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V McHenry mreuiyj «Sincel875 amdealer Friday Jonuary27, 1984 Number JO Volume 108 SliMhmfiwi 1 Section 22 Paqes 25' o»--» T m- . 3 STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAVLORO Business was brisk as Dial-A- Ride service opened in McHenry oa Monday. By nooo Wed­ nesday, 40 calls had been received requesting rides, and more were anticipated to close out the first week. As drivers and dispatchers train with RTA officials, residents of the township ride free of charge this week. Fare rides begin the week of Jan. 30, with a $1 charge for a one-way Mae Stinespring heads Healthcare Foundation David Cain, president of Northern Illinois Human Ser­ vices Corp., announced that Mae Stinespring, McHenry, was appointed chairperson of the board of McHenry Healthcare Foundation. McHenry Healthcare x Foun- dation is part of the multi- "Challenge For Excellence" draft proposal in MCHS nears completion Mrs. Cecelia Windross boards the new Dial-A-Ride bus near her James Street apartment building. Brisk business for Dial-A-Ride trip for adults and $.50 for students and senior citizens. . Residents may travel anywhere in the township and there is door-to-door pickup and delivery. Buses will run on a reserve basis. Persons wishing rides must call the special township RTA phone number, 385-5671, 24 hours in advance of a planned trip. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by Marion Olsen A review of the "Challenge for Excellence" draft proposal will be made to ° the Personnel- Curriculum Committee of the McHenry Community High School Board of Education in the very near future. At this meeting, the Ad­ ministration of School District 156 will present information to the three-member board committee in preparation for the final presentation. Conclusions reached after consideration of material now in hand, together with information received in the weeks ahead, will be revealed to the entire board in a two-part package which will mark the conclusion of the program. Board action will follow. The package is the result of a "Challenge for Excellence" goal established in the district two years ago. It will reflect public input at four recent hearings. "Our standards aren't as high as they should be... my greatest disappointment is that we compare ourselves to inner city schools," said a McHenry high school parent. The statement reflected the opinion of most of the ap­ proximately 18 parents, students and businessmen at- tending the final hearing on local education. Sponsored by the District 156 Board of Education, the meeting stem­ med from concern over the Washington Commission W Excellence in Education report, "A Nation at Risk." f In a more pointed comment, a local businessman held out a folder of job applications. Of 69 applicants tested for a technical, non-college job, he said, 32 applicants could not correctly answer one basic math problem and 49 could not score right on another. "The emphasis being missed is teaching the student how to study and learn," he claimed. Four school board members, a handful of administrators and several teachers joined the group in looking at the Washington report from the local level and listening to the public's concerns. Norb Wolter, assistant superintendent of schools, reviewed the Washington report which revealed a declining national educational system: "Students are not learning beyond or even to the level of their parents," he reported. Wolter listed five areas covered by the Commission: Content (curriculum), time on task, teaching, leadership and fiscal support, and standards and expectations. The report described five new basic studies requirements: four years of English, three years of mathematics, three years of science, two years of social studies, one half year of com­ puter science and a strong recommendation for two years of foreign language especially for the college-bound. McHenry High School's basic requirements for graduation are: three years of English, one year of mathematics, one year of science and one year of social science. Illinois law will require a change next year to two years each of social science and mathematics. Computer science and foreign language are dectives. Although not required for graduation, the Commission's required courses are available at the schools and are being taken by college-bound students, according to Wolter. Wolter also noted that com­ petency testing at transitions (recommended by the report) have been initiated and will take effect with the incoming fresh­ men. Their curriculum will be influenced by the testing. corporate structure formerly known as McHenry Hospital Corporation. Northern Illinois Human Services Corp. is the parent, and the three sub­ sidiaries are Northern Illinois Medical Center (McHenry Hospital), NIMED Corp., and Continued on pago 4 Open Neighborhood kitchen Feb. 7 The Neighborhood Kitchen is opening its doors Tuesday, Feb. 7, providing the needy of the community with help in stret­ ching their food stamps. Dinner will be served between 5 and 7 p.m., free of charge, in St. Patrick's Church hall on In time on task, the Com­ mission referred to a seven-hour day (adhered to at MCHS) and a 200 to 220-day year (181 days in McHenry). It recommended more homework, better discipline effected by firm and fair codes, relief of ad­ ministrative burdens from teachers, promotion by per­ formance, not age. In teaching, the Commission looked for higher educational standards, increases in salaries based on proficiency and competency. Levels of begin­ ning, experienced and master teacher were recommended. In leadership and fiscal support, the Commission called for federal and state support especially for gifted students. McHenry's schools receive their financial support as follows: 35 percent from the state of Illinois, 64 percent from local taxpayers and 1.1 percent from the federal government, ac­ cording to Wolter. Board member Judith Zid continued, "We've called four meetings in various places to have an Opportunity to hear from community members. We don't believe that all of the recommendations of the Commission are necessarily applicable to our schools. Feel free to react any way you want to." The subject of "learning to study" was most often brought up. One parent lamented that her first-year-college daughter was struggling with study requirements and research skills. She had not taken College Composition at the local high school. The parent expressed concern that the problem began in the grade school. One current student said, "I don't think the schools are teaching me how to learn." A businessman emphasized the need for academic skills over clerical, technical or sports skills Students advocated a weighted 5.0 grading system, encouraging enrollment in honors classes with ac­ companying rewards of extra grade points. Some parents agreed. Merit pay for teachers brought forth generally negative responses from the teachers present and. prompted discussion of {enure, possible release-time for master teachers to teach beginning teachers and concern about teaching to tests. Other con­ cerns revolved around working students, student motivation and attitude, more emphasis on academic publicity than sports, and more rewards for academic students; also, parental in­ volvement and possible financial incentives to attract teachers. Board President Edward Neumann stated the school board's goal as "Education should provide the greatest good for the greatest number of students. With our financial resources, we should be able to be all things to all people. One- third of our students go on to college and two-thirds to work. Ideally, our schools should serve the needs of vocational as well as college-bound students." Washington Street. Individuals or families are invited to share a meal if there is a case of temporary unem­ ployment or food stamps aren't covering family needs. Parking will be in the east parking lot only. A look inside... Catholic School Week 1983 News Resume Regular features Obituaries Helping Paws New Classified Number Page 6 Special Section Page 4 Page 5 344-4800 'Project Safety' launched at Edgebrook school this week In cooperation with the School District 15 School Administration, the Edgebrook Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is undertaking an important program aimed at the safety and welfare of students. Under the program in effect prior to Jan. 26, a parent may not have been notified the day that a child did not arrive at school. It is possible, therefore, that a small child could be lost, truant, or abducted and neither the parent nor the school would be aware of that fact until the end of the school day. This is a situation the Administration and the PTO hope to correct. Letters were sent toiparents earlier this week explaining the details of the program. It is hoped there will be 100 percent response from paren­ ts. They are asked to call the school to report a child's absence by 9 a.m. Edgebrook PTO members are volunteering their time to launch this program to in­ sure the children's safety. Members will be telephoning parents who fail to call the school to report their child's absence. . \ * Mrs. Beverly Longnway, left, receives call in her Edgebrook School office from Mrs. Susan CLeary, a parent, who is reporting that her child will be absent this day.