[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6061983,"mediaKeyId","3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e","parentId",3280844,"title","Regional Office expands education pathways and early-childhood resources amid federal funding uncertainty","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",1178000,"endMs",1540000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e&start=1178&end=1540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e/thumbnail_1178000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061983/Lee-County/Illinois/Regional-Office-expands-education-pathways-and-early-childhood-resources-amid-federal-funding-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061983-cc363eb56ba35b1cdaad8c395e5756a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131752&Signature=ErXC5MgE8le-Igoky5pbjhzfwAj~~CUVKETMW~l-R0i4zLA6evrB~FMrX5Nvn-KJZ1wqv9q0nebXZcDnru7Piw0lCM8YX9xYXNZ4Ua~tyNsvOOTIcKtkmYNF8aKvupUvsSav~ecwA9RviuPgs-534TI8~yuntnbTC3e--i45vrfpUl3eFpOtfpdVQ7pgDke-9KWWGtAfzwU5jbCfWTL3a~jL4EdWho2up1VOwPFpQb-yCAi3DDjal9SC3s-BX227tJzyvqu0j6EgH1RaA9uY~O9J4nCaCh1AJcGKRqtfwcbNFDoVo7bxFa7sBntqEf8QH74tHhZ6eEIMVA5wWl2g7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County, IL","date","2025-05-14T02:33:56Z","article","Chris Tennison, a Regional Office of Education official, told the committee the office expanded career and technical education pathways from four districts to 16 districts and now supports pathways in education, health sciences, manufacturing and agriculture, with plans to add an IT pathway next year. Tennison said the education pathway graduation numbers have grown substantially, citing a recent ceremony where 41 students received education endorsements.

Tennison said federal funding cuts have affected regional offices in two primary areas: state funding for social-emotional work and money for instructional coaches in math and English has been frozen. He said the office cross-trains staff across grants and has managed staffing so the freeze has not led to job losses in the local office. Tennison said he and staff recently presented their practices to other regional superintendents in Springfield.

Tennison described the OWL (Ogle, Whiteside, Lee) early-childhood resource hub developed with Birth to 5 Illinois and said the ROE hosts the website and Facebook page while Birth to 5 Illinois approves content. He also discussed a pilot student-mentor program in Amboy that placed ROE employees in schools; Tennison said mentors worked with about 27 students each and reported fewer discipline referrals, improved attendance and better grades. The program is expected to expand to five additional schools, with mentors reimbursed through state funding under the EBF formula.

Tennison said the state has sued the federal government over grant payments and that a court injunction was reported in the meeting; he said the office has not yet received new guidance from the state but expected an update later in the week. He asked for no questions before leaving the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Services Committee Meeting 5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chris Tennison, a Regional Office of Education official, said the ROE has expanded career pathways to 16 districts, launched an OWL early-childhood resource hub for Ogle, Whiteside and Lee counties, and plans to expand a student-mentor program after a successful pilot.","taxTitle","Lee County, Illinois","taxId",58219,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061988,"County board committee moves four zoning petitions and one planning petition to executive committee",271,1589000,1860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e&start=1589&end=1860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e/thumbnail_1589000.jpg","/articles/6061988/Lee-County/Illinois/County-board-committee-moves-four-zoning-petitions-and-one-planning-petition-to-executive-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061988-beffcff9d64d8382c7a3036d5eb999dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131752&Signature=F7pMhPxkcHeGPiA-xJiOKM5puFFa6q2GVa~aUSTggaM-xc1yhW0aqJB3RuDB9bC8oeRNR0pWF6gO-aAy71aJtJYb-7-xgzpxaPaONMzEr-r69opRljSjmLFTb5mQRp27YeCvSgpbmOJ4G18B64XP5FyvApPgHhLfykrycm3gsQ5YHwl27h60fth8wCxK1WbCvAyYX1SjXymVsZYM1wn~funRUR4u9DV7alQCzmTqWvGBA5HiL-CUZ6TGGrDoaaBzjhv38nm9E9-dk4LM~r8jYFdW~l~vBFAT7mVkSkkIFq6Sd1~898AZs-Fr5Z3v1HR6gpfd7QLG0xOGbIY4g5OqYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alice, a zoning and planning official, told the committee that the zoning board recommended approval of four petitions: two community solar projects in Palmyra Township (petition numbers 25P1639 and 25P1640), a special-use petition for mini storage on an industrial parcel owned by Clay and Elizabeth Partington (25P1641), and a variance for Compton Community Fire Protection District to build a new fire station (25P1645). Alice said the zoning board voted 3–0 to recommend approval of those petitions.

The committee then voted to move each petition to the executive committee for inclusion on the county board agenda. Motions and seconds recorded in the meeting were:
- Petition 25P1646 (Grace Fellowship Church special-use to add a parish hall): motion by Reid Acree, second by Dean Friel; motion carried on voice vote.
- Petition 25P1639 (community solar): motion by Dean Friel, second by Ellie Hess; motion carried on voice vote.
- Petition 25P1640 (community solar): motion by Dean Friel, second by Ali Huss; motion carried on voice vote.
- Petition 25P1641 (Partington mini storage special use): motion by Dean Friel, second by Reid Acree; motion carried on voice vote.
- Petition 25P1645 (Compton fire district variance): motion by Dean Friel, second by Reid Acree; motion carried on voice vote.

Alice also reported a planning commission text amendment (petition 25PC79) for a technology overlay district was recommended 4–0 and moved to the executive committee. Committee members had no recorded objections during the motions; votes were taken by voice and recorded as \"motion carried.\"","The committee moved four zoning petitions and one planning petition to the executive committee for inclusion on the county board agenda. Motions carried on unanimous voice votes; petitions include two community solar projects, a mini-storage special use, a fire district variance and a technology overlay text amendment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061993,"Lee County transportation officials report $5.4M in summer projects; county resubmits $4.9M federal request for new highway facility",479,501000,980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e&start=501&end=980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e/thumbnail_501000.jpg","/articles/6061993/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-transportation-officials-report-54M-in-summer-projects-county-resubmits-49M-federal-request-for-new-highway-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061993-bd4bdfc0ab26161a1bc3804a6b052f6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131752&Signature=le1zZarLE26R~68n09L~Y1Yea1XL9F4ui-Mro-y9k55d3StcUqAFDkJx9GxdC1i~Wx8DuZAxXIrJJt1xGwcrEIFpznyy9ggOUWaIQkMLYN9LJahSiz~COCHYMFzUNAeqJknNdgwYMG3-D5qTSXqZurpjyVY6DbFpE8yO5lWBVSx9bYWBPcFMRkT5bmbj3UPdR4RLd556pXV1Ynpsx73tzvS2SmF3j4pAnKHuGxRr5DtnzZZoQGsfKmLH1yWXtGOYoXjegL-m7sefKmX-k~a3Aua04GGhk2gvPVtYqhkXyrJosYGO3H~4HQC43n-k9ULjF9IquLlAleeFl~4FBhXTrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David, a county transportation official, told the committee there are about 33 projects scheduled for the summer, representing roughly $5,400,000 of contract work, and that the Hamilton Township HMA job began the morning of the meeting.

David said the department has obtained biological, cultural and special-waste clearances submitted through the environmental survey request process for a proposed highway site and that work on entrance details with the Illinois Department of Transportation is ongoing. He also reported personnel changes: the shop foreman is retiring in June, an internal hire was made to fill the foreman role and the department is recruiting a mechanic and expected to make an offer soon.

Separately, Jeremy, a Lee County Board member, said the county resubmitted a $4,900,000 community project funding request to Congressman Mahood’s office for a new highway facility; Jeremy said the congressman’s staff has worked with the county on the resubmittal but cautioned there is no guarantee of funding given the broader fiscal climate.

Jeremy also updated the committee on broadband work and said a new U.S. Department of Commerce review process and regulatory changes could delay the state’s program by one to two years; he said Lee County currently has 8,325 eligible underserved locations under that program. Jeremy added that the county’s budget preparation process begins June 6 and that Joe Bay will start as building official next week.","County transportation staff reported about $5.4 million in summer contract work and completed environmental clearances for a proposed highway site; the county also resubmitted a $4.9 million community project funding request to the congressman’s office for a new highway facility and noted potential broadband funding delays from federal review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061998,"Reagan Mass Transit District to begin contracted Winnebago County service July 1; studies and fundraiser planned",275,123000,398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e&start=123&end=398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e/thumbnail_123000.jpg","/articles/6061998/Lee-County/Illinois/Reagan-Mass-Transit-District-to-begin-contracted-Winnebago-County-service-July-1-studies-and-fundraiser-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061998-7d3e10302987284eefa554397d1ab2f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131752&Signature=mB239LwjwF0-67McTjwbxfssL6PVlYjYHFvIe90YGDj5f61XFvNrWANoxsuw1WVlhZOuzbsOM3fnbl72vu74UkIFY8vbXk-iEZB2m-u0zM7qYP1A9yoPv~vX3VKMaHL4gbIaAc-mS0giVP-gXNIdWDhDZO1S-ye9cWYoqVhE-1-YF8HRo3pZrIf8YlskXH1boLAapuF-M9FudQJTCSo~rDI6HLfCsFx74XNSCHHTBKkoHsWAaL496WQvLB22PaKSlN0w4gBsORDU2ngIOuDYimp2C5O7tZ2gxOhr3C00GM6HyS4K7XBu8kArOnJy3BKrdevzNnLGr05SncXa4fOt8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg, a Reagan Mass Transit District representative, told a Lee County committee that the district will start contracted service in western Winnebago County on July 1 and is preparing vehicles and outreach for the launch.

Greg said ridership is \"we're trending to be around 91, 90 2000 rides for the current fiscal year,\" service hours are \"around 29,000,\" and miles of service are about \"759,000.\" He also reported that the district's fuel-cost estimate is \"about $30,000 less than what we had projected.\" The district has negotiated and signed a service contract with Winnebago County and is procuring three vehicles for the new service area.

The report noted two studies now under way: an approximately 18-month hydrogen-fuel feasibility study in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Transit Desert study with Northern Illinois University's Center for Governmental Studies. Greg said NIU has moved into a phase of public outreach, planning focus groups targeting seniors, veterans and other identified populations with about six to 10 participants each. The Transit Desert work will include focus groups in Lee and Ogle counties, the district said.

Greg said the district relies on the downstate operating assistance program for the largest portion of state support and that the program provides \"65% of the cost\" while the district must cover the remaining 35% locally. To help fill local funding gaps, he said the district is holding its first golf fundraiser on June 19 at Lost Nation Golf Course and distributed brochures inviting registration.

No formal committee action was recorded on the transit report. Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the report.","Reagan Mass Transit District reported to a Lee County committee that it will begin contracted service in western Winnebago County on July 1, is partnering on hydrogen- and transit-desert studies, and is holding a June 19 golf fundraiser to help cover local operating costs.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061977,"Assessor reports new data-collection system and reappointments; clerk readies 23,000 voter-registration mailings",487,653000,1140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e&start=653&end=1140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280844-278d50a7da1e3c679afd458d6bcc068e/thumbnail_653000.jpg","/articles/6061977/Lee-County/Illinois/Assessor-reports-new-data-collection-system-and-reappointments-clerk-readies-23000-voter-registration-mailings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061977-feca713cd64fce8d4267123696b09414/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131752&Signature=iiO3M9G1LjqRyGOEq8EfW1I3vY6SmgJA7408BxAtIjGLbJBe2oJmhUItLDSkZWtV3VE-7PoGv2OUZRZNHvADei3mPLG7bqC2RgJEBwg48Ns5BozuE4CL0c6VqKcDu9HcH9RSInoe1pRcyLusJt0hLoCv8~WCH6l0Tbdo7rRRXrEGgxvpGwgIzZSzWW3sleMNgjSRB7GEVY7IpsdHwwoBFySjBSSiQrqBT~OH1DxUh2-KT6x-dqzN3O-L4CScSi8DIAKWuvTn~j2CTc6CFqEdKwvnndJlRp6P4TRDlBuxFnRSCiwoLDe0kYLaYnoZJPWBQxxgPL8GZankcUKdfCABFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Boyd, Lee County assessor, told the committee the office will seek reappointments to the board of review for Lori Urbis and Cole Olsen and a reappointment for James Burke on the farmland assessment review committee, each for two-year terms. Boyd said new data collectors recently began fieldwork and the office has adopted the ArcGIS Quick Capture app on smartphones for photos and parcel mapping, which she said has reduced errors and improved efficiency. She also said the GIS department is planning an upgrade to ArcGIS Pro and parcel-fabric work.

Nancy Peterson, Lee County clerk and recorder, said the May 1 deadline for statements of economic interest produced 29 late filers in her report but that the number had dropped to 16 late filers; late filers are now subject to a $15 late fee. Peterson also said the countywide mailing of voter-registration postcards will occur in July and that approximately 23,000 postcards will go out; she noted postage costs are rising. Peterson reported heavy demand for Real ID services around the May 7 date.","The assessor said new data collectors are using the ArcGIS Quick Capture app and the office plans an ArcGIS Pro upgrade; the county clerk said 23,000 voter-registration postcards will be mailed in July and late filers of statements of economic interest were reduced to 16.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Regional Office expands education pathways and early-childhood resources amid federal funding uncertainty

County board committee moves four zoning petitions and one planning petition to executive committee

Lee County transportation officials report $5.4M in summer projects; county resubmits $4.9M federal request for new highway facility

Reagan Mass Transit District to begin contracted Winnebago County service July 1; studies and fundraiser planned

Assessor reports new data-collection system and reappointments; clerk readies 23,000 voter-registration mailings