Illinois
‘Great day to be a Rocket’: Rochester receives Smart Start grant to expand preschool access
Just six years ago, preschool access was a considerable hurdle for many parents and students in Rochester School District.
Back then, Rochester CUSD director of special education Jennifer Shaw said the district only offered one morning preschool session and one afternoon session. That number has since grown to six classrooms, now serving 180 students ages three to five.
Through a $312,000 state grant over the next two years, the district will use the funds to add a pre-kindergarten teacher and aide, parent liaison, and two half-day pre-kindergarten classes. It was a “great day to be a Rocket,” said Rochester Superintendent Dan Cox.
More: State, Dolly Parton Imagination Library partner for free books to children five and under
“We can now offer preschool to at-risk students, and those receiving special education services in addition to tuition-based students,” Shaw said at a press conference held at Rochester Elementary School on Thursday. “With the addition of Smart Start grants, we’ll have more opportunities for our students and for their families.”
Rochester schools officials joined Gov. JB Pritzker and local state legislators to tout the success of year one of the Smart Start Illinois initiative. Rochester, along with Springfield Schools District 186, received funding.
The goal for this year was to add 5,000 slots, which the state surpassed by adding 5,886 seats to public preschools lacking openings across the state. By 2027, the Pritzker administration plans to end preschool deserts by adding 20,000 slots — aiming to provide universal preschool access to every three and four-year-old in Illinois.
Pritzker has barnstormed the state championing the program this week, following his stop in Rochester with another news conference in Peoria later Thursday.
“It’s maybe the most important investment that we can make in government, period, end of sentence,” the governor said. The initiative is his signature item in this year’s state budget. “You want to change the trajectory in a positive way of the population of state invests in the very youngest children.”
The first year of the $250 million initiative included an additional $75 million to the Early Childhood Block Grant— a program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education to expand preschool access.
“This is a victory for Illinois, for the nearly 6,000 Illinois children and families that are being served and we’re not yet done,” said Tony Sanders, ISBE state superintendent. “We’re going to keep going until we transform every preschool into places where all of our youngest learners have the opportunity to learn and to thrive.”
Other investments through the initiative include $130 million towards early childhood workforce compensation contracts, $40 million for early intervention programs allowing for a 10% rate increase for providers and $5 million to expand the Illinois Department of Human Services Home Visiting Program.
Continuation of the initiative, a “high priority” of the governor’s, is contingent on a funding renewal in the next fiscal year starting in July. Pritzker will reveal how much he wants the state legislature to invest in Smart Start ahead of his State of the State address on Feb. 21.
Reporter Hope Gadson of The State Journal-Register contributed to this report.
Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
Omaha (Neb.) Millard South offensive lineman Landen Von Seggern has committed to Illinois.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Von Seggern was in Champaign over the weekend. He chooses the Illini over the likes of Iowa, Kansas and Kansas State.
Von Seggern becomes commit No. 4 for head coach Bret Bielema and his staff. Offensive line coach Bart Miller was the lead recruiter and was on him hard since offering in September.
“The coaches, the feeling of having Coach Bielema as my head coach for my college career is a different feeling,” Von Seggern told On3. “Knowing that he has sent the most linemen to the NFL in college football, and that being my final goal gives me a huge push towards my decision.
“And I love the way Coach Miller coaches. The way that him and I were talking football, it felt like I was already on the team and we were getting ready for the next game.”
Von Seggern felt very comfortable with the culture at Illinois as well.
“From the religious aspect, I want to thank the Lord for helping me on making my decision,” he said. “I have known the team pastor since I was young.
“The best thing about Illini is how they represent family. Most schools have players just playing for themselves. But Illinois has players not declaring for the draft to come back and play with their team. And that has a big impact on me, having that feeling that I have the same chance to do that with my future teammates.
“I have found my family and I am here to stay!”
As a junior Seggern helped Millard South to a state championship. He’s tabbed by On3 as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Nebraska and the No. 46 interior offensive line in the country.
A look at what the Illini have in the fold already.
Illinois has added to its family with a 2026 commitment. Omaha (Neb.) Millard South offensive lineman Landen Von Seggern announced his commitment to the Illini on Wednesday.
The Nebraska native visited Illinois on Jan. 11 and couldn’t have been more impressed with the visit.
“It was great, the thing that stood out the most to me was the hospitality,” Von Seggern said.
“The coaches were talking to me and treating me as if I was already a part of the team and the atmosphere was crazy at the basketball game. They have a very nice fan base and that is what made me want to be a part of the famILLy!”
Von Seggern selected Illinois over the seven scholarship offers that he holds. He took visits to Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas. But being in Champaign gave him the feeling that its where he needs to play college football.
Another thing Illinois had going for it was his relationship with coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Bart Miller. Bielema’s history with offensive linemen speaks for itself but Von Seggern has built a quick rapport with the pair.
“The relationship has grown very well,” Von Seggern said. “Especially for me only being up there three times. It felt like they had been my coaches already. I’m just super excited to get to work with them.”
Now the lineman’s college decision is out of the way and he can enjoy his senior year with his friends and family without worrying about where he will commit.
“The thing I’m looking forward to most about being part of the Illini is the atmosphere and the relationships between the coaches and players,” Von Seggern said. ‘FamILLy is a big thing at Illinois but they don’t just say it, they act upon it and live by it!”
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 3:39PM
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PLANO, Ill. (WLS) — The first community to recognize Juneteenth as holiday in Illinois has canceled this year’s celebration.
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Plano, Illinois recognized Juneteenth as a holiday in February 2021. That same year, it became a state and federal holiday.
However, event organizers announced on social media that the 2025 Juneteenth celebrations were canceled.
The cancellation came due to “community engagement and negative feedback,” according to organizers.
Among the canceled events were the Martin Luther King Candlelight Bowling Fundraiser, Black History Month scholarship contest and the June Celebration at Emily G John’s School.
“My hope is that this is temporary but if the cancelation is determined that it needs to extend to 2026 then that would be the will and pleasure of the community,” organizers said.
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