New legislation aims to create equitable school funding, encourage higher learning

CARTERVILLE - April 4, 2014. Local school districts would receive new funding to encourage students to earn college credit while still in high school under legislation being pushed by Lt. Governor Sheila. Simon visited John A. Logan College on Friday to talk to students and promote the need to incentivize dual credit programs in Illinois.

"Dual credit programs help students get an important head start on college," said Simon, the state's point person on education reform. "This landmark measure can prepare students for college and set them on the path to good-paying jobs in growing fields. I am hopeful that the General Assembly will pass this important legislation quickly so it can begin helping Illinois schools and students."

Earlier this year, a bipartisan State Senate committee, created by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and State Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), issued a report acknowledging Illinois' outdated school funding system and recommending changes be made to the system to better reflect student needs. On Wednesday, Manar, along with other Illinois Senate Democrats, introduced the School Funding Reform Act of 2014, a proposal to streamline the complicated funding system into one formula that would account for school districts' funding needs while also encouraging the development of dual credit programs throughout the state.

A dual credit course is a college course taken by a high school student that earns both college and high school credits. This allows a student to get a jumpstart on a college credential or degree for free. Dual credit courses are vital for students in small, rural or low-income districts that do not have the resources to provide Advanced Placement or other specialized college-prep courses, Simon said.

"Dual credit programs help transition kids to college, reduce debt and shorten the amount of time to get a degree," said Director of Dual Credit and Partnerships at John A. Logan College Vicky Turl.

In Illinois, data from the Illinois Community College Board shows that student participation in dual credit has increased from 11,809 students in 2001 to 87,571 in 2012. Locally, almost 35 percent of juniors and seniors are taking some type of dual credit class affiliated with John A. Logan College.

Still, not all high schools offer dual credit. Cost is a primary barrier. To offer a dual credit course on site, a high school must hire a teacher that has the equivalent accreditation as a college professor and provide the appropriate books and technology. Alternately, the high school can cover a student's costs at a college campus.

Previously, Simon urged state leaders to overhaul the way schools are funded in Illinois during the final hearing of Manar's education committee in January. Simon testified that the current formula was hurting rural and high-poverty districts and should be changed. Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. As chair of the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Simon is also working to improve the delivery of state services and education opportunities to rural Illinois.

Whether you're launching a new business or wondering why your existing company isn't performing as well as predicted, longtime corporate executive Larry Katzen suggests taking a careful look at your business plan.

Did you include a section describing the workplace culture and the steps you'll take to foster that culture?

"When you look at why businesses fail, it almost always has something to do with the culture," says Katzen, author of, "And You Thought Accountants Were Boring - My Life Inside Arthur Andersen," www.larrykatzen.com. "For nearly half of the startups that fail, incompetence is cited as the major cause, according to Statistic Brain. Tolerating - or not tolerating -- incompetence is part of corporate culture."

Katzen, a former managing partner at one of the world's top five accounting firms, said his experience taught him a great deal about what kind of culture results in successful businesses. It was sadly ironic, he says, that Arthur Andersen, which held integrity chief among its values, was wrongly convicted of fabricated accusations related to the Enron scandal. The Supreme Court eventually exonerated Arthur Andersen, but the damage was already done.

"Today's business leaders cannot leave culture to chance," Katzen says. "They must decide what values and beliefs will form the foundation of their company, and they must ensure those values are integrated every day through example, communication, policy and incentives."

He lists four cultural values and behaviors your company must have to be successful:

•  Integrity - from the top down. From the executive level to part-time support staff, each individual must adhere to a code of values and ethics that's based on doing the right thing, Katzen says. "It's absolutely essential that you and your managers make decisions based on honesty and fair play. When appropriate, take the time to explain to employees the reasoning behind big decisions, to reinforce that they're made in accordance with ethical considerations." Have a consistent, well-publicized policy for dealing with integrity breaches among employees, and a zero tolerance policy for breaches among management. Managers and executives who don't adhere to company values will sabotage the culture.

•  A positive perspective at the executive level. The business leaders set the tone for the company, and if executives or managers have negative attitudes, especially in times of crisis, employees will, too. "You and your employees are not just doing jobs, you're on a mission to improve people's lives with the product or service you provide," Katzen says. "The team that embarks on a mission with no hope of achieving that mission will not achieve it."

•  Be a leader in the office and in the community. As a business leader, you should take an active role in working with organizations that benefit the community. Find ways to encourage employees to volunteer time as well, even if it's a corporate project to which you allow each employee to dedicate a certain number of their payroll hours. "We're all more gratified when we know we're contributing something meaningful to the greater good," Katzen says. "And remember - healthy communities grow healthy businesses."

•  Make health and well-being a company priority. Employees who exercise regularly, make healthy lifestyle changes and get regular checkups and vaccinations are doing you a big favor. They'll be more productive and energetic and you'll have less absenteeism. Make it easy for employees to schedule time for doctor visits, especially if you have a 9-to-5 office. Have health fair days, where employees can get free screenings and flu shots.  Reward trips to the gym, weight loss, smoking cessation and other healthy choices with drawings for prizes. And keep in mind, this is already a value among millennials - the teens to early 30-somethings who will soon make up half the work force. "They'll enjoy being a part of that culture," Katzen says.

Sometimes, Katzen says, CEOs with firmly held values conducive to an energetic, thriving workplace will naturally and unconsciously create a great corporate culture. But those who take time to think about the culture they want, spell out the details and exemplify and communicate them have a greater chance of success.

"Make it part of your business plan, because it's as important as anything else in that plan."

About Larry Katzen

After graduating from Drake University in 1967, Larry Katzen started working at Arthur Andersen and quickly rose through the ranks to become the Great Plains Regional Managing Partner. An honorable, hard-working man who devoted his life to Arthur Andersen, Larry was there from the company's meteoric rise to its unjust demise. He stayed with the firm for 35 years, serving clients globally until 2002. He recounts his experiences in, "And You Thought Accountants Were Boring - My Life Inside Arthur Andersen," (www.larrykatzen.com).

The comedy is about a couple?stuck in a lack-luster marriage?that treat their dog like it is their own baby. Working the grind in Los Angeles, they leave little time for each other. What free time they have is spent doting on the dog, until it gets kidnapped. The movie explores what lengths people will go to save their "babies"?which for many modern couples are not human, but covered in fur. The filmmakers refer to these as "fur babies."

While the plot makes for a great comedy caper, pets being kidnapped and held for ransom or sold online for profit is a very real phenomenon according to Kasi Brown and Brandon Walter who co-wrote, co-directed and co-star in the film.

As zany as the plot may sound, the inspiration came from real-life stories. So-called "pet flipping" has fast become a profitable business all across the country and it is further perpetuated by the fact that law enforcement won't take reports of stolen pets. This injustice is also depicted within the film, albeit with a more "comical effect" than in real life, added Brown whose real-life pet Yorkie named Laila stars in the film as the kidnapped pooch.

The original inspiration came when Brown's dog sitter started calling Laila her 'BFF' and taking her to the movies and nail appointments.

"She started bringing my dog home home later and later each night," said Brown. "I thought, what if one night she just never brought her home?"

Gone Doggy Gone attempts to explore this new type of 'parenthood' taking place within the millennial generation.

"Are these fur babies becoming a surrogate for human babies?" asked Brown, adding that their research uncovered some shocking (but hilarious) statistics.

"According to what we found," said Walter. "One in five people let their dog sleep in their bed every night, 61 percent of women tell their dog about their problems, 63 percent of dog owners give their pets presents at Christmas and 14 percent of men admit their dogs show them more affection than their loved ones."

"What's next?" joked Walter. "Naturally, it will be fur-baby strollers and fur-baby Bjorns." (Both of which are included in the film of course).

"Through their journey of reclaiming their dog, our protagonists embark on a cross country chase, get robbed at gunpoint, and spend a dark evening with a psychic seer where they uncover their deepest fears and reconnect with their loved ones," said Walter.

The result is a hilarious film getting some serious recognition. In addition to the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Gone Doggy Gone was also accepted into the FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles where the film debuts April 4.

Gone Doggy Gone is a production of Buzzworm Films, produced by Adriane Zaudke (of Alleged Industries) and Rebecca Hu (of Kungfu-Barbie Productions). For more information about the film, to view the trailer and see a complete list of cast and crew, go to GoneDoggyGone.com.

The film's trailer can be viewed on IMDB.com.

To purchase tickets for the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, go to JulienFilmFest.com.

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