SPRINGFIELD — The state of Illinois made it possible for candidates to electronically file Statements of Local Interests with county clerk offices that provide the option. The new, more efficient filing system was made possible when Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 4395 today.

“My administration has worked to modernize processes across state government,” Rauner said. “We have strived to reduce regulation, streamline paperwork and provide more efficient and modern government services. This is another step in that process.”

The new law will give local and state government the ability to modernize part of a candidate’s filing and reduce clutter.

Chief Senate sponsor Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said, “Any time we can speed up, simplify and improve the efficiency of government, it is a good move. This is just another small step toward those goals.”

“The statement of economic interest is an important document that every candidate must file, and this measure updates archaic processes so that local candidates can take advantage of Internet technology when filing this information,” said Chad Hays, R-Catlin, the Chief House Sponsor of the bill. “The provisions of this bill will simplify and modernize the process and bring a new level of efficiency to candidate filing requirements.”

For state legislative candidates, the ethics officer for the individual caucus would determine whether the members of that caucus would file electronically or on paper.

Statewide candidates who file with the Illinois Secretary of State would still be required to file on paper.

SPRINGFIELD — Today the State of Illinois sold $965,770,000 in General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series A and Series B of September 2018. The $641,160,000 Series A of September 2018 were a takeout of the State’s $600 million in 2003B variable rate bonds and the termination of five swaps associated with those bonds. 

The refunding will eliminate all the variable rate exposure and remove the highest-cost debt from the State’s capital market programs. Proceeds from the $324,610,000 Series B Bonds of September 2018 will be used to refund several series of previously issued general obligation bonds of the State. Total debt service savings of $33,643,047, or 5.89 percent of present-value savings were derived from the Series B Bonds, and each individual bond selected for refunding in this series had in excess of 3 percent present-value savings to the State. The State received bids from 87 institutional investors totaling $4,166,070,000 in orders, or a 4.3 times subscription for the bonds.

Today’s bond issue has an all-in borrowing cost for the combined series of 4.19 percent. The bonds are being issued as fully exempt from federal taxation and are rated BBB by Fitch Ratings, Baa3 by Moody’s Investor Service and BBB- by S&P Global.

“We are very pleased with the strong investor response to today’s bond sale. By refunding the $600 million in variable-rate debt, the State eliminates its highest-cost debt and replaces it with traditional fixed-rate bonds carrying a much lower overall rate of interest,” said Hans Zigmund, budget director for the State. “By refunding other outstanding bonds with higher fixed rates as part of the same bond sale, we maximized savings and minimized the costs of the sale. Taxpayers will realize these savings for years to come.”

The syndicate was led by J.P. Morgan. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Loop Capital Markets LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC and Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., L.L.C  served as co senior managers. Blaylock Van, LLC, Cabrera Capital Markets, IFS Securities, Mischler Financial Group Inc. and Stern Brothers served as co-managers. Chapman and Cutler LLP and Burke Burns & Pinelli, LTD are acting as co-bond counsel for the transaction. Chapman and Cutler LLP is the State’s disclosure counsel. The State’s financial adviser for the transactions is Columbia Capital Management, LLC. The State’s swap adviser is Swap Financial Group.

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College’s two music ensembles – the Concert Band and Concert Choir – are looking for talented musicians to join the ranks for the Fall 2018 semester. The ensembles are tuition free and registering now.

Concert Choir (MUSI 1159), under the direction of Sara Alstat, RLC Music Associate Professor, is a vocal ensemble that performs in concerts and at college functions throughout the semester. The course is designed to provide a performing outlet for talented college musicians. The choir rehearses from 12 – 12:50 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the Learning Resource Center (LRC).

The Concert Band (MUSI 1161) provides a playing outlet for experienced band musicians and includes at least one concert per semester. The band rehearses from 11 – 11:50 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the LRC with Alstat.

Musicians without an instrument need not fret, RLC has a number of instruments ready for use. Both ensembles are open to any student or community member. Both will be readying for the Fall Concert, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, November 15.

Participants must be over the age of 16. Students with any major are welcome to register and the one credit hour per ensemble can be used as electives toward any degree. For more information about the Concert Band or Concert Choir, contact Sara Alstat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1817 or alstats@rlc.edu.

A McLeansboro man will spend nearly 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, according to a news release from Hamilton County State’s Attorney Justin Hood.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

INA, Ill.  – Rend Lake College has maintained the number one spot as the best community college in Illinois for a third straight year, based on an independent study by financial website WalletHub. The ranking is based on 17 key factors, ranging from cost and finances to educational and career outcomes.

The ranking, published this week, compares 715 community colleges from across the country. This year marks RLC’s fourth total appearance on the list. RLC – in 82nd place overall – is also the only Illinois community college in the top 200 across the country.

RLC landed 18th in the nation when it comes to educational outcomes, up from 52nd place in the 2017 ranking. Metrics used when comparing educational outcomes include first-year retention rate, graduation rate, transfer-out rate, credentials (degrees and certificates) awarded per 100 full-time equivalency students, share of full-time faculty, and student-faculty ratio.

The college also placed 43rd in the nation for career outcomes, including return on educational investment, student-loan default rate, median salary after attending, and former students earning above the average earnings of a high school graduate.

This year, the site also ranked RLC tied in first when it comes to highest return on educational investment among all of the colleges across the country. The others ranked in first for highest return on investment, or the ratio of starting salary for graduates to the cost of education, includes two colleges in California, and one in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Terry Wilkerson, RLC President, said he’s pleased to find RLC has maintained the first place ranking among Illinois colleges.

“The WalletHub ranking shows we’re doing something right. This year, with the addition of the number one spot on the list of colleges who provide the highest return on investment, is proof of our commitment to the community and students in our district,” said Wilkerson. “I want to recognize our faculty and staff for continuing to go above and beyond, and our students for making Rend Lake College their number one choice.”

According to WalletHub, the information and data included in the ranking was gathered from the National Center for Educational Statistics, US News, U.S. Department of Education, Council for Community & Economic Research, and College Measures. To view the WalletHub ranking, visit www.wallethub.com.

This year marks the college’s fourth appearance on the list. Start your journey at RLC by visiting www.rlc.edu.

The IHSA Board of Directors met for their regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, August 20, 2018, where the Board approved the appointment of Dunlap High School Principal Scott Adreon (right) as the Board Treasurer.

Adreon previously served on the IHSA Board from 2013-2016 when he was the principal at Maroa-Forsyth High School and was elected to represent Division 5. He was the Vice-President during the 2015-16 school year and vacated the board seat when he accepted the position at Dunlap entering the 2016-17 school year.

“We feel very lucky to have a person of Scott’s integrity and experience to fill this important role,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “The IHSA has a history of being fiscally responsible within a model that allows it to return millions of dollars each year to its member schools. We look forward to Scott’s oversight and ideas on maintaining a healthy fiscal climate and know his past experience on the Board will help him to quickly adapt to his new responsibilities.”

Greg Bradley, first of Mt. Zion High School (2000-2012) and then of Decatur Christian High School (2012-2018), had served as the Board Treasurer since 2000 until his retirement in June. Adreon becomes the ninth individual in the Association’s history to serve in the Treasurer role.

“During my 27 years in education, working with the IHSA in different roles, as a coach, athletic director, principal, and member of the board of directors has provided some of my most rewarding and enjoyable moments,” said Adreon. “The people here are all top notch and working together to serve students and schools couldn’t be more gratifying.”

The Treasurer is a non-voting member of the IHSA Board of Directors and the only member of the 11-person Board who is not elected.

ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board voted to approve Recommendation 2 from the Classification Ad Hoc Committee for the 2019-20 school year. Recommendation 2 will change the multiplier waiver calculation process from being calculated on a four-year basis to a two-year basis. Read the entire recommendation by clicking here. *The IHSA Board had passed ad hoc committee recommendations 1 and 4 at its June, 2018 meeting, but tabled recommendations 2 and 3 until August.*

2. The Board voted to approve Recommendation 3 from the Classification Ad Hoc Committee for the 2019-20 school year. Recommendation 3 will change the success formula process from being calculated on a four-year basis to a two-year basis. Read the entire recommendation by clicking here. *The IHSA Board had passed ad hoc committee recommendations 1 and 4 at its June, 2018 meeting, but tabled recommendations 2 and 3 until August.*

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“These four recommendations from our ad hoc committee were the result of thoughtful conversation, data review, and membership feedback, as they attempted to understand and address the various issues our diverse membership faces in regard to classifications. They represent large changes in the sense that we move from a fluid annual enrollment classification cycle to a two-year cycle. We felt that for this process and the goals of the ad hoc committee to truly work, it was important that all four of these recommendations passed so they work in unison beginning in 2019-20. Like any major change, there will be some growing pains and potential tweaks, but we like the direction we have charted and believe it will be a long-term positive for our schools.”

3. The Board approved a recommendation for the Executive Director and staff to form a Strategic Planning committee to develop future goals and direction for the Association.

4. The Board provided an interpretation of IHSA By-law 3.011 as it relates to home school student eligibility. When a member school chooses to allow home school students to participate, the member school is required to approve the academic program the student is taking as credit towards graduation at the member school. The approved academic program could come from a non-member school that does not provide any extra-curricular offerings.

APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Joliet (Catholic Academy). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.

2. The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on the enrollment figure for Burbank (St. Laurence). St. Laurence is in the midst of transitioning from being an all-boys school to a coed school, but its IHSA enrollment was still being calculated under the all-boys policy. For the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, St. Laurence’s IHSA enrollment will be determined by the following formula: (actual girls enrollment x 1.33 + actual boys enrollment). For the 2018-19 school year, St. Laurence’s non-multiplied IHSA enrollment will be 685.

3. The Board did not rule on the appeal from the Illinois 8-Man Football Association, represented by Hebron (Alden-H.), regarding an exemption to IHSA by-law 5.073. The Board believes that an option already exists for the Illinois 8-Man Football Association to carry out its planned playoffs within the limits of the by-law.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the August 20, 2018, agenda:
IHSA’s multiplier and success formula.

1. The Board heard a report from Assistant Executive Director Sam Knox on the 2018 IHSA Officials Conference, which was attended by over 700 officials in East Peoria on July 20-21.

2. The Board heard a report from Director of Special Programs Raye McDonald on the 2018 IHSA All-School Mailing.

3. The Board heard a report on the IADA’s New Athletic Directors Workshop co-hosted by the IHSA in July.

4. The Board heard a report on member school financial aid information.

5. The Board heard a report from the staff on its staff retreat discussion.

6. The Board heard a report on IHSA staff goals for the 2018-19 school year.

7. The Board discussed the IHSA’s Transgender Policy and suggested changes brought forth by a state representative.

8. The Board heard a report on IHSA and IESA representation at the 2018 NFHS Student Leadership Conference.

9. Nominations are currently open until September 15 for open Legislative Commission and Board of Directors positions. The following positions are currently up for election:
-Board Division 5
-Board Division 7
-Board At-Large Minority
-Commission District 1
-Commission District 4
-Commission District 5
-Commission District 10
-Commission District 11
-Commission District 15
-Commission District 16
-Commission District 17
-Commission District 21
-Commission Athletic Administrator Division 3
-Commission Athletic Administrator Division 6
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 1
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 4
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 6
-Commission At-Large Minority or Underrepresented Gender Division 7

10. The Board discussed creating a recognition program for students at member schools who participate in three sports/activities in one school year.

11. The Board heard a report on IHSA Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha being named to the Coach and Athletic Director Magazine’s inaugural 40 Under 40 team.

Former President Barack Obama has recorded a video supporting Democrat J.B. Pritzker for Illinois governor.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

A new Illinois law provides more childcare for families with children at risk of entering the child welfare system.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

It’s been a busy month for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and his pen.  

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.