New Principals Announced for CL South, Prairie Ridge High Schools

The Community High School District 155 Board at its Tuesday meeting approved appointments of new principals.

The Community High School District 155 Board of Education approved Scott Shepard and Dr. Steven Koch as the new principals for Crystal Lake South High School and Prairie Ridge High School, respectively. The appointments follow the February announcement that current principals Marsha Potthoff, at CL South, and Paul Humpa, at Prairie Ridge, will move into new positions for the 2013-2014 school year. The changes become effective on July 1, according to District 155 spokesperson Jeff Puma.  District 155 conducted a national search that yielded nearly 80 qualified applicants for the principal positions. The extensive interview process included interviews with employees, parents and students, District 155 Board president Ted Wagner said. Scott …

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New Fountains at CL Central, CL South, Cary-Grove Reduce Waste

New water bottle dispensers were installed at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

Today is Earth Day, but students in Community High School District 155 have been acting "eco-friendly" all year. Last fall, new water fountains were installed at Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Cary Grove high schools right next to the standard drinking fountains. The new fountains are similar to water dispensers featured on modern refrigerator doors. The "water bottle filler fountains" were designed so users can refill and reuse plastic water bottles or sports bottles, thereby eliminating refuse. The cool feature about the new machines is they calculate the number of plastic water bottles refilled, giving students and staff members a clear understanding of how much waste they've prevented. "In total, these stations have …

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Crystal Lake 2013 Election Results: City Councilmen Keep Seats, Changes for District 47

Crystal Lake preliminary election results from April 9, 2013.

UPDATE: 12 a.m. Wednesday, April 10 Crystal Lake voters opted to keep their City Council as is, but selected newcomers for the District 47 School Board. With unofficial votes tallied, voters re-elected incumbent city councilmen Jeffrey T. Thorsen (1,841 votes), Ralph Dawson (1,808 votes) and Cameron D. Hubbard (1,798 votes). The three council members faced a considerable challenge from local resident James Tomasello, who ran a stealthy campaign with a plethora of large election signs posted throughout the city. Tomasello received 1,394 preliminary votes. Another challenger, Charles Ebann, who serves on the Crystal Lake Library Board, was unsuccesful in his bid for a seat, receiving 987 votes. Two incumbents lost their seats on the District…

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Dr. Leonard Stars in BHS Students' Mystery Spoof on YouTube

In this hilarious video produced by Barrington High School students, Supt. Dr. Tom Leonard searches for his "MiniMe" Bobblehead. Leonard started his career as a math teacher with District 155.

  Dr. Tom Leonard, Barrington 220 superintendent, proves to be a good sport again. He is the star of this new video produced by Barrington High School students Matt Weidner, Peter Chung, Abe Solberg and Catherine Goetze under the direction of teacher, Jeff Doles.  The 10-minute YouTube video includes a cast of characters from BHS as Dr. Leonard investigates what happened to his beloved MiniMe Bobblehead in Leonard's Lament.    Also see Ever Wonder How Barrington 220 Decides a Snow Day.    

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UPDATE: Police Interviewing 'Person of Interest,' Video Camera Found in Locker Room at CL Central High

Video recording device was found by a student in the boys athletic locker room at Crystal Lake Central High School, school officials said.

UPDATE: 6:45 p.m. Crystal Lake Police are interviewing a person of interest regarding the pin-hole camera found in the boys' athletic locker room Thursday at Crystal Lake Central High School, according to Police Cmdr. Dan Dziewior. "We are interviewing a person of interest at this time, which may result in resolution and criminal charges," Dziewior said. ___________________ UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. Crystal Lake Police issued a press release stating that the video recording device found today at Crystal Lake Central High School is a "pin-hole" camera. The camera is a stand-alone device, which does not possess the capability of main streaming video to a wireless system, according to police. The Crystal Lake Police Department will be using a …

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Student Arrested for Camera Found in Locker Room at Crystal Lake Central High School

Luke P. Gildea, 17, of Crystal Lake, was arrested Thursday and charged with unauthorized video recording.

  Crystal Lake Police have made an arrest in the case of a pin-hole camera found Thursday in the boys' athletic locker room at Crystal Lake Central High School. Luke P. Gildea, 17, of Crystal Lake, has been charged with two counts of unauthorized video recording. One count is a class 4 felony, and the second is a class 3 felony involving a victim under 18 years old, Crystal Lake Police Cmdr. Dan Dziewior stated in a press release issued late Thursday night. Gildea is a student at the school, which is located at 45 W. Franklin St. Gildea was expected to be transported to the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, where his bond hearing is set for 8 a.m. Friday at the McHenry County Courthouse. "The department continues to work closely with …

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Nearly 22 Percent of Retirees from District 155 Receive $100,000 Pension

The Daily Herald reports there is a higher percentage of six-figure pension payments being doled out to retired educators in six suburban counties, including McHenry County.

Compared to the rest of the state, a higher percentage of retired McHenry County educators are receiving six-figure pension payments, according to a Daily Herald article. In District 155, 21.9 percent of retired educators received a pension over $100,000 in 2012 and on average, received pension payments of $72,058.77, according to an interactive graphic on the Daily Herald. The average pension payment for retired District 26 educators was $51,210.12 last year and the average pension for District 47 educators was $47,213.43, according to the Daily Herald.  While six-figure pensions make up seven percent of the total pension payments in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, less than one percent of retired educators in the …

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Two District 155 Principals to Pursue New Jobs Within District

Both principals will continue to work for District 155.

Weather-Related Closings: Districts 47, 300, 158, 155 Cancel After-School Activities; Businesses Close

Do you know of anymore weather-related cancellations? Let us know in the comments' section.

Area school districts are cancelling after-school activities and some businesses are closing early as heavy snow blankets McHenry County this afternoon.  A winter storm advisory is in effect for McHenry County through 9 p.m. tonight.  Below is a list of closings and cancellations for the area as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Patch.com will continue to update as more information becomes available. If you know of a closure or cancellation that we missed in our list below, be sure to let the community know by posting it in the comments' section.  ---------------- McHenry County College is closed for the evening due to the weather. School District 47 in Crystal Lake has cancelled all evening events Tuesday due to the storm. Superintendent …

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