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IPA HEADLINES

Illinois Press Association honors top newspapers, reporter, editor

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois’ top newspapers were honored today at the Illinois Press Association’s annual convention at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bloomington. Nearly 100 daily and nondaily newspapers competed in 39 editorial categories.

The Minnesota Press Association judged the nearly 1,700 editorial entries for work done in 2023.

The Chicago Sun-Times won the Stuart R. Paddock Memorial Sweepstakes Trophy for large dailies.

The Sweepstakes Trophies are awarded to newspapers earning the most points in six different circulation divisions. Points are awarded for first place through fourth in contest categories, including general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing, design, community service and editorial page.

Runner-up for the Paddock Trophy was the Chicago Tribune. In third place was the Daily Herald Media Group.

In the mid-size daily newspaper category, The News-Gazette of Champaign was awarded the Mable S. Shaw Memorial Trophy. The Belleville News-Democrat was the runner-up, with The Daily Journal of Kankakee placing third and The Pantagraph of Bloomington placing fourth.

In the small daily newspaper category, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin took top honors. It was awarded the Patrick Coburn Award of Excellence Trophy. The Daily Chronicle of DeKalb claimed second place, the Herald & Review of Decatur placed third, and The Telegraph of Alton finished fourth.

In the large, nondaily newspaper category, The Hinsdalean of Hinsdale claimed the Will Loomis Memorial Trophy. The Ford County Chronicle of Paxton received second place, while the Republic-Times of Waterloo was third place. The Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest received fourth place.

The Harold and Eva White Trophy is awarded to a medium-sized nondaily newspaper. The winner this year was The Woodstock Independent. Second place went to the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. The Mason County Democrat of Havana finished in third place, while The Leader-Union of Vandalia placed fourth

The Oakland Independent claimed ownership of the David B. Kramer Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best small, nondaily newspaper in Illinois. The Forest Park Review received second place. The third-place award was won by The Sidell Reporter, while the El Paso Journal finished fourth.

The Illinois Press Association also named a statewide Editor of the Year and Reporter of the Year for a fifth consecutive convention. The Editor of the Year is the late Ron DeBrock of The Telegraph in Alton. The Reporter of the Year is Teri Maddox of the Belleville News-Democrat.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2024

Contact Information:
Claire Tatman
Jasculca Strategic Communications
claire_tatman@jtpr.com
616-216-9983
www.illinoisvision2030.org


Vision 2030 plan details education leaders' priorities for future learning, shared accountability and predictable funding for K-12 schools
 

CHICAGO – Education leaders from five statewide organizations in Illinois announced Vision 2030, a blueprint for public education in Illinois, developed with input from the statewide membership of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), Illinois Association of School Business Officials (Illinois ASBO) and Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents (IARSS). Vision 2030 seeks to engage parents, educators, policy leaders, elected officials, and the general public around a platform that emphasizes student and school safety, attracts and retains high-quality educators, enhances postsecondary success and more effectively measures what is working well in schools in a timely, usable manner.

The Vision 2030 Policy Framework is organized into three pillars: Future-Focused Learning, Shared Accountability, and Predictable Funding.

 

 

In the public release of the plan at the organization’s Joint Annual Conference held in Chicago on November 22-24, the leaders of the five organizations stated, “We have to acknowledge that students learn best, and educators teach most effectively, when they feel safe and connected to one another and to their communities. This is the single most important thing we can do to support both academic achievement and individual well-being — and it is something that has to be considered in our instructional approach, curriculum, student support services, facilities and finances to ensure that local districts have the resources needed to ensure their school buildings are safe.”

 

 

Vision 2030 outlines specific policy, legislative and fiscal goals to fulfill the promise of public education in Illinois, including:


Future-Focused Learning

“Future-focused learning is about reshaping our schools and classrooms and redefining student success to reflect and prepare students for all the different ways that the world and economy continue to change,” said Brent Clark, executive director, IASA. This includes:

  • Engaging students in thinking about their pathways to college and career as early as elementary school. Vision 2030 calls for expanded partnerships with community colleges and universities to offer more advance placement and dual enrollment courses for high school students, as well as working with local businesses to introduce students to in-demand and emerging career fields — including the trades, agriculture and health care, as well as AI, quantum computing, electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing and the green economy. 
  • Preserving time and financial resources for local curriculum innovation and programming to meet the needs of students and communities. To do this, Vision 2030 spotlights the need to closely look at the impact and cost of implementing additional required curriculum and graduation requirements and operational mandates. We must thoughtfully determine what is essential statewide vs. what local educators and school boards should be able to opt-in or -out of based on what is best for their students and communities. 
  • Developing new approaches to attract and retain excellent educators who have subject-matter expertise, compassion, cultural competency and commitment to help all students meet their potential. This goal is aligned with the Illinois State Board of Education’s strategic plan and specifically calls for innovative, evidence-based professional development opportunities for teachers at every level. 

Shared Accountability 

“Just like children’s physical growth, academic progress does not always happen in a linear manner – both growth and proficiency should be measured over time within and across grade levels,” said Jason E. Leahy, executive director, IPA. Vision 2030 advocates for: 

  • Thinking beyond annual standardized tests to more effectively measure student success by considering both growth and proficiency over time. This means providing classroom teachers with near real-time assessment data, so teaching strategies and academic interventions can be implemented in a timely manner. 
  • Establishing school ratings based on clear performance thresholds. Rather than focusing on which schools make it into the top 10%, Vision 2030 prioritizes getting more schools to perform at or above grade-level, and publicly recognizing all schools that demonstrate high levels of student achievement at or above grade-level. 

Predictable Funding 

“School districts need the flexibility to determine how to allocate public monies to best meet the needs of their students and communities,” said Kristopher Monn, executive director, IASBO. 
Achieving the goals outlined in Vision 2030 requires long-term sustainable funding with additional investment to support updated instructional resources and technology, keep pace with economic pressures on salaries and equipment, and maintain aging infrastructure. For example, 

  • Ensuring that the state continues to meet its promise of allocating a minimum of $350 million in annual Evidence-Based Funding to districts. 
  • Allowing critical investments in health and life safety projects to be exempt from limitation by property tax caps or ISBE approval. Rather, Vision 2030 suggests that we should reconsider the current levy structure to allow schools to address urgent needs, such as installing secure classroom doors, without impacting educational funding. 

“Vision 2030 seeks to put systems and processes in place that support all school districts throughout the state in sharing what works for our kids and our communities, while also preserving local flexibility and leadership so that the best decisions are made closest to home,” said Kimberly A. Small, executive director, IASB. 

“This plan will require conversation, collaboration and action between the education community, our locally elected school boards, the State Legislature, the Governor and the Illinois State Board of Education,” said Gary Tippsord, executive director, IARSS. “The skills and career demands of the future are changing, which is why we must prioritize future-focused learning and meet this moment with smart strategies around funding and accountability.” 

This is the second time that these groups have collaborated on such a plan. The first initiative, Vision 2020, resulted in numerous achievements that sparked legislative action on school funding through the passage of the Evidence-Based Funding Formula in 2017, as well as important enhancements to teacher recruitment policies, college and career readiness initiatives, and the state’s accountability model. 

~ ~ ~ 

About Vision 2030 


Vision 2030 was developed through a statewide engagement effort that included input from more than 1,000 stakeholders statewide, as well as discussions with local educators who work tirelessly inside and outside of school buildings to improve the outcomes for children from all backgrounds across Illinois. To access the full Vision 2030 plan and a list of alliance members, click here

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2024

Contact Information:
Jann Ingmire
janningmire@isms.org
312-520-9802
 


Holidays are a good time to talk about final wishes?


Yes! Strange as it sounds, your physician recommends it!

As you gather together with family and close friends this holiday season, you might want to introduce an unusual topic – advance directives. While most adults believe it’s important to have advance care planning conversations, very few have done so. 

An advance directive is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment in case you become unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself. Having one is important because it provides clear direction to your physician and your family about what kind of medical care you want or don’t want, even if you are unconscious or incapacitated. 

The Illinois State Medical Society offers A Personal Decision as a free resource for the public to educate patients and their families about advance directives and help patients make their wishes known. This booklet provides Illinois patients with practical information about determining future medical care.

The advance directives booklet includes:

  • A Living Will Form
  • Statutory Short Form for Power of Attorney for Health Care
  • Illinois Official Statutory Declaration for Mental Health Treatment Form
  • Organ Donor Card
  • Uniform DNR Advance Directive Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Anyone can download this ISMS resource for free.

Having an advance directive in place also helps alleviate the burden on loved ones when making decisions about your health care in a crisis situation. These documents will provide the guidance needed about your wishes for whether you want medical treatment in particular circumstances. 

Download A Personal Decision and have that conversation with your loved ones this holiday season!

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Founded in 1840, ISMS is a professional membership association representing Illinois physicians in all medical specialties, and their patients, statewide. 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2024

Contact Information:
Illinois Region 3: Mutual Aid Team
Dr. Patrick M. Twomey
309-229-9093
c4ol.twomey@gmail.com
 


United States Rural School Safety Project:
Conducting a first of its kind, full scale regional response parent-student reunification exercise

 

MACOMB, Illinois – The Illinois Region 3: Mutual Aid Team will conduct a full-scale regional response reunification exercise at Western Illinois University on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. The exercise will commence at 11:30 a.m. Parents, media outlets, and exercise participants will be stationed in Q lot directly east of Western Hall located on University Drive. There will be electronic signage directing all media outlets to a predetermined staging area. Separate signage will direct parents to their appropriate parking location, while dignitaries and invited observers will go directly to the Emergency Operations Center located at the east end of Q lot just in front of Tanner Hall. 

The goal is to reunite approximately 430 students with their parents or guardians between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In addition, there are a significant number of state, county, and local personnel and organizations practicing and participating in this exercise. Organizations include local, county, and state law enforcement, hospitals, fire departments, emergency services, disaster agencies, State Police K-9 Unit, Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross, as well as others. 

The United States Rural School Safety Project was created to assist rural schools in tabletop exercise trainings and the formation of regional mutual aid teams. The tabletop exercises are designed to improve each individual school district’s crisis responses, while additional trainings create a prepared regional response to any district experiencing a catastrophic event.

The Illinois Region 3 Team has been training together for more than two years. A calm and organized reunification process after a critical school incident is paramount and marks the beginning of the recovery phase. Parents, students, staff members, and the community at large must be assured that a well-designed plan in conjunction with a highly trained team is ready and prepared to respond at all times.
 


 


 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2024

Contact Information:
Sherry Sejnost, program chair
irc@illinoisreadingcouncil.org
 


ILLINOIS READS! A Reading State of Mind     
www.illinoisreads.org and www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org
www.facebook.com/IllinoisReads   www.twitter.com/IllinoisReads     
#IllinoisReads   #IRCReads

Illinois Reading Council's 2025 Illinois Reads book list
will be featured at the IRC Conference on March 13-14, 2025,
and the Illinois Reads Book Festival on April 26, 2025

 

The Illinois Reading Council (IRC) has just released the list of Illinois Reads books for 2025. Illinois Reads is a statewide program that promotes reading for all Illinois citizens. The program promotes six books in six different age bands by authors and illustrators who have ties to Illinois. The books range from read-to books for infants to books for adult readers. Bookmarks and posters highlighting the Illinois Reads books will be available in early 2025. Order early as supplies are limited!

The Illinois Reads Program will be featured at the annual IRC Conference in Springfield on March 13-14, 2025. Conference registration is now open for educators, librarians, and others interested in promoting literacy. The 2025 Illinois Reads Program will also be featured at the Illinois Reads Book Festival in Jacksonville on April 26, 2025. Readers throughout Illinois are invited to this free family event. Visit our websites to find out about other upcoming Illinois Reads events.
 

The Illinois Reads book selections for 2025 are:

Birth-4
Can You Dance Like a Peacock? by Rekha S. Rajan
Hide-and-Seek by Molly Cranch
Moms Can Do It All! by Ted Maass
Sleepy: Surprising Ways Animals Snooze by Jennifer Ward
Painting the Sky with Love: A Celebration of Love and Community by Mary E. Haque
Play Outside with Me by Kat Chen

K-2
Bats Beneath the Bridge by Janet Nolan
Love Grows by Ruth Spiro
Somebody Needs to Do Something About That Monster! by Doug Cenko
The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything by Nadia Ahmed
The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist by Deidre Havrelock and illustrated by Aphelandra 
Umami by Jacob Grant

3-5
Cloud Puppy by Kelly Leigh Miller
Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone by Sara Varon
It Belongs to the World: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin by Lisa Katzenberger
Legendarios: Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas Valenti
One Cool Duck #1: King of Cool by Mike Petrik
The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure by Barb Rosenstock

6-8
Forget-Me-Not Blue by Sharelle Byars Moranville
I Felt Myself Slipping by Ray Nadine
Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
Rare Birds by Jeff Miller
Stage Fright by Wendy Parris
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

9-12
American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
Last On His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century by Youssef Daoudi and Adrian Matejka
This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed
This Night Is Ours by Ronni Davis
We Shall Be Monsters: A Novel by Alyssa Wees

Adult
By Water Beneath the Walls: The Rise of the Navy SEALs by Benjamin H. Milligan
Star Wars Dad Jokes: The Best Worst Jokes and Puns from a Galaxy Far, Far Away . . . . by Kelly Knox and illustrated by Johnny Sampson
The Best Lies by David Ellis
The Great Divide: A Novel by Cristina Henriquez
The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms by Fiona Cook
Woe: A Housecat’s Story of Despair: (A Graphic Novel) by Lucy Knisley


A special title for 2025 will also be A Love Letter to My Library by Lisa Katzenberger. Illinois Reads is a statewide literacy program provided by the Illinois Reading Council, a nonprofit organization with nearly 2,000 members across Illinois. The mission of the Illinois Reading Council is to provide support and leadership to all who promote and teach lifelong literacy. Book lists from 2013 to 2025 may be found on the Illinois Reads website. For more information, visit our websites at www.IllinoisReads.org and www.IllinoisReadingCouncil.org.

 
 
 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2024

Contact Information:
Alison Maley, government and public relations director
Phone: 217-299-3122
alison@ilprincipals.org
 


Illinois Principals Association to host 'Legacy Builders' Conference in October  

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) will host its 53rd Education Leaders Annual Conference, “Legacy Builders,” Oct. 20-22, 2024, in Peoria. The event will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities to help school leaders enhance their impact on schools and communities.   

2024-2025 IPA President Cris Edwards shared, “We’re excited to welcome Illinois school leaders to this year’s conference, offering inspiring speakers and opportunities to celebrate the legacy they bring to their schools.” 

The conference kicks off Sunday with a golf tournament, committee meetings, and a welcome reception honoring past IPA presidents. Keynote speakers include:  

Dr. Stanley Leone, Jr., CEO of This Side of Hope, will open Monday with his session “The HeArt of Teaching and The Science of Relationships.” Dr. Leone will share his personal journey from a traumatic childhood to success, emphasizing how relationships within schools transformed his life. A Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and award-winning speaker, Dr. Leone has shared his story with more than a million people. 

Cris Edwards, 2024-2025 IPA president and Dr. Jason Leahy, IPA executive director, will speak Monday afternoon. IPA Awards for Excellence, Herman Graves Award, Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award, and the Mr. John Ourth & Dr. Fred W. Singleton Professional Development Scholarships will also be presented at this session.

Monica Genta, author and educator, will deliver a keynote Tuesday morning titled “180 Days of Awesome – Celebrating Every Day of Education.” With 14 years of teaching experience, Genta will inspire leaders to turn each school day into an exciting adventure. She is the author of five books, including “180 Days of Awesome,” and is a National Board Certified Teacher. 

Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders will speak on Tuesday, addressing the state of education in Illinois and sharing insights with school leaders.   

Additionally, Tuesday’s IGNITE session will feature fast-paced presentations from notable principals, including Allan Davenport (Granger Middle School), Dr. Lisa Carlos (Plainfield Elementary School), Charles Williams (Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School), and IPA President-Elect Dr. Angie Codron (Normal West High School). Each will share their unique perspectives on school leadership in 5-minute bursts.   

The conference will conclude with IPA Deputy Executive Director Brian Schwartz and Government Relations Director Alison Maley providing updates on new education-related laws passed during the 2024 Illinois Legislative Session, offering insights on how school leaders can stay informed and advocate for their schools.  

For more information about the IPA or to register to attend, please visit ilprincipals.org.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2024

Contact Information:
Alison Maley, government and public relations director
Phone: 217-299-3122
alison@ilprincipals.org
 


Illinois Principals Association encourages principal appreciation in October 

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) encourages communities to celebrate Principal Appreciation Week October 20-26, 2024, and Principal Appreciation Day on October 25 to highlight the dedication of principals, assistant principals, and deans. This annual recognition has been recognized by Illinois governors since 1990. October is also National Principals Month, supported by the IPA, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA).  

Cris Edwards, IPA president and principal of Richland County Elementary School in Olney, shared: “Whether this is a principal’s very first year, last year, or somewhere in the middle, Illinois is celebrating these leaders for all they do for children. As ‘legacy builders’ we are constantly mentoring others; helping students to find their voice or their career path, supporting paraprofessionals who want to return to school to become a teacher, and encouraging teachers that are thinking about becoming an administrator. Thank you to all the leaders across Illinois for your unwavering commitment and for building a legacy that will inspire generations to come. I am excited to thank you and celebrate you during National Principals Month!” 

“This year, we celebrate our state’s school leaders for what they do – build a lasting legacy with those they serve,” said Dr. Jason Leahy, IPA executive director. “These courageous individuals lead their learning organizations with optimism, humility, vision, perseverance, and a deep commitment to do what is best for their students.  Both research and common sense tell us how critical these servants are to positively influence young people, teachers, and communities. For this, they deserve our respect and gratitude.” 

IPA invites teachers, students, parents, and community members to show appreciation for school leaders on October 25.  


 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2024

Contact Information:
Becky Jansen, senior vice president
Phone: 217-821-6036
becky@paycourt.com
 


PayCourt named one of 2024 Best Workplaces in Illinois

PayCourt, a government collections company, has been named one of the Best Workplaces in Illinois for 2024. The company earned a 97% overall score in the workplace assessment.

The Best Workplaces in Illinois award is based on an employer questionnaire and employee engagement survey. It examines workplace indicators such as leadership, culture, satisfaction, work environment, training and overall engagement.

"We're incredibly proud of this recognition as it's extremely rare for a collection agency to have ever won this award," said Rick Bonitzer, CEO of PayCourt. "Since 2010, we've focused on making our employees the cornerstone of our success, and this award highlights our commitment to fostering a thriving workplace."

PayCourt has won the Best Places to Work in Collections award every year since 2019. With more than 900 reviews, the company proudly maintains a 4.9 out of 5.0 Google rating and has also been honored with the Better Business Bureau’s prestigious Torch Award for Ethics.

"Our approach has always been to be large enough to ensure maximum results, yet small enough to provide personalized service to every client," Bonitzer said.

PayCourt provides government collections for cities, counties, courts, districts, municipalities and parishes; court-related collections for fines, court fees and tickets; and consulting services for Illinois Circuit Court Clerks.

For more information, visit www.PayCourt.com.

About PayCourt:
Re-established under new ownership in 2010, PayCourt blends a digital-first strategy with in-depth courthouse operational expertise, delivering a fully reimagined approach to government collections. The company serves clients across more than three-quarters of Illinois counties, as well as in Indiana and municipal courts in Louisiana.

About Best Companies Group:
Best Companies Group is an independent research firm that identifies outstanding workplaces through evaluation processes.
 


 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2024

Press Release Contact Information:
Damon Schuldt
rescue14me@yahoo.com
 


Illinois Fire Service Conference coming soon

The Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts (IAFPD) and the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) are pleased to announce their combined conference at the Peoria Civic Center on Sept. 15-18, 2024. Titled the Illinois Fire Service Conference (IFSC), this event spans four days and includes a memorial service honoring fallen firefighters and friends of the fire service, numerous educational classes including nationally know keynote speakers, a large vendor exhibit showcasing equipment and services while supporting the event, along with social networking opportunities, just to name a few.

“If you are involved in the fire service in any way, this conference is for you” states Damon Schuldt, IAFPD board member and IFSC Conference co-chair. The IFCA will also host its annual Officer installation Dinner and President’s Reception on Tuesday evening. Added again this year will be opportunities to obtain Emergency Medical continuing education credits and pension board training hours. Ray Larson, deputy fire chief and IFSC Conference co-chair said “Months of planning by many dedicated people has come together to bring high quality educational programs to fire service professionals.”

For additional information and to register for the conference, please visit IAFPD.org or illinoisfirechiefs.org

The IFSC is a collaborative event sponsored by the IAFPD and the IFCA.


 

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2501 CHATHAM RD. , SUITE 200              

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62704

217-241-1300