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\ u -y! i -*-•*•-. o.l'-' mni * Spring Cleanup One sure sign of Spring is clean-up. It happens at home, in business, and from the action above, also in our schools. West campus students recently volunteered to assist the custodial staff in clearing the lawn and parking area of debris that collected during the severe winter weather. This scene is in the front yard, where the seemingly endless job of pick-up and throw-away was in progress as warm breezes sought to destroy the last vestige of snow still visible in small patches on the lawn. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER PLUME 103 NUMBER 72 evenue Sharing "SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1979 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 20' 96,728 Approved For ity Parks-Recreation The City Council split up the federal revenue sharing pie, estimated at $117,728 for this year, at the Monday night meeting. The largest slice, $96,728, was set aside for park and recreational facilities. In another action, the aldermen nixed candidate Mike Weiser's suggestion for an opinion poll There may not seem to be much relationship between gasoline price increases and the county's Historical society. But we think there is. As folks take to the road this time of year, often their plans are rather grand for the pocket book as we consider the cost of traveling any distance. Looking over the most recent newsletter from the McHenry County Historical society suggests this as a place of interest for a modest use of gasoline. The museum opens May 6. Located in the small county community of Union, it will soon have a large addition -the log cabin that will be brought there from the fairground at Woodstock. But there is much more at this museum created through the dedication of a relatively small number of people. Many of the items to be displayed need considerable work. At present, the officers have cider and grape presses and a rug loom they are planning to put in working order. In the musical line, the museum boasts a 147-year-old clavichord, an 1856 melodeon and two grand pianos, one 79 years old and another of 1850 vintage. An 1850 loveseat awaits restoration and there is an 1870 building cupola which has seen better days. Contrary to some rumors, the museum receives no tax money from the county. To date, leaders in the movement to create and keep in operation this museum have been raising funds on their own. with the help of generous individuals, businesses and organizations. McHenry county, like most others, is filled with history that too soon fades in memory. Only through a museum can we hope to keep that memory alive. The distance is not far; the attraction should be of interest to everyone; and the price is right. K.A.F. about the proposed community building or pool that was to be held in conjunction with the city election April 17. Other causes benefitted from the division of revenue sharing spoils were: mosquito control, $14,000; Rescue squad (McHenry), who had made no request, $2,500; Youth Service Bureau, $2,000; library $1,000; McHenry County Historical society, $1,000; and Alternative school, $500. Mayor Joe Stanek originally asked the Council to allocate $100,000 for the proposed community center or pool, adding more flexibility to an earlier request just for the building. Alderman Ray Smith suggested that the amount be reserved for park and recreation facilities, leaving the city more options on which to spend the money. Alderman Jerry Rogers protested Alderman Elizabeth Nolan's motion for the $100,000 allotment of revenue sharing funds for this purpose, noting that (he city would not have enough for that much and it would close the doors on other things. The Council then made the allocations for the other causes before reserving the remainder for the park facilities. Also considered but not granted were amounts for Boone Creek work, which Stanek indicated might be subject to state aid for dredging and clearing; the Senior Citizens' walk-in center at Woodstock, and several local youth recreational programs. Mayor Stanek said he had word from Senator Charles Percy that this is the last year for revenue sharing in its present form, but the predic­ tion was that more would be voted by Congress in reduced or adjusted amounts. After Weiser outlined his community building poll procedure and ^-reasons, Alderman George Harker said he wondered about the whole process and how the election judges would work on it. He predicted that it would be a distraction to the voters, some of whom have a tough time handling the issues on the of­ ficial ballot. If the poll was authorized, he would want it located so that it wouldn't bother the voters. He also questioned whether it was a proper function of election judges. Mayor Stanek was concerned that the questionnaire had been prepared without the con­ currence of any Council members and asserted that poll was premature, and Rogers added that it was also misleading. Smith claimed that the polling was occurring at the wrong time and the wrong place. Maybe the City Council did move too fast on the QUEEN CONTEST There has been one entry to date in the Miss McHenry queen contest Others are urged to fill out a coupon appearing elsewhere in this issue and return before an ap­ proaching deadline "Wholesale Rezoning" Requests Are Concern The McHenry City Council expressed concerns about the wholesale rezoning being requested by property owners in the mile and half "influence" area around the city during their regular meeting Monday. April 2. The Council also received a report on the status of two intersection im­ provements on Routes 31 and 120, and Mayor Joseph Stanek painted a gloomy picture of future relations with the RTA. After Fred Meyer, superintendent of Public Works, related the number of requests heard at a recent mini-hearing of the McHenry County Zoning Board of Ap­ peals for Nunda and McHenry townships, the Council in­ structed City Clerk Barbara Gilpin and Meyer to appear at subsequent hearings with letters from the city outlining their position on these proposed changes. Mayor Stanek and the Council indicated that their major concerns were certain road rights-of-way (a connector to Ridge road and the Route 31 bypass to the west and High­ way 420 to the east and north), lands contiguous to the city should be annexed, and questions of what owners are planning for various com­ mercial use zonings near the city. The Council was also advised that Jack Pepping, chairman of the McHenry Planning com­ mission, had sent a letter on March 21 to Steve Aradas, director of planning for the county, that had stated that the city's comprehensive plan indicated certain corridors should be protected for future roads around or to the city, but that some of the commercial zoning agreed with what was shown on the city's plan. Since the planners' communication had not cleared through the city Stanek ordered the clerk to write to the county advising further that the city is evaluating the local planning commission y letter and the official comments of the City Council will follow Attorney Bernard Narusis advised the city that its best hope for controlling the situation depends on District 2 members of the McHenry County board They might advise them of the effect of the rezoning actions on the city's comprehensive plafN^for development at a meePing scheduled for Monday night. Some of the larger acreages included in the proposed rezoning requests are 645 acres of Northern Pump Farms north and west of the city. 159 acres of Gilderman and Co along Ridge road. 162 acres of J Althoff along Route 31 north of McHenry. 155 acres of Tom Mathews near Wonder Lake, 1(H) acres of C.E Jepsen on Dutch Creek at Riverside road, 25 acres intended for business at Pioneer road on Route 31, 120s- acres of the Hugh Carroll sod farm on Edgewood road and along the railroad track, and several large areas between Crystal Springs road and Mason Hill road and along Bull Valley road south to Route 31. Supt Meyer advised that the state had approved the plan­ ning for two troublesome in­ tersections within McHenry and that bids can now be ad- (Continued on page 22) High School Board Views Student Growth Projection proposal. Smith conceded, "But if we give them all the facts that we know, maybe they will change their opinions. They don't know if we can afford it or maintain it (the building)". He suggested the Council should say no to the survey at this time and at that place (during the election.) Mayor Stanek warned they could be pressured into making a judgment that would be a (Continued on page 22) The growth of McHenry as it will affect McHenry High School District 156 was the focus for a demographic study presentation made by Dr. Robert J English and Shane Conway before the Tuesday evening board meeting. Dr. English, an MCHS graduate, is now dean of Business and Administrative Affairs for Morton college in Cicero In carrying out a study ap­ proved at the Dec. 5 board meeting, Dr English spoke primarily on student enrollment projections and how they are determined He cautioned the board that it is impossible to determine the outlook for business in the near future, adding the importance of the relationship between the economy and housing developments. English pointed to con­ tradictory predictions on when a business recession will occur, and whether it will occur at all. Contrary to the opinion of many, his survey revealed that half of the working people in this area are employed within the high school district. Dr English noted the projection of no more than 6,000 new jobs in the county between 1980 and 1990 He observed that this factor alone may indicate a growth not as fast as many people anticipate. He stressed the importance of watching the trend of growth. He said some large families have moved from the area, to be replaced with retired people whose families are grown and will not add to the school enrollments. He made reference to a proposed, very large housing development in the Burton's Bridge area, a portion of which would be located in the local school district. English said he had looked at the property and found much of it under water, which led to the question of whether or not it will be developed President James Althoff expressed a lack of confidence in such surveys and backed his opinion with studies made in the 'forties and 'sixties that suggested modest building needs for the high school. He said that instead, there have been two additions to East campus plus the new West campus high school. In conclusion, Dr. English said a survey at this time should be studied each year for trends. The type of housing construction in the community, and the direction of family size would be clues as to growth Also at the instructional meeting, Jim Blum, ad­ ministrative intern, made a brief presentation to the board regarding the minimum competency testing issue. Blum explained that June 30, 1980, is the date set by the state legislature for the Illinois Office of Education and the local school districts to comply. Individual districts may present their plans for such testing by the deadline or they may have to accept a program set up by the state In general, the minimum competency program aims to provide the skills necessary for each student to be able to meet the most necessary requirements to function in society. Blum said it will probably help those most in need to meet such fun­ damentals as writing checks, balancing a check book, etc. In answer to Althoff's question of his opinion of the program, Blum expressed a preference for a local level program over one mandated by the state In other business, approval was given for the West campus chorus to make a trip to Silver Dollar City, Mo., April 27-29. It will be self-financed. Flooding Changes CROP Walk Locale Because of flooding conditions which have clo6ed Moraine Hills State park, the CROP walk scheduled Sunday, April 8, at 1:30 p.m. will be changed to another location. Walkers will meet at the McHenry West high school, in the south parking lot. The walk will take place in the Whispering Oaks area. Model MCHS Programs On Display NORBERT WOLTER Norbert F. Wolter, assistant principal, McHenry high school East campus, is speaking at the eighty-fourth annual meeting of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in Chicago this week. He is presenting McHenry East's pre-vocational training for special education students as a model for educators from 19 midwestern states gathered at th« Palmer House. Vocational - Technical teachers at McHenry East created a woodworking shop so professional, he says, that students are able to get on-the- job training without leaving school. Students make items such as wineracks and games, sell them and make enough money to meet expense. The program, called Simulated Employee Experience, builds skills and appropriate em­ ployee attitudes. Wolter says the program is being evaluated by the Illinois Office of Education and if the evaluation is positive, IOE will endorse Simulated Employee Experience as a statewide model vocational program. ACHIEVE Suspending a child often rewards, not punishes says James A. Aull, director of ACHIEVE, an in-school suspension program at McHenry high school's East campus. Schools, he says, can provide an atmosphere in which truant students continue academic work while having their freedom restricted. Aull is reporting results of in- school suspension programs at the same meeting. The McHenry program is a model of a school dealing "respon­ sibly within the educational process with student problems". Suspension puts the child into a community where he or she may get into more trouble. This program keeps class-cutters, behavior problems, and truants in school. In ACHIEVE, students and parents sign contracts with staff on student goals for at­ tendance, grades, and behavior. Shared, signed agreements are successful, Aull says, although counseling the family at the school also helps to correct problems. Some families are referred to the Youth Service Bureau for McHenry County and the McHenry County Family Service and Mental Health center. Several thousand are at­ tending the eighty-fourth an­ nual meeting, the site of programs on education, training of evaluators, the annual review of school standards, and accreditation actions on schools and colleges. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is one of six regional agencies that accredit educational institutions in the United States. It operates in 19 midwestern states and with overseas dependents' schools sponsored by the Department of Defense. The accrediting work is carried out by two com missions. The Commission on Schools and the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education help schools and postsecondary institutions to strengthen their programs through extensive self-study. After the study, an outside team of evaluators, appointed by NCA, visits the institutions. Evaluation and accreditation by such an agency is a means by which a school or college can demonstrate its intent to im­ prove and be accountable. I r aril The House Is Gone. . . Only The Steps Remain There were no handshakes, no tearful goodbyes, but there were memories too treasured to be discarded when the white house in center photo left its foundation early this week to take up occupancy on the corner of John and Center streets. Lonely steps and railings are the only remains of the parsonage of the First United Methodist church as it stood adjacent to the church. The move was made to provide room for an expansion program which will extend the sanctuary 80 feet eastward along Main street. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Those driving by the First United Methodist church on Main street this week saw the beginnings of a new sanctuary for the church's congregation. The bid parsonage was moved from adjacent to the church to the southwest corner of John and Center streets in ofder to make room for the sanctuary expansion To preserve the old parsonage for resale, a house moving company was hired to move the house across the church parking lot to its new location. A new basement is being constructed for the house to set on. The new enlargement will extend the sanctuary some 80 feet eastward along Main street The altar will be at the eastern end with the Stinespring stained glass window above to soften and spread the morning light New basement space will relieve (Continued on page 22)