Parents & others driving through the Hauser school zone should be aware of the following:

The Riverside Police Department is continuing with intensified enforcement of traffic laws. Since January 1, 2010, the use of cellular telephones within school and construction zones has been prohibited. Today, the Riverside Police Department saturated the school zone around Central and Hauser Schools. One hour of intensified enforcement within this area led to a total of 8 citations. The department also arrested one individual for Driving with a Revoked License.

The department absolutely agrees that our children’s safety is first and foremost. Surprisingly, the vast majority of the drivers stated that they were not aware of the law. When the law was enacted January 1 of this year, the State of Illinois along with the Illinois Department of Transportation placed educational commercials on television and the press was also involved. The bottom line here is: Drivers should not be distracted with cellular telephones while driving around children.

The Riverside Police Department can assure the community that this type of intensified enforcement will continue throughout the Village. The goal is to slow everyone down and keep everyone safe from harm.

Chief Tom Weitzel stated: “This type of enforcement program is a direct result of working with our partners at District 96 and parents of students who attend District 96 schools. The department has had numerous complaints of distracted drivers picking up children in the school zones on Woodside Road. Enforcement will continue periodically through the end of 2010 and into 2011″.

In April, voters will be asked if they are willing to support a property tax increase to maintain programming and staff at current levels at Riverside Brookfield High School. To educate voters as to the impact a successful or unsuccessful referendum will have on the community, the school is hosting a public forum on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the RBHS Little Theater. This forum will include a presentation on the financial state of the district, explanation of cuts that would be necessary in the event that the referendum does not pass, and an opportunity for questions and input on various proposals the administration and board will be considering.

As residents of the district, many of whom will be sending our children to RB, these decisions will affect every family. Please attend this meeting if your schedule allows, so that you can be an informed voter.

For more information, see the press release announcing this meeting at www.rbhs208.org/Board/12_13_10_BudgetMeeting.pdf.

On Tuesday, November 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m., the Riverside Brookfield High School Music Sponsors will host a Parent, Student, and Faculty Concert — their 1st annual Bulldog Music Fundraiser. Performers will include music professionals and parents in our community, faculty, and Riverside Brookfield High School students.

This event will be held in the Riverside Brookfield High School Auditorium with a reception to follow. The cost to attend is $10 for Adults and $5 for Students and Senior Citizens. Riverside Brookfield High School is located at 160 Ridgewood Road in Riverside. Proceeds will benefit Riverside Brookfield Music Department projects and activities, including the students’ choir trip to Disney World in February of 2011.

Please join us for a fun-filled night of talent!

Hauser parents who are looking ahead to high school (or any parents whose students may need some assistance in staying organized) are invited to a program presented by RB on the Executive Functioning program to be held on November 3, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at the RB Alumni Lounge.

All students in the freshman class at Riverside Brookfield are participating in the Rush Neurobehavioral Center Executive Function school-based program to help students develop better organization skills and time management strategies. Dr. Georgia Bozeday will present an overview of current research from neuroscience describing the impact of the 21st Century influences on students today. She will focus on recent findings related to media use and learning. Dr. Bozeday will provide recommendations for parents as they work with children at home on these concerns. Additionally, this presentation will provide parents with practical strategies from the field of Executive Functions to help them guide students at home. Discussion will primarily include strategies for organization and time management.

Questions? E-mail Christine Sutton, RB Social Worker at suttonc@rbhs208.org. A copy of the flyer is available here.

A meeting for parents and community members will be held on Monday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m. to review budget projections for the two upcoming school years, and the program reductions that would be necessary if an April 5, 2011, referendum is not approved. More information about this meeting, which will be held in the Little Theater at RB, is available in the press release.

The PTA/ PTO’s of District 96 would like you to be aware the Village of Riverside has not funded crossing guards in next year’s Village budget. District 96 has sought legal counsel regarding the implications of reimbursing the Village for the cost of the guards.

For information regarding the elimination of the crossing guards, please read the landmark article:

www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=6044&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1

If you have an opinion about this issue, we would encourage you to speak with or e-mail our District 96 and Village elected officials.

The e-mail address for the District 96 elected officials is the following: boardofed@district96.org.

The members who share the above e-mail address are as follows:
President, Nancy Jenson
Giles McCarthy
Jennifer Leimberer
Mary Ellen Meindl
James Schraidt
Mary Stimming
Hareena Wakely

The next District 96 Board of Education meeting is Tuesday, May 18, at 7:30 P.M. at Hauser Jr. High School. The agenda has allocated time for public comment. The issue was tabled at the April meeting for discussion at the May meeting.

The Village Trustees may be contacted at the following e-mail address:

President, Mike Gorman, at mgorman@riverside.il.us

James D. Reynolds, jreynolds@riverside.il.us
Lonnie R. Sacchi, lsacchi@riverside.il.us
John E. Scully, jscully@riverside.il.us
Benjamin Sells, bsells@riverside.il.us
Mark D. Shevitz, mdshevitz@riverside.il.us
Jean Sussman, jsussman@riverside.il.us

The next Village meetings are scheduled for May 3 and May 17 at the Village Hall. As of this publication, the May schedule and agenda were not on the Village web site.

To speak at a Village meeting, please follow the directions on the Village’s web site.

Thanks for your attention in this matter. Your voiced opinion can make a difference!

The District 96 PTA/ PTO Presidents

Ames: Jen Kaiser, Stephanie Schulte
Blythe: Lisa Gaynor
Central: Allyn Pilewski
Hauser: Fran Sitkiewicz, Lisa Aulerich-Marciniak
Hollywood: Kierith Kurth, Denise Notz

The RB Otters will be holding a 4-week Spring Clinic, beginning May 10, at the new pool at RB high school. Otters is a swim team for school-age students. It’s a great opportunity to get back in shape for summer swimming. There will be two experience levels: NOVICE and EXPERIENCED. Each swimmer must also be registered with Illinois Swimming, Inc. ($60 fee payable to Illinois Swimming – good for calendar year 2010). For more information, see the registration and other forms on the Otters’ website: www.rbotters.org. Questions? Contact Alan Keller at paul1luke2@ameritech.net.

Hauser Cafeteria has been reserved from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to host a board game night to celebrate National Turn Off Your Television/Unplug Your Kids Week. Families are invited to drop in with their favorite game and, if they wish, a snack to share. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Join in for a fun, social, TV-free evening for all! Questions? Contact Lisa Aulerich-Marciniak.

Due to popular demand, orders may be placed for Casablanca T-shirts, in the design shown above printed on a black shirt, until the end of the day Thursday, March 25. No orders will be accepted after Thursday. Sizes available are Men’s S-M-L-XL and Women’s S-M-L-XL (Women’s shirts are slightly fitted and with shorter sleeves.) If you are interested in ordering a shirt, please provide Mrs. Koncius with a written order indicating your name and your size, with $10 per shirt – cash only, please. An order form is available here.