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satnarb Winning iittatfpaper SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Illinois Press Association Newspaper Contest VOLUME 104 NUMBER 82 FRIDAY, MAY 16,1980 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 25 Irwin s Dismissed complaint and had in­ structed the school district's attorney to prepare an order to that effect for entry with the court. Cowlin noted that he could not find any basis either in the statutes or £ase law to sustain the Irwin complaint. He said there was no physical injury to the child and he found no stated property rights to the gifted child under the existing Illinois laws. Cowlin noted also "that there was no evidence submitted of any violation of constitutional rights of the child and there was no foundation in law for the rights which were claimed to have been denied. Cowlin added that Attorney Irwin, for the plaintiff, had 28 days in which to amend his complaint, and if he planned to appeal the ruling, he had 30 days following the entry of the order for dismissal. The appellate court would then review the findings and determine if the issues had been considered in earlier litigation. If not, the appeal would be heard. Thomas Irwin was taken out of District 15 and has been attending Montini school this past year. He also attends classes at McHenry County college and will take courses at Shimer college in Waukegan this Summer and next Fall. cease and desist from failing- to promulgate a curriculum designed to meet the special educational needs of the plaintiff" and asking $1,000,000 and costs for damage to the plaintiff who was alleged to have been severely and permanently emotionally injured; and has been cruelly retarded in his educational, emotional and intellectual development. Assertions in the suit were that the school became aware of Thomas' "gifted child" classification as defined in Article 14A-2 of the Illinois School code; that the state and the Illinois School Code had the duty of providing for the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capabilities (commonly applied to children classed as retarded); and that the defendant (school district) wilfully and wantonly failed to furnish a program to meet the special needs of the gifted child. Other counts alleged denial of personal liberty interests • without due process of law as guaranteed under the 14th amendment of the U.S. - Constitution and deprival of rights under the state constitution. Judge Cowlin said that he ruled in favor of the defendants' motion to strike and dismiss the Irwin had plans for a gifted child program, but this was only funded nominally by the state and did not permit any comprehensive range of instruction. According to Mrs. Irwin's testimony, the family had moved to McHenry Shores from CarpentersviUe about three years ago (two at the time of the suit) and Thomas exhibited some minor problems in class. His teacher thought he might possibly have a learning disability and he was tested both at school and by a private psychologist. Mrs. Irwin claimed that her son was bored in class and unresponsive to the teacher. Tests ' indicated that his IQ ranged into the 170s. Mrs. Irwin claimed that op­ portunities promised by the school district to meet the needs of her child never materialized. Named as defendants in the suit were the "School directors of McHenry Community Consolidated School District No. 15" who were defended by the law firm of Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas and Lift on, Ltd. The plaintiff in the suit, Thomas R. Irwin, was represented by his father, attorney Ronald R. Irwin. The suit contained four counts and sought orders directing the school "to ^' Contacted a,t press time, Ronald Irwin said, he was about 80 percent UMre he would make an Hftpeal of the $1 million JSpit which attracted •nationwide attention just •4Mrer a year ago. Registrations For Summer Programs Seminar On Burglaries Sheriff's police crime prevention unit and will feature a film and a number of speakers. The speakers will address aspects of property crimes related to their areas of expertise. The speakers include: Bill Neumann, an insurance broker; Fern Constant, a burglary victim; Bob Guy, Trout Valley director of security; George Shirey. youth officer with the Sheriff's police; Steve Pollock and Elaine Kee, from Johnsburg school; and Deputy Ed McFadden. As with the previous seminar, a film entitled, "Whose Neighborhood Is It?" will be shown and there will be time for questions and answers. The seminar is directed at all age groups -- senior citizens, adults and children - and people throughout the McHenry area ar§ invited to attend. Thursday, May 22, at Johnsburg high school concerning burglaries and break-ins and what can be done to prevent them. The 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. program will be conducted by the McHenry County Summer is vacation time for many people, but while people are on vacation, thieves and burglars are just going to work. The Johnsburg high school Adult Education program is sponsoring a free seminar Highway Opposition Plaindealer Sponsors Father's Day Contest For the second year, a contest involving children 10 years old and younger will be a special feature of the Plaindealer's Father's day supplement. Youngsters are invited to give their personal reasons for "Why My Dad's the Greatest", in 50 words or The supplement will be a part of the Wednesday, June 11, Plaindealer. The contest is open to children residing in the McHenry and Johnsburg school districts. There will be first, second and third prize winners, with the top award a camping tent and two sleeping bags. An entry form can be found ^elsewhere in this issue. Where there was once a pattern of growth in a particular direction, it is almost everywhere today. • So frequent are the zoning hearings that the average citizen has probably not kept pace with the various set­ tlements that are new to the less. All letters must be received in the newspaper office, 3812 W. Elm street, by Friday, June 6. School District 15 Note Extra Duty established with agreement of each assignee to eliminate pay discrepancies; write job descriptions for extra duty assignments; equalize pay between supervisors for boys' and girls' athletics with possible increases for 1980-81; establish an extra duty joint study committee to be activated when there are changes in extra duty activities that need revaluation of pay or hours. The committee consisted of board members Salman, Frances Larsen, and Joan Miller and included six faculty members and three from administration. "No pay can be lowered ranging down to $1.96 per now, but we can eliminate hour for Pom Pon squad jobs and raise pay for supervision. Data- on pay positions," Karen Salman, was gathered by deter- chairman of the Extra Duty mining the amount spent on Stipend committee, ex- the activities and the hours plained to the board of spent as reported by the Elementary School District personnel involved. In some 15 at the regular meeting cases the committee found May 14. that extra duty was ap- The committee report, parently performed during resulting from district the regular working hours of financial difficulties brought the teachers assigned, and in to light last Fall and other cases teachers were promised by May 15, made working extra hours on extra findings of a number of cUrricular activity with no inequalities in extra duty additional pay. pay and made a number of Ms. Salman said they recommendations including should, set up job descrip- the establishment of an tions for the assignments hourly rate of $5.50 per hour and work out appropriate for the first year. Research compensation with Assistant included practices at other Superintendent for schools in the coimty and Operational Services made comparisons. William Landis for board. The agreement with the consideration at the next McHenry Classroom meeting. Teachers association precluded reducing any rate . Committee recom- of pay/or these duties divHng mendations included: the 19«Hi school year, the Establishment of an hourly report indicated. rate for all present extra <- duties with the exception of Ms. Salman pointed oat "Athletic Director" and some of the inconsistencies 'Team Leaders" who would or discrepancies in pay audi be paid ft,006 annually ; 10 as 919 per hour for afternoon percent tixtwnfrti would he "Bus Dutyv (loading added yearly for five yean; supervision) which takes minimum hows for each only a few minutes and extra duty would be ministrators to participate with High School District 156 (Continued on page 18) $25,000 Fire Damage To Area Home A blaze last Friday morning caused an estimated $25,000 damage to the Wonder Lake home of Thomas O'Brien, 7707 Cedar, Wonder Lake. The Wonder Lake Fire department responded first but later called for mutual aid from the McHenry and Woodstock Rural/ Fire departments. No cause for the fire has been determined. A report of a truck fire brought the McHenry Fire department and Sheriff's police to the intersection of Ridge and Bull Valley roads last Thursday night. There was no truck fire but a Commonwealth Edison transformer had burst into flames. The fire was extinguished and the transformer repaired In other personnel mat­ ters, board president, Gary Lock wood, said that a negotiations meeting with employee representatives was set for Saturday when they would discuss the ad­ dition of a dental plan to their medical benefits provided for under an earlier agreement. In addition, employees wanted the board to consider another provider for health insurance benefits because of "whopping" increases in premiums ef­ fective in Fsfcniary*® In other business the board authorised the ad- Gold Star Mother )