• Thursday, July 8 at 7:30pm - Committee of Ten at Chandlerville
• Monday, July 12 at 7pm -  CARE Presents a Graduate Panel Discussion at  New LIFE Church in Virginia – Both school boards, administration, Committee of Ten and the public are encouraged to attend this informational meeting.
• Thursday, July 15 at 6:30pm -  Virginia school board special board meeting at  VIRGINIA CITY HALL
• Saturday, July 17 - Hog Purchase at Cass County Fair - Drawing has been extended and will be held during the Chandlerville Burgoo*
• Monday, July 19 at 7pm - Virginia school board regular meeting
• Wednesday, July 21 at 7pm - A-C Central school board meeting
• Tuesday, July 27 at 7pm - CARE Presents Speaker Mary Bush, Superintendant of Williamsfield Schools at New Beginnings Church in Chandlerville
  
  Hog Raffle Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and will be available for purchase at each meeting prior to the drawing at the Chandlerville Burgoo on August 28.  If you’d like to purchase tickets you may also contact Amy Parlier This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  CARE has raised $300 in advertising costs through the hog raffle tickets sold at the Virginia BBQ and Ashland Summer Days.  Please purchase those tickets in support of consolidation!

Community Action for Responsible Education

The CARE Group consists of citizens from the Ashland, Chandlerville and Virginia communities whose goal is to improve the academic achievements and opportunities for our students.  We are in support of consolidation of our districts and are seeking public support in this effort through petitions.  We are encouraging our respective school boards to place a referendum on the Spring 2011 ballot to consolidate our two districts.

Our districts have worked together to co-op all junior high and high school athletic activities which have formed one team.  Our athletic boosters have merged together to support our athletes and have formed the ACV Athletic Booster Club.  Our school boards have agreed to work together as a team and form a more uniform school calendar.  It is time to come together as a team in the classroom and support academic success.

We believe consolidation of our two districts supports the needs and desires of our communities in the following ways:

·       We can provide the highest quality of education possible with a combined curriculum, which will expand the classroom experience.  As a consolidated district we can offer additional courses, expanded technology and vocational opportunities along with more opportunities in dual credits for college bound students.

·       As a consolidated district we will be able to maintain and improve educational opportunities without making educational cuts within our consolidated district even with the educational cuts in the state budget.  We anticipate more financial stability in the new consolidated district.

·       Our goal is to maintain an elementary, junior high and a high school facility within our communities which will retain businesses and attract families to our consolidated district.

·       The CARE group believes we will need to retain all of our dedicated teachers in a consolidated district in order to provide the best quality education to prepare our students for college or vocation.

·       Our combined district is eligible to receive an estimated $1,000,000 in reorganization incentives. Current Illinois reorganization incentives are divided into four categories: State Aid, Teacher Salary, Deficit, and Certified Employee.  The Certified Staff Incentive would provide $4000 per certified employee over a three year period.  The current certified staff members in the combined district equal 81; A-C, 41 and Virginia, 40.  This incentive alone could provide $972,000 in incentives over a three year period.

If you would like to carry a petition in support of consolidation of our districts, or if you have any questions about the CARE Group, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact a member.