The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

V V Two Injured In Bus, Car Crash Sgt Charles Terrell of the McHenry County Sheriffs department, in center of photo, examines the scene of Wednesday afternoon's traffic accident involving a McHenry District 156 school bus and a station wagon. Two passengers in the car were injured in the accident which occurred at Willow and Sunnyside roads in Lakemoor. In the background, a sheriffs deputy is ticketing the driver of the car, Thomas E. Franks, McHenry, for unsafe or worn tires. Dovie Franks, McHenry, and Laura J. Loveless, Antioch, passengers in the car, were taken to McHenry hospital following the accident. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A McHenry woman and an Antioch woman were injured as a result of being passengers in a car which struck a school bus Wednesday afternoon. Dovie Franks, 311 N. Willow road, McHenry. and Laura J. Loveless, Antioch, were in a station wagon driven by Thomas E. Franks, 311 N. Willow road, which collided with a McHenry District 156 school bus, driven by Patricia A. Freeman. 5303 Home, McHenry. Franks told Sheriff's police that he was southbound on Willow road and as he entered the Sunnyside road in­ tersection. the bus entered the intersection westbound on Sunnyside road. Franks said that he could not avoid hitting the bus. Ms. Freeman stated that she saw the approaching station wagon and swerved to the left, but the bus was struck by the oncoming auto. Ms. Franks and Ms. Loveless were taken to McHenry hospital by the McHenry Area Rescue squad where they were treated and released. No other injuries were reported in the mishap. Thomas Franks was ticketed by Sheriff's deputies for operating a motor vehicle with unsafe or worn tires. (Continued on page 4) Drive On City Vehicle Stickers After Feb. 28 Residents of McHenry have until Feb. 28 to purchase their city vehicle stickers. Anyone who has not purchased a sticker by then may be ticketed. According to Police Chief George Pasenelli, violators will be penalized. "We will start a concentrated effort to locate those vehicles which do not have a city sticker," said Pasenelli, "and violators will be ticketed." Pasenelli said that the Police MCHS Musicians To Be Featured In Recital The combined East and West entries in the Illinois High School association music competition will be previewing their solo and ensemble entries in a recital Sunday. Feb. 26, at 4 p.m. in the West campus auditorium. Vocal soloists, piano soloists, and instrumental soloists will perform for parents and Offer School Survey Hie board of McHenry High School District 156 has been plagued with unique problems in recent months. At the present time the board is planning the future direction of education in the community and has set April 8 as the referendum date seeking funds for a construction program that would make West campus a four-year high school. Because the problems of the past year and a half have been many and confusing, a resume is contained in the columns below. To determine the opinions of the public on the future of McHenry secondary education, a School Survey appears on Page 5. Residents of District 156 are urged to fill out the survey form and return to the Plaindealer office by March 6. Spotlight Revenue Sharing The McCullom Lake Con­ servation club asked for the largest allotment of the $62,5% revenue sharing funds av&fable to the city at Monday night's public hearing preceding the City Council meeting. John Gacek, representing the club, presented a letter to Mayor Stanek asking that the citfc contribute $8,459 to the cilia's dredging program of the lake The letter asked the city for one dollar for each city resident since the city is now purchasing beach property on the lake. Each family having access to the lake had been asked to contribute $10 to the program. It was the Conservation club that recently had decided to ask for certain restrictions to be placed on the beach property the city has decided to pur­ chase. Stan Johnson spoke to the Council on behalf of the McHenry Rescue squad, asking for funds to be used to better equip the emergency vehicles. Johnson told the Council that any money donated would be used toward community education, particularly cardio­ pulmonary resuscitation; paramedic training; and, hand held radios. Two youth athletic groups appealed to the Council for a share of the funds. The McHenry Hornet Boys Football teams requested $1,000 that would be used for the purchase of equipment and the McHenry Girls Pigtail Softball league asked for $2,000 to buy equipment. Larry Ekeroth requested that part of the funds be used to clean up Boone creek. The city has already allocated $5,000 for the clean-up of the creek, and Ekeroth hoped that more money could be allocated so that the project could be started. Ekeroth also stated that he hoped some of the revenue would be designated toward the proposed Community center. He explained that he is a member of the McHenry Choral club, and as such, would like to see the Community center constructed. Ekeroth explained that his group was being priced out of the high school facilities it had been renting by the school board, and might use the center if it were available. Alderman Bolger expressed his feelings toward the action of the school board. "It is very distressing to hear that you're being priced out of a public building," said Bolger. Bolger, who is president of the Library board, requested that $5,000 be allocated for the Public library. Other councilmen indicated that some of the money should be earmarked toward the city's mosquito abatement program and toward the remainder of money owed on the Pearl street bridge. At the close of the hearing. Alderman Nolan asked that $50,000 of the revenue sharing funds be allocated toward the Community center. Mayor Stanek then closed the hearing. Discussion of the proposed use for revenue sharing funds will continue at the next Council meeting at which time final decisions will probably be reached. THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER S E R V I N G T H E CHAIN - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 * IM tuu > VOLUME 102 NUMBER 60 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1978 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 20" High School Optimistic Over Funds From State Encouraging news on funding came from a visit of High School District 156 personnel in Springfield last week, but exact figures on help toward new school construction is still undetermined. Supt. Robert Swartzloff and Business Manager Michael Kelly told board members in meeting Tuesday night that all indications point to 42 percent funding of the proposed ad­ dition to West campus. However, the state presented different figures on building costs. Local school architects had department is concerned for the entire community and that is the reason every effort will be taken to insure all vehicles within the city limits have a sticker. "It is not fair to those con­ scientious people who buy their vehicle stickers," explained the chief, "to allow those who do not buy them to go free." "People who do not buy the vehicle stickers are taking money away from the rest of the residents," he concluded. listed the total anticipated building cost at $3,900,000. With state funds of $1,655,940, this would mean the district would need to account for $2,244,060 for construction. The Capitol Development board projection is for the total cost to be $5,453,695, and of this amount C.D.B. funds would be supplied in the amount of $2,315,639. McHenry high school board members have planned on $1 million of the total needed to come from the sale of East campus, a commitment made by McHenry hospital. They also say more money will be realized through the sale of McCracken field. Board estimates give the total needed to be asked for in the bond issue, using Capital- Development board figures, as $3,138,056 minus $1 million and the price to be derived from the sale of McCracken field. Members also feel their architectural figures are nearer correct than C.D.B. estimates but they have been assured that any saving over the C.D.B. figure will be returned to the district when the construction program is complete. Some discussion was held following a question by a board member concerning the amount of glass breakage on campus. Administrators noted that most of this kind of van­ dalism is done at night or weekends when it is seldom possible to hold anyone responsible. At the beginning of the year, $1,000 was set aside for each campus, to be used for student recreational purposes at the end of the term minus the regarding the girlsV athletic program, commenting that he had received several calls from concerned parents over the lack of experienced women coaches. He was assured that changes are being made in this program to offer the girls the best training possible. Upon recommendation of the administration, the board voted to rescind its previous decision to establish class loads at five and one-half classes. Teacher class loads will be returned to five class loads for the 1978-79 year. amount needed to be expended " The $55,000 savings created Bay Area Road May Be First Improved Under Revised Law friends. Many ensembles, including the East campus woodwind choir and brass choir, will also perform. The award-winning West campus swing choir will be included on the program. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend and hear these talented young musicians. Under a revised law that goes into effect July 1, Goodview lane in Rolling Acres sub­ division, in the Bay area, may become the first county thoroughfare to become im­ proved. Under the original law, it was possible for 60 percent of the residents of a particular area to petition for road improvements . and receive county assistance. ' However, there were some questions as to its legality and for this reason a revision was made on the law. At a recent meeting of the Committee of Local Im­ provements, which carries out planning when requested, A1 Collins of Wonder Lake was elected president and County Highway Supt. James Rakow as appointed secretary. Before proceeding, with the Goodview lane request, the McHenry County board, in session Tuesday, decided to study objections made under the previous law. Pros and cons of constructing a new bridge to span the Fox river, between the villages of Algonquin and Cary, occupied considerable time. The Transportation committee explained the need for an engineering study for possible bridge construction on Rt. 36 to alleviate a traffic bottleneck on Rt. 62, in Algonquin. Board Member Lorraine Majewski, who represented the area affected, read a list of negative points made by residents of that community. Edward Buss of McHenry, a member of the committee, explained the reason for the study and said it was necessary for the County board to look at this project from the standpoint of the entire county. When A1 collins moved for further study, Buss said there was no use sending the matter back to committee because members had already made its findings. He suggested having County board members meet with the committee and seek (Continued on page 4) for vandalism repair. Ad ministrators at both campuses said about $200 remains in each fund. They noted that accidents have happened, but only when the act is deliberate is money removed from the funds. With one negative vote cast by Edward Neumann, approval was given to granting $500 necessary to provide thirteen buses for the junior-senior prom. Neumann explained his vote by noting that since students seem to have ample money to pay for other, very high costs of the prom, they should also be able to pay the comparatively small tran­ sportation cost. Neumann expressed concern New Chief Invites Public To Visit Police Department All McHenry residents were extended an invitation to visit the city Police department by Chief George Pasenelli at Monday night's City Council meeting. Pasenelli, who assumed command of the department Feb. 1, extended the open in­ vitation during his report to the Council. "All community people are invited to visit the Police department," said Pasenelli. The chief hopes that the community will take pride in its police force and said that the force will take pride in the community. In his report, Pasenelli asked the Council for immediate approval of the department's request to buy ammunition. "If the department was to get into a fire fight tonight," he said, "we would have to borrow ammunition. That would be a very embarrassing situation." The Council unanimously approved the request to pur­ chase 2,000 rounds of .38 cal. ammunition and 500 rounds of .12 gauge shotgun ammunition. The chief also received unanimous Council approval to purchase traffic citation books at a cost of $600. The City Council also decided to enter the Police department into a contract with the Nor­ thern Illinois Crime laboratory at a cost of $600 for the next three months. The contract will be renewed for the next year at a cost of $3000 in May. McHenry will now be able to send criminal evidence to the unit, which will do the lab work and testify in court on behalf of the department. C o u n c i l m e n v o t e d unanimously to grant Pasenelli's request to hire (Continued on page 4) by the original motion will now be cut from the following categories; aides and secretaries, administrators and counselors, and building instructional materials. Some discussion ac­ companied acceptance of the school calendar. Supt. Swart­ zloff said he doubts it will be possible to come up with a county calendar that would apply to all schools, although it would be highly desirable. It was generally felt the ideal situation would be a law giving authorization to the county superintendent of schools to establish such a calendar. In personnel action, the resignations of Diane An­ derson, Patrick Kallaus and Jeanne Hertz, all of East campus teaching staff, were accepted. Mary Ann Snyder was em­ ployed as three-fifths English teacher at East; Louise Chapman became full time teacher replacing Maralyn Levens as East English teacher; and Patricia Baker was employed as full time Math teacher at East. Lorie Diane Klebe was named Behavioral Disorders instructor at East. Resignations were accepted from Diane Kawell, SEE in­ structional aide at East, and Vicki Bazan, secretary at West. Classified employment in­ cluded Cheryl Hunter, Bruce Berger, Claudia Gam, Jim Sailors, Lenore Hoffman and Joanne McAndrews as aides and Tori Donarski as half time (Continued on page 4) Musin' And Meanderin How long has it been since you said, "Stop tHe world, I want to get off?" Was it only yesterday? If it was, you aren't alone. And right now, foremost among wishful thinkers might well be anyone facing the problems of solving McHenry high school's education dilemma. This includes school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and others among the taxpaying public. From a comparatively quiet suburban educational system a short time ago, the woes of District 156 have mushroomed in the past two years to the point of confusion. All schools have been finding financial stumbling blocks in recent years, but for our high school these have been compounded by unique happenings. Along with a deteriorating financial outlook experienced by many Illinois schools, McHenry also found itself in the unusual situation df having its district separated by the decision of Johnsburg to form its own district in 1976. The problem of releasing teachers and making general cutbacks were not the only result. Johnsburg had to be paid for its financial interest in the facilities, which amounted to $2,185,939. With changes necessary and the economics of running the school in trouble, this seemed an ideal time to make some decision on the kind of future secondary education should be striving for locally. East campus has been an increasingly unpopular commodity. Efforts to sell it for a profit have extended back several years but there was no interest from business. At one time McHenry hospital expressed an interest, but nothing materialized. In the meantime, deficits began to look a deeper shade of red as they increased and the decision this past summer was to hold a referendum to boost both the Education and Building Operation rates. Both were defeated in October. In the meantime, a prospect of greater revenue than had been anticipated, through a new tax multiplier, convinced the board that in a second referendum it would be unnecessary to make a request for help in the Education fund iat this time. Only money would be asked for the general operation of the buildings. With the Dec. 23 second referendum imminent, announcement was made that month that a recommendation to establish two four- year high schools had resulted from two weeks of meetings by the Administrative council, department coordinators and the Administrative cabinet. The board agreed that a study on the proposal should be pursued. Then, within two weeks, McHenry hospital again expressed a serious intention to byy East campus for a price of $1 million. As an expression of good faith, a check was given in the amount of $5,000 contingent on the success of a referendum which would support a bond issue in the amount of $2,200,000 to build an addition to West campus. The date was set for Feb. 25. At almost the same time as the hospital's offer, the second election was held Dec. 23 for the Building Operation fund and this was defeated 2 to 1, even more decisively than the first. The first two referendums - one in october and the otner in December - had nothing to do with construction. The next vote asks for an expansion program at West, in conjunction with the sale of East. The amount of the referendum was hiked to $2,900,000. However, since that time, with the prospect of as much as $2 million being made available through Capital Development funds, the Feb. 25 vote has been cancelled and a referendum will be held April 8, the amount dependent upon fulfillment of the grant. It should be made clear that any sale of East campus will be done at auction. However, since there has been no interest over a period of years, it is almost a foregone conclusion that McHenry hospital would be the buyer. It also should be clarified that the sale of East and the building program at West are dependent on each other and both are dependent entirely on the outcome of the April vote. Because of legal difficulties anticipated should a public opinion ballot on East campus be included with the bond issue request, only the proposal to sell construction bonds will appear on the April 8 ballot. The board will be guided by the vote of the public on the bonas. If approval is given, East will be sold at auction. If voters turn down the request, East will remain and the final decision on whether to establish two four-year campuses or remain in the present arrangement, with freshmen and sophomores at East and juniors and seniors at West, will be decided. Two administrators we talked to a month ago said their first choice was two four-year schools. Each of them stressed an opinion that too large a high school tends to make the educational facility impersonal, where individuals become merely numbers. Some board members have expressed the same opinion, yet a close vote last month was in favor of holding the referendum which would build one large school for four classes at West campus and sell East. East has long been a "whipping boy" among school and non- school people. Without solicitation of opinions, many have come our way and they are divided. Most people agree that the 2-2 system (freshmen and sophomores in one building, juniors and seniors in anothar) isn't Working. Why it isn't working is the subject for divided views. Although there was optimism when the system was initiated about a decade ago, many feel that without the settling influence of older students there is a problem among freshmen and sophomores that cannot be solved. Others have expressed an opinion that a get-tough discipline enforcement would make for a smooth operating school. They believe East campus and the 2-2 system could be made to work. With the departure of more than 500 students to Johnsburg next fall, there will be an anticipated 1,800 enrollment in McHenry high school. The proposed West building program would house 2,300, sufficient for a five-year growth under present school projection. No money was asked from the Capital Development board for East campus facility renovation. However, because life safety standards are required to be met by the Illinois Office of Education, a district can sell bonds to make certain improvements without voter approval. These are improvements to insure the safety of students, dealing with structural improvements, or in areas such as heating, ventilation and lighting. A district may spend up to its bonding power but must prove to the state that the expenditures are in the interest of life safety. To build, the district must obtain the support of voters April 8. And what is the hospital planning to do with the East campus property if it should be successful at auction? Administrator Anthony Corcoran said three appraisals have been the same. The East campus property is valuable to the hospital, but there is no value to die hospital in the buildings. "Based on these recommendations, we have no plans to use the present campus forhealth care purposes", Corcoran continued. He added that in terms of expansion in that area "the buildings probably will have to go". The administrator noted that there is sufficient acreage and the hospital will need to look at both long and short term expansion. There is a great need, Corcoran pointed out, for room for support services. These are now spread out, including a warehouse and business office. "There will be a radical change in long term planning if this land is acquired", he said. "If the land is not made available, the only other way to go for expansion is east". This is the story of McHenry high school and its problems extending back almost two years. It is a story that awaits its final chapter, one the public will help to write April 8. KAF