Latest news with #DistractedDrivingEnforcementProgram
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roadmap 2030 project has Decatur teachers worried
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur School District is putting together a project to help shape their future. However, the plans have some teachers worried who think the focus should shift to more pressing needs. Decatur Schools is taking a look at how to use their building space better and improve education results. The project is called Roadmap 2030, but the President of the Decatur Education Association, Sam Mills, said the district is prioritizing the wrong thing. He's talked to many teachers who feel the same way. City of Decatur names new Fire Chief There are a few different scenarios the district has proposed, including: Standalone versus integrated pre-school Standalone versus integrated middle school One high school with two different campuses versus two high schools At a board meeting, the district said they want to balance the square footage per student and improve efficiency. However, Mills said the educators in his union feel like they haven't been heard by the administration. District administrators have met with teachers he represents but they came out of the meeting feeling dismissed. Mills said there's about 100 staff openings in the district at any given time. State Police holding Distracted Driving Enforcement Program in Central IL 'We already know that staff vacancy is a problem. If you don't move the needle on staff vacancies, you don't move the needle at all,' Mills said. 'And I don't care how many times you shuffle the buildings around; you shuffle the usage of the buildings, it will mean nothing other than creating more vacancies, creating a larger problem with the academic outcomes.' Mills also said teachers have told him if this plan doesn't go well, they would consider leaving the district. Staff made up a majority of the last community meeting the district hosted for feedback on the roadmap. WCIA reached out to the district for comment on the concerns Mills shared but has not heard back yet. In a board meeting last month, the assistant superintendent said the first steps of Roadmap 2030 would take place in the 2026-27 school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
State Police holding Distracted Driving Enforcement Program in Central IL
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Three Central Illinois counties will be home to an Illinois State Police Distracted Driving Enforcement Program this April. According to State Police Troop 7 Commander, Heather Apperson, Champaign, Macon and Vermillion counties will all have the driving program conducted in them. This program lets State Police focus on distracted driving laws in an effort to prevent traffic deaths and crash injuries. 2-month-old baby killed in multi-vehicle Urbana crash State Police said that distractions can increase a driver's chance of being involved in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 people each year are killed in crashes involving distract driving. Reading just one text can take a motorist's eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. On top of this, nearly one out of every 10 injury crashes involve a driver that is distracted. During the program next month, officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are not following state distracted driving laws. This includes the following: Motorists are prohibited from reading, sending or receiving text messages or communication, video streaming and from browsing the internet. Drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices. Motorists under the age of 18 are prohibited from using any cell phone, including hands-free devices. Drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone, even hands-free, while driving in school speed zones and work zones. School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cell phone, including hands-free. Motorists are prohibited to use cell phones or take photos or videos on wireless devices while driving withing 500 feet of an emergency scene. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is funding this program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
