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Schools

D34 Comes Up Short of State Grant

Illinois has chosen not to award a $224,000 early childhood grant to the school district this year.

In a surprise twist from previous years, Glenview District 34 missed out on a $224,000 state grant for its this year. 

"We did not get our Preschool For All Children At Risk grant this year," Supt. Gerald Hill said.

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The program serves 3- to 5-year-olds who are identified as "at risk", according to their . The application process became competitive for the first time in 20 years, said , assistant superintendent of student services, after the . Despite the fact that 100 percent of Glenview's eligible students were identified as being at risk, the district was out of luck. 

"As needy as our students are, there are other environments that need it more," said Abrego, who was closely involved in the application. "We will reapply next year."

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The program, which will continue throughout the upcoming year, will be funded exclusively by the district.

"A child in Glenview who is poor is just as poor as a child in Chicago," Hill said.

In other business

Hill also recognized Carol Christensen, the district's energy education specialist, who retired Monday.

"This is her last board meeting unless she decides to be like Michael Jordan and come back," Hill said.

He then addressed Christensen: "Your performance has been Michael Jordan-like."

Under Christensen's watch, Glenview's energy education program saved enough energy to equal: 5,591 metric tons of carbon dioxide, 1,004 cars off the road or 143,010 10-year-old pine trees.

"It's not just what you've done for the environment, but what you've done for our children, and we all thank you for that," President Chris Northwick said. 

Alisha Potter, who has worked most recently in music and drama at , will take her place.

The Board of Education took advantage of the remaining meeting time to catch up on what has happened throughout the district over the summer. Supt. Hill announced a new transportation provider, Illinois Central, 70 percent of whom's force will be made of drivers from the North Shore.

Hill also reported that 160 families are waiting to approve residency in Glenview and that the is trying to address their needs as soon a possible. "You have to prove residency before the first day, or the student's going to be stuck in the office and it's going to be disappointing to the parents," he said.

Teacher Orientation Week is coming up, and Jill Engle, assistant superintendent of personnel was happy to report the district is fully staffed this year.

Michael Nicholson, deputy superintendent, reported that the process of helping staff members to adjust to each other is going well.

"We're learning about each other, and we have icebreakers we start off with," Nicholson said. "You learn a little more with each person. We spent more daylight hours with our coworkers than we do with our own family. The more we know each other, the more we can help each other with the work."

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