Design & Landscaping
Additional community partnerships as well dual credit opportunities with local community colleges are being sought, if interested please contact Darren Hartry or Lonnie McAnally at 632-3216.

The decision to offer Building Trades was finalized this summer so it was not available when students scheduled their classes for this year.  Juniors and seniors interested in taking Building Trades need to contact Mr. Johnson at 632-3216 or by email at kjohnson@porta202.org to request a schedule change.
Students from Athens, Greenview and AC Central can take Pre-Engineering I and/or Building Trades I and should contact their Guidance Counselor to be added. ​

​Good afternoon,
 
 
     Legislators and the Governor failed to reach agreement on a state budget by the end of May, as such, the budget impasse continues in Illinois. You may soon hear speculation about whether schools will open in the fall. The lack of a state appropriation for K-12 education in Fiscal Year 2017 will result in dire consequences for many districts. For PORTA, state funding comprises about one-third of revenue for the Education Fund. It represents about Fifty Percent of revenue for the Transportation Fund. The district has fund reserves that will allow for the opening of school. These reserves should sustain the district through the first semester, but will deplete all reserves prior to April of 2017. The depletion of our reserves in such a short time span has a devastating effect on the District’s financial plan and ability to maintain current programs and class sizes throughout the district.  If our elected officials continue in this dysfunctional manner throughout the summer months the PORTA Board of Education will ultimately be forced to ask local tax payers for an education fund increase, so that our district will have the necessary funds to remain open for the upcoming and future school years.
     The top priority for our elected officials must be to enact a budget that includes adequate funds for public schools before the new school year begins. This will ensure that schools across the state open on time and are adequately funded for the full year. An evidence-based funding model is the soundest and fairest long-term answer to having an adequate and equitable school funding model in Illinois. It is based on research-based practices.
     Toxic climates often lead one to avoid getting involved. Yet, as taxpayers and as concerned citizens, now is the time for engagement. Contact your elected officials to let them know your feelings about the current “state of our state.” Your Board of Education and I will continue to monitor this situation. We will develop contingency plans to respond to the prospect of an ongoing budget impasse into the fall. We are committed to opening schools on time and to educating our children without interruption.
​Thank you for your continued support of our schools.
 
 Sincerely,
 
 
Matthew W. Brue
Superintendent

Dear Parents and Guardians,
The testing window for the spring 2016 administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment opened March 7 and continues through June 10. Districts have selected their 30-day testing period within this time frame and will provide those specific dates for your child’s test.  PORTA's Testing dates or PARCC at Central are April 11-19 and PORTA Jr/Sr High will be held 18-22nd of April. Additional testing includes ACT testing on April 19 for Juniors interested in completing the ACT.  Eighth and Ninth grade students will be completing ACT aspire testing  on May 6th.  
This is the second year Illinois has participated in PARCC assessment. The 2016 exam has a simpler format to improve the testing process while still providing reliable information about student achievement. This year’s results will allow you to see how your child is growing in his or her knowledge and understanding of the state’s learning standards, which are focused on college and career readiness. No assessment can ever fully capture the skills and abilities of a great teacher or the extraordinary benefits and positive impact of a great school. This assessment is simply one reflection of your child’s academic growth. Assessments help provide a sense of where and how we are succeeding and where and how we must improve, along with other indicators, such as classroom work samples and teacher observations. The PARCC assessment is designed to give schools and teachers more information to support improvement efforts and personalize teaching to better guide your child’s learning. These spring assessments correspond with what your child is learning in the classroom and with the performance expectations of the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics. They should not require time outside of school to prepare for the test. This year ISBE expects to receive PARCC assessment scores much sooner than the 2015 results, allowing our teachers to tailor instruction to meet specific student needs. Districts should receive score reports in the fall. The PARCC states have released many test items from last year’s assessment to help parents and teachers understand the types of questions their students will be asked. These questions are available through the Partnership Resource Center at https://prc.parcconline.org/assessments/parcc-released-items, which houses a variety of supports available to teachers in PARCC states. About 85 percent of students are expected to take the assessment online this spring, compared to 75 percent in 2015. You may enjoy sitting down with your child to take the PARCC practice assessment. This is a good opportunity for you and your child to go through what will be expected and become more familiar with the format before your child takes the assessment. You may access the PARCC practice assessments at www.parcconline.org/assessments/practice-tests. You may also find more information at ISBE’s PARCC Place at www.isbe.net/parcc-place/default.htm and ISBE’s Hot Topics page at www.isbe.net/hot-topics.htm. Scores from last year’s test administration have provided a new baseline for student performance going forward. The State Board is proud of our students who took the PARCC assessment last year and is confident in their abilities as we work together to prepare them for success in college and career. Learning begins at home, and we thank you for your partnership in your child’s education.
Sincerely,
Tony Smith, Ph.D.
State Superintendent of Education 

March 22, 2016
OPINION
Forget the fighting. Here's a reform we should all embrace.Comments Email Print
By: Andy Manar
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Chicago Public Schools Bruce Rauner Education Opinion & Columnists Opinion
​It's no coincidence that some of Illinois' most vibrant communities also are home to some of its best public schools. We live in a vast state where public education is deeply reliant on a thriving local economy and robust property tax base.
As a result, students face a real disadvantage in communities where the economy isn't faring as well. After nearly two decades, it's time for state leaders to fix this glaring disparity.
Illinois is primed for an overhaul of its school-funding formula, one that treats Chicago Public Schools the same as school districts in central Illinois farm country; one that demands the same level of resources and results for students in the wealthy northern suburbs as it does for students in poverty-stricken Cairo at the southern tip of the state.
Without question, this is a tough and gut-wrenching calculus that pits regional interests against what is best for the state. But for too long, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have ignored the plight of struggling school districts. As the years go by, the inequity gap in Illinois gets wider.
We no longer can accept that Illinois has stacked the deck against an overwhelming number of its schools, particularly those with higher levels of poverty and more students of color. By tying school funding to local wealth and economic success, Illinois perpetuates a race to the bottom. Here's how.
As companies flock to such wealthy communities as Naperville, Northfield, Park Ridge, Northbrook and Wilmette, families follow the jobs, put down roots and send their children to the great public schools that helped attract the companies there in the first place.
The schools benefit from the influx of property tax support and population, enabling them to offer better programs and services. That investment begets greater educational success, smaller achievement gaps and accolades from near and far.
The result: More companies and more families want to be there because of the excellent schools, causing an even greater influx of property tax dollars for education and even greater disparity among school districts.
Contrast that with what happens in cities with serious economic challenges: Decatur, Cairo, Kankakee and Danville, for example, plus many of the communities south of Interstate 70 that for decades depended on blue-collar industries like mining and manufacturing as their economic bases.
When longtime major employers close their doors, families put their homes on the market and move away. The seeds of poverty and crime are sewn. Once-thriving Main Street businesses shutter. Property tax collections decrease, meaning less money for local schools. More families move away, and businesses find less incentive to move in. The cycle of decline continues.
It's an unjust system that shortchanges students in communities where coal mines closed or factories shut down. Meanwhile, that same unjust system drives double or triple the amount of money to students in thriving, prosperous communities.
What we are left with are schools that succeed for a few, but don't succeed for all.
It's time to hit the reset button and craft a new school-funding formula. Together we own the worst system in America, and we need a truly statewide solution that treats all schools equally. Today's system is a web of complicated formulas that result in less than half of all state education dollars going to schools based on need—which shortchanges the neediest schools in the state.
Reform efforts should be focused on one statewide formula that accounts for each school district's individual needs and sets up one set of rules for all schools to drive better results. We should prioritize limited state resources to bridge the gaps. No more inequity, no more special deals.
That includes ending Chicago block grants while alleviating financial pressure on CPS and the hundreds of other districts across Illinois in the same predicament. Pension fairness should be part of the equation, too.
In the coming weeks, legislation will be introduced to change Illinois education funding once and for all. If we are going to compete with the world—and get the results Illinois taxpayers rightly demand for their investment—our system has to change.
If state lawmakers and other elected leaders, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, are looking for a structural reform to get behind this year, this is it.
Illinois State Senator Andy Manar is a Democrat from Bunker Hill.

 ​The PORTA District has not offered breakfast at the Jr/Sr High in over 12 years.  The reasons for halting the breakfast service revolved around lack of participation.  Today the district has seen an increase in students who are attending school without the benefits of a nutitious breakfast. As part of an ongoing rebranding of the PORTA cafeteria program we find it increasingly important to give our students the opportunity to face the day with proper nutrition and enhanced energy levels.  As such, beginning on April 11, 2016 and ending May 17, 2016 the Jr/Sr High Cafeteria will offer grab and go breakfast packages that meet all federal nutrition guidelines.  The meals will be offered from 7:00 a.m. until 8:10 a.m. for $2 a meal.  Each grab and go Breakfast will include the daily allowance of grains, Fresh fruit, Milk and Juice.  This program comes at an opportune time, with upcoming PARCC and State Science assessments being conducted beginning April 18, 2016.  We hope everyone is encouraged by the addition of breakfast at the Jr/Sr High and will support the efforts of the District to help our students succeed on a daily basis.  For more information on the importance of breakfast to your child's learning and development please click the following link,  http://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/breakfastforlearning.pdf  

For more information on upcoming testing State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D.,has sent the attached letter to parents announcing the start of the 2016 Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment testing window. A copy of the letter will also be posted in the Superintendent’s Corner at www.isbe.net or at the following link for the State Supts Letter.
 
ISBE has also developed two new fact sheets to explain changes to this year’s PARCC assessment administration. They are posted on ISBE’s Hot Topics page at www.isbe.net/hot-topics.htm.

​

A Trivia Night will be held at "Roots" which is located at 14305 State Route 97, across from Menard Electric,  on Friday March 11, 2016 beginning at 8:00 PM.  Get a team together and come out for some great fun!!!  Teams consist of 8-10 players.  Concessions will be available and you are welcome to bring your own snacks.  All proceeds will benefit the PORTA Pool.  Please contact Apple Glover @ 217-341-4617 or apple.glover@att.net to register or for more information.  Click here to see the "Flyer"