LM april 2021 final hi

Due to limited resources, Hutsonville CUSD #1 did not have a music teacher for students in grades K–4. Music classes at the junior high and high school were limited. EBF made it possible for the district to hire a full-time music teacher for school next year. The addition will impact the district twofold. The art teacher, who had doubled as the music teacher, could focus on art full time and music could be offered in grades K–4 for the first time in years. “It’s been big for us,” Kraemer said. “Some kids excel at music and we need to be able to support them. Research also shows how helpful music can be for our young students learning math.” Hutsonville CUSD #1 also used EBF dollars to create an agriculture program for high school students. The district has since expanded the program and built a greenhouse thanks to a grant. “Offering the agriculture program has been one of the most positive things,” Kraemer said. “It has really brought our community together.” In addition, Hutsonville CUSD #1 brought back a small engine repair and welding course. EBF dollars were used to hire a teacher and help provide a budget for the program as well as update some equipment and create a shop for students. Hiring a full time family consumer science teacher will also provide students with life skills that will help them be more successful after high school. “Learning how to cook, parenting and sewing— those are all important skills that our students were losing out on that we can now offer as a result of EBF,” Kraemer said. Continued support of EBF would… If EBF were properly funded, Hutsonville CUSD #1 would use the dollars to lower classroom sizes in classes where it matters, like kindergarten. In addition, the district would bring back previously cut programs and add programs where necessary to ensure students continue to graduate with skills that ensure their success. “Research has shown that lower class sizes in the early grades can have a significant impact,” Kraemer said.

Macomb CUSD #185

Enrollment: 2,020 FY18: $134,519 FY20: $124,464 Type: preK–12 FY19: $126,251 FY21: Flat Funding How EBF has made a difference The passage of EBF came at a critical time for Macomb CUSD #185. Over the past decade, Macomb has seen a significant increase in the number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. With that has come the need for the district to offer more social-emotional support for students. “We have made the conscious choice to use EBF to support families and kids in need,” said Dr. Patrick Twomey, superintendent of Macomb CUSD #185. Macomb CUSD #185 has hired one counselor, two social workers and two psychologists with EBF dollars. Adding the positions has been essential because mental health support is limited in west central Illinois. “The payback for the support we were able to provide families and students is immeasurable,” Dr. Twomey said. “People now know the services are there and are starting to ask for help because they know they can get support.” EBF has also offered a much needed lifeline for rural schools, like Macomb CUSD #185. Flat funding or a cut to EBF would hit rural schools harder because local resources can’t fill in the gaps to meet the needs of all students. “We can’t have fewer teachers,” Dr. Twomey said. Continued support of EBF would… Properly funding EBF would allow the district to update curriculum and improve support of teaching and learning. Macomb CUSD #185 would seek to hire its first ever curriculum director. “We need to have someone who can focus their full- time attention on digging into our assessment data and determining where we can place our emphasis in terms of intervention,” Dr. Twomey said. Macomb CUSD #185 would also look to hire instructional coaches to better support teachers and free up principals to focus on other responsibilities.

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LM April 2021