State Grant Secured by Senator Andrew Chesney Helps Highland Community College Enhance Student Agriculture Program
As participation in Highland Community College’s (HCC) Agriculture program continues to grow, a $150,000 grant I secured for the college helps ensure students will have access to enhanced hands-on learning and field work.
Last Wednesday, I joined HCC President Chris Kuberski, HCC Foundation Director Dan Dick, several HCC trustees, and instructors for the official groundbreaking for a high-tech pump house at the school’s research plots. The building will include an upstairs meeting space and will serve as a central operation hub for a new sub-irrigation system installed across the school’s research plots earlier this year. A second building near the pump station will provide additional storage space for equipment.
The Agriculture program at HCC is supported by numerous public-private partnerships, and the assistance I provided in obtaining a $150,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) ignited a successful fundraising effort that has netted more than $600,000 so far through the Highland Foundation’s Legacy Campaign, local bonds, and private donor support.
I work extremely hard to bring state grant funds to Northwest Illinois and the 45th District, and this investment into HCC will benefit students for years to come. It also positions the Agriculture program at HCC as the best in the region and state.
HCC officials had this to say about the investment in the new facility:
HCC President Chris Kuberski: “Through the generosity of donors and supporters such as Senator Chesney, Highland continues to invest in our academic programs and support services to ensure that we are providing a quality education and exceptional learning experience for our students. The sub-irrigation system and related pump house are Phase I of a multi-layered project to enhance and expand our Agriculture program. This project positions us to be the Agriculture hub of Northwest Illinois which is our ultimate goal.”
HCC Foundation Director Dan Dick: “This investment in agriculture in NW Illinois was led by Senator Chesney. These public funds he secured from the State of Illinois, combined with private support from the Legacy Campaign, has created an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars into Highland Agriculture. The estate of Steve Switzer has also played a transformative role as we bring the first community college sub-irrigation system online later this year. This visionary concept utilizing public-private partnership will greatly benefit educational opportunities for Highland students.
New Laws Focused on “Justice Impacted Individuals” and Free State IDs for Inmates Highlight Illinois Democrats’ Misplaced Priorities on Crime
Legislation changing “offender” to “justice-impacted individual” in state statutes and providing free state IDs to individuals being released from Illinois jails became law last week, highlighting the misplaced priorities of Illinois Democrats when it comes to combatting crime. These new laws, along with previous measures, like the SAFE-T Act, also clearly demonstrate Democrats’ misaligned priorities when it comes to keeping Illinois families safe.
In recent years, crime has surged as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and his allies in the legislature have pushed dangerous “catch and release” policies. As of July 2024, Major crimes in Chicago have increased by nearly 60% compared to 2019 and 18% since 2022. During the 4th of July Weekend alone, more than 100 people were shot in Chicago.
Furthermore, the legislation signed last week will do nothing to reduce crime in Illinois and prioritize the rights of criminals over everyday citizens.
Senate Bill 2803 expands an existing pilot program across Illinois, which offers free state IDs to individuals being released from state prisons, to also include individuals being released from federal prisons and county jails.
Also recently signed into law was House Bill 4409, a controversial proposal that generated negative headlines and significant public pushback because it changes references to certain “offenders” in state statutes by requiring them to be called “justice-impacted individuals.”
House Bill 4409 was signed into law on August 2, while Senate Bill 2803 received the Governor’s stamp of approval on August 6.
Illinois Students Lagging in Recovery from Pandemic Disruptions as Federal Relief Nears End
A recent study from the University of Illinois System reveals that many Illinois students are still struggling to recover from the learning disruptions caused by pandemic school closures. Despite efforts to lessen the impact, the findings indicate that only a quarter of public-school students have returned to their pre-pandemic academic levels in English language arts, with even fewer achieving the same in math. This underscores the ongoing challenges in educational recovery.
Since the pandemic, Illinois has experienced a decline of nearly 60,000 students in statewide enrollment. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in chronic absenteeism, further complicating the learning loss being experienced in the school system. These troubling trends highlight the extensive impact of the pandemic on student attendance and engagement.
These challenges come as billions in federal relief funds, which have been critical for educational support, are set to expire this year. As these funds run dry, schools will need to seek alternative funding to maintain essential programs and continue addressing the learning gaps.
