New Law Requires Post-Trip Inspections, Two-Way Radios

CHICAGO - November 17, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that will significantly improve the safety of Illinois' students riding school buses.

The law amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to require all school bus drivers conduct comprehensive post-trip inspections to ensure that children, and other passengers, are not left unattended on a bus. The new law also requires all school buses be equipped with two-way radio systems designed to alert drivers to incoming communications, requests or alerts from school districts or emergency service providers.

"The safety of our children is of paramount importance to the people of Illinois," said Governor Quinn. "This new law prevents children from being left unattended on a school bus and also ensures that bus drivers receive important information while on the road."

At a bill signing ceremony held at the Andrew Jackson Language Academy, Governor Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 932, which was sponsored by Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago) and Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). The law is effective immediately.

Failure to conduct a post-trip bus inspection can result in the driver's permit being suspended by the Illinois Secretary of State.

In addition, the new law states that school bus owners must provide emergency two-way radios that enable drivers to send and receive information from their companies and local public safety agencies. Drivers are required to test the radios before their bus can be operated. Prior to this law, the State allowed school buses to be equipped with two-way radios at the bus owner's discretion.

At the signing event, Governor Quinn was joined by Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State.

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Rivermont Collegiate is thrilled to announce senior Roshan Babu, son of Dr. and Mrs. Hari Babu of Rock Island, has been chosen as a Semifinalist in the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology.  With high academic standards, rigorous judging, and emphasis on authentic scientific research, the Siemens Competition is regarded by the most prestigious universities as the leading science and mathematics research-based competition for high school students.  Roshan is the only student from Iowa to receive such a distinction - his selection as a Semifinalist is an exceptional achievement!

Roshan's research project, "Pore Forming Activity of Mutant Forms of Bax: ?C19Bax (C62A, C126A)", was completed under the mentorship of Paul Schlesinger of Washington University in St. Louis.  Roshan spent six weeks over the summer at the University of Missouri - St. Louis as part of the STARS (Students and Teachers as Research Scientists) program, gaining real-world laboratory experience while completing the project.  Roshan, who has attended Rivermont since Kindergarten, is currently researching competitive dental and medical programs at universities throughout the United States.  We look forward to Roshan's future contributions to the world of science and medicine!

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org

DES MOINES, IA (09/24/2009)(readMedia)-- Sergeant Major Michael Matson, a Junior Army Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) teacher from Davenport Central High School, is a 2009 Excellence in Education Award runner-up. The award is sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Iowa Farm Bureau, WHO Radio, KDSM Fox 17, and STAPLES. Juhl was among a top field of over 70 teachers?all nominated by colleagues, students, parents, and community members because of the difference they make every day in the lives of Iowa's schoolchildren.

"This award is truly about recognizing the educators who work hard on a daily basis and rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. "All of the nominations are a testament to the dedication and compassion Iowa educators have for their students and demonstrate how educators go above and beyond the scope of their work and change the lives of the students they teach."

Mike was the instructor who started the JROTC program at Davenport Central High School and has a deep commitment to shaping the cadets into strong, self-reliant leaders who are responsible citizens. Basic to the program is improving the cadets' ability to communicate both orally and in writing?something that was successfully demonstrated in spades as Mike's nominator was a former student who wrote a superior essay outlining Mike's special abilities and love for his career.

"Clearly Mike taught his young students well as demonstrated by the young man who wrote to nominate Mike," Bern said. "The essay was compelling in that the young man's story was tough, but it was also a testament to Mike's skills as a compassionate leader and teacher who clearly cares about his students. Mike is in a tough field, but manages to show a tender side that gets through to his kids and they respond to him. He obviously has affected many lives for the better and that's what this award is all about. We are very proud to count him among the education professionals who go to work each and every day, helping kids and shaping the future."

Now in its eleventh year, the 2009 Excellence in Education Award honors the countless educators across the state that, like Mike Matson, go the extra mile to make a difference. Nominations were solicited beginning in August through September 16, and forms were available from the ISEA and at local county Farm Bureau offices.

Matson will receive a gift certificate from STAPLES during an awards ceremony and banquet on Tuesday, October 20, at the Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines, courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

The winner of the 2009 Excellence in Education Award is Nancy Kunickis, a language arts teacher at Laurens-Marathon Community Middle School in Laurens. Other runners-up are Annette Baker, an English teacher at South Hardin High School in Eldora; Mike Earll, a vocational agriculture teacher at Sibley-Ocheyedan High School in Sibley; and Tim Juhl, an instrumental music teacher at North Butler High School in Greene.

All of the nominees, along with the individuals who nominated them, are invited to attend the awards banquet at no charge. The Iowa Farm Bureau will also provide free tours of the Iowa Hall of Pride, located within the Hy-Vee Hall.

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