Pontiac district awaiting budget’s funding number
Sunday, August 26, 2007 9:04 PM CDT
Like school districts across the state, the Pontiac elementary school district is waiting to see what the state budget signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich will bring.
“Well, we don’t know exactly how much money we are going to get and we are still waiting to see what they end up with,” Pontiac Grade School District 429 Superintendent Steve Graham told the school board last week. “However, the tentative information coming out of Springfield looks favorable.”
Graham said the school district was hoping to get a $400 increase per student in state aid, but he said he won’t be certain until he receives the final information. The budget included $600 million in new money for schools across the state.
Pontiac’s tentative budget for 2007-08 was approved Thursday; a public hearing will be held Sept. 20.
Grand marshal: Frank Panno has been selected as the 2007 grand marshal of the Threshermen’s Reunion Parade. The Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce said that Panno has participated in the reunion for the past 50 years and the parade committee has never had to make a call seeking his participation as it is just known.
The reunion will be held Thursday through Sept. 3 at Threshermen’s Park.
Golf Fundraiser: The Caring Pregnancy Center in Pontiac will host a golf outing fundraiser Friday at the Pontiac Elk’s Club, Illinois 116 West. The event will include 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, prizes and a chance at a $10,000-hole-in-one. Registration runs from 7:30 to 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Cost is $75 for a single or $200 for a foursome.
School discussed: Local educators will speak at the next Eggs & Issues breakfast sponsored by the Streator Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Towne & Country Inn in Streator.
The public is invited to the forum, at which Streator grade and high schools, Woodland School in South Streator and Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby will be represented.
Fire house staff: Scott Orban has been named a captain with the Streator Fire Department, while Fred McClellan has been promoted to lieutenant. Orban has been with the department since 1991 and McClellan has been on the force for nine years. William Missel was also hired as a firefighter.
School landscaping: The first phase of a $42,000 landscaping project at the Streator High School courtyard is being completed, and additional funds are raised for more work. A citizens’ committee hopes to eventually raise $100,000 for beautification at the new addition that the district was unable to afford.
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