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w % Brain power MUSIN' & MEANDERIN' _ PAGE uL Marian cagers blasted p NDEALER- SPORTS S H A W F R E E P R E S S M E D I A . I N C . Friday, February 22, 1985 25 CENTS Historical landmark commission created By Anthony Oliver Plalndealer Herald staff writer An historical landmark commission was created Monday night by unanimous vote of the McHenry City Council. Mayor Joseph Stanek said the 12-member commission would be "very involved" in the city's 150th year (sesquicentennial) celebration in 1986. „ Acting on the advice of Ber­ nard Narusis, city attorney, councilmen retained the power to accept or reject gifts or donations made to the com­ mission. "The gift may come from a source you may not deem worthy or be something you may not want," Narusis said. The attorney also noted that a donor was well within his rights to attach "strings" to a donation and, as such, the council should be able to reject it. • "The commission can screen any gifts, but the corporate authority should retain the power to accept or reject," Narusis said. t Stanek said 12 well-known people have agreed to serve on the committee. They include Nancy Fike, Charles and Mary Marya Weber, Dick Rabbitt, Joe Etten, Frank Gans, Don Howard and Phyllis Bauer. In other business: -The council awarded a bid for iron removal equipment at well No. 7 in the amount of $68,875 to Tonka Equipment. Stanek said the bid was much lower than expected. -The council approved a 21- day extension on legal action against the Wahl appliance business on Court Street. The city has been after the business to meet local ordinances for about a year. -Councilmen are looking at possible reconstruction or elimination of the Waukec but wil before taking action. -The council is also con­ sidering moving the ETA stop at city hall to the Green Street bridge, opening the area in front of the building/ to handicapped and 15-minute parking so people can run in and pay bills, etc. -Payment for the summer road program in the amount of $116,821.01 to Skokie Valley Asphalt was approved. -The council also voted to buy two lights to give more illumination to the south and east sides of the police depart­ ment building. The cost for t,wo of the custom-made lights is $295. uie recuiisu ucuun or nation of the "triangle" at egan and Green Streets, rill wait for snow to melt Latest census figures say city population up slightly By Robert Gordon The recently released results of the 1982 United States Census indicate that McHenry ex­ perienced very little growth in population during 1980-82. cut although McHenry's population only increased 1.1 percent, from an estimated 11,778 to 11,913 people, the city and most of McHenry CoUnty may have been fortunate that its citizenship grew at all. According to Steve Laue, regional planning commissioner for the U.S. Bureau of the Census, low growth has been the rule, not the exception in this country for the last decade. "It's a continuation of a trend that's been going on the last 12 vears-the lower birth rates, the later marriages-especially in the midwestern states," Laue said. Like the city of McHenry, the county experienced just over a one percent increase in population. According to Max Deiber, director of research sources for the Northeast Planning Commission, the commission forcasted a population growth twice the size that actually occurred in the county. "Regionwide, 94 out of 261 municipalities have lost populat largest don," Deiber said. "The in . k' f*. > ,114• ' • * • • . mm Pens are applied to paper as representatives of the McHenry High School Teachers' Association and Dist. 156 school board sign the contract. From left to right are James Tony an (standing), board Plalndealer Herald photo by Anthony Oliver secretary; Martin Sobczak, association president; David Luckett, association secretary; and Judith Zid, board president pro tern. Benrud critical of agreement District 156 contract finally official By Marion Olsen Plalndealer Herald New* Service Officials of the District & questioned why single teachers tolerated this. Benrud also questioned the merit of a clause m the contract requiring, both "uninterrupted lunch". He said he felt the time put in did not merit the salaries being paid. data was primarily based on returned tax forms, and pointed out that 1980-82 is not a good period to examine since economic conditions were so poor. In addition to population data, the 1982 census showed that McHenry's estimated per capita income in 1981 was $9,652, a 16.4 percent increase from 1979's figure of $8,295. Although the percentage in­ crease in the county's per capita income was similar, its figures were slightly higher. McHenry County's 1981 per capita income was an estimated $10,052. Bill Bolger, director of the McHenry Economic Develop­ ment Commission, attributes the poor city growth to the interest rates that plagued 1980-82 period. Bolger said the 1984 census will reveal more information and is confident that the more up to date news will be "on the plus side." "I think .we've got a real progressive city," Bolger said. "We've got a good police for­ ce..., good people in city hall. I'm just thrilled about the whole city and the prospects for the future." Association Tuesday night signed copies of a two-year teachers' contract. The contract brought to an end almost a year of negotiations, marked by a two week teachers' strike, the first in the district's history. Hie signing was preceded by a half hour executive session of the school board to "discuss changes and corrections" in the contract, according to Robert O. Swartzloff, district superin­ tendent. Following the session, the board voted 4 to 2 in favor of the contract. Board Members Barbara Slater and James Tonyan voted against it. In a statement before the vote was taken, Board Member David Benrud expressed dissatisfaction with portions of the contract. He commented on the teachers' agreement in last year's contract to pay a part of their group insurance (costs of which had increased con­ siderably) and now had insisted the district pay all of the group health insurance package in­ cluding that for dependents. He said that married teachers with dependents and single teachers are charged the same amount for the insurance and of living adjustment. If in­ flation exceeds five percent, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, teachers would be provided up to a maximum of two percent tn additions impasse is declared. "I think it is a ridiculous statement to have in a contract," he said. Benrud also said a part of the contract pulled the district superintendent into negotiations when he "should not be in­ volved." The board member further noted that giving teachers who travel between the schools an extra $200 per semester was unnecessary since they could ride in a school bus. Benrud said he saw no need for a liaison committee between the board and teachers, when there is an existing faculty senate in which both the board and administration should participate. He questioned why unused personal business days should be added to sick days and accumulated. "I am upset by the contract as it is presented," he continued, "In future years we could (be committed to) pay healthy sums of money we won't have at the time." Benrud also criticized the use of the cost-of-living adjustment for establishing 1985-86 salaries. He noted each faculty member works seven hours and 45 minutes per day including s opu would vote "yes" to break a tie vote, Benrud expressed his intentions to vote in favor of the contract. "I have to think primarily of the students," he added. Judith Zid, president pro-tem, noted, "I appreciate Mr. Benrud's decision to express his opinion and yet vote for what was best for the community." The settlement provides for a two-year contract agreement. The contract will cover the 1984- 85 and 1985-86 school years. For 1984-85, the settlement provides teachers with a 5.475 average percent increase on the teachers' salary schedule, and a 2.4 percent increase for teacher advancement. This results in an overall average salary increase of 7.875 percent. For 1985-86, the settlement provides teachers with at least a 5.0 average percent increase on the teachers' salary schedule, and a 2.5 percent increase for teacher advancement on the salary schedule. These figures result in an overall average salary increase of 7.5 percent. The second year of the agreement also includes a cost In related action, the board voted stipend increases to department coordinators of $53.30 per teacher in the department for 1984-85 and $56.82 per teacher in the department for 1985-86. The board also: -Approved textbook adoptions under a new procedure for textbook selection. --Approved classified separations of full time and substitute staff members. --Approved employment of Debra Wynn and Elmer W. Urban as West Campus sub­ stitute custodians ana Lisa J. Connell as East Campus in­ structional aide. -Approved reassignment of John P. Crawford from part time custodian to head custodian at West Campus. In his report, Swartzloff noted that the district has received full recognition from the state based on the last evaluation. He also acknowledged a $400 donation of food and supplies for the school- sponsored "Breakfast with Santa" bv Thomas Harris of McDonald's and two donations to the school by Thomas Lawson. Montessori preschool seeks home in Johnsburg By Carol A. Stevens > Platndealer Herald Newt Service A Montessori - pre-school may soon be coming to the Johnsburg area if D.D. Sears, the organizer for the school, is able to find a space to hold classes. Sears recently approached the Johnsburg school board asking permission to rent a classroom in the district which is not being used. It is her intention to run the school concurrent to the Shaw Free Press names senior vice president By Kerry Hill Plalndealer Herald Newa Service Ronald J. Semple, an ac­ complished veteran in both the editorial and management phases of the newspaper business, was named senior vice esident of the Shaw Free ress Newspaper Group in northern Illinois. Semple, 50, was appointed by Robert A. Shaw, president of the group that publishes suburban dailies, weeklies and shoppers and runs commercial pnntinr operations in McHenry an Kane counties, northwest of Chicago. Prior to joining the Shaw Free Press group, Semple was publisher of tne Winona (Minn.) Daily News, a division of Lee Enterprises Inc., of Davenport, Iowa. Semple said the group has the greatest potential for growth of any organization he has seen in 30 years. The area north of the Nor­ thwest Tollway already has "a shopping center or development on every street corner," he said. And he expects the area to continue expanding. "We're going to grow with it," he said. Semple began his career as a reporter in his native Jersey City. He was city editor of The Jersey-Journal before joining Lee at the Billings (Mont.) Gazette. He later was general manager of the Gazette. He was assistant to the president of Lee for three years before becoming publisher of the Helena (Mont.) Independent Record in 1976. He went to Winona in 1980 when Lee bought that newspaper. Active in the International Newspaper Promotion Association and the Inland Daily Press Association, Semple is chairman of Inland's new committee. h He has been a discussion leader at the American Press Institute in Reston since 1973. As an adjunct instructor at St. College in Winona, he classes on cs as graphics, the city s Mary's taught journalism sucn top desk of the future, newsroom management economics. and news Semple frequently speaks at national regional and state press association conventions, seminars and workshops. "I think newspapers are fun," he said. "We may be in a serious business, but I don't take it too seriously. It's fun." Semple served in the Marines and was a sergeant during the Korean Conflict. He is married to the former Jane Guarascio of Racine, Wise. They have three children, Traci, 21, Beth, 19 and Collins, 23. The Semples are planning to purchase a home in the Crystal Lake area. regular school schedule, if finances permit. The school board said it could not commit a classroom to the project until after classroom planning has taken place during the next several weeks. The Migrant Program, for which Johnsburg is the ad­ ministrative district, will receive funding from the state of Illinois in the amount of $64,000. The program is aimed at assuring that children of migrant workers who work on area farms during the summer months receive a proper education. Mike DeWolfe, program coordinator, reported that the program has continued to grow eacn year, and that last year a total of 171 students were MONTESSORI--Page 4 GOOD MORNING! INDEX HICHLI6NT The fourth and final segment of the series on the business of education concerns the problem of school districts asking for tax increases. See page nine for further details. SHAW FREE PRESS MEDIA. INC. * RnaM Staple Business Sec 2 Page 4 Church Sec 2 Page 2 Life Today Page 6 Volume 109 Number 53 Obituary Page 4 Schools Sec 2. Page 1 Sports Pages 19, 20. 22 2 Sections. 28 pages