The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 46

TrKRD EDITION OCAL News of our communities, our region and state A5 The Pantagraph Wednesday, February 12, 1997 Tri-Valley celebrates Fat Tuesday 31 i m. Olympia school chief to retire Struck joined Stanford district in '90 By JOHN BERRY Pantagraph staff STANFORD After more than' two decades in education, Olympia Superintendent Carol Struck will resign at the end of the school year to help run a bookstore she and her husband own in downtown Bloomington. "I have mixed emotions about leaving something I have done for 26 years," said Struck, who previously was an administrator in Unit 5 and a principal and teacher in District 87. "At the same time I'm excited about going into the business world full time." Board President Craig Alexander said Struck's decision, announced to the board around 11:30 p.m. Monday, was a surprise.

1 0fi I 'V-V. "After talking with her (Tuesday) we are glad, as a board, that the decision was personal and not professional," Alexander said. "We couldn't be happier with what Carol has done in her time here. She has a lot of honesty and integrity, which is important to The board will discuss the process for naming a replacement at a meeting next week. After the late-night announcement to the board, word of Struck's resignation slowly made its wav around local education circles.

7 '4b- Second-graders get a taste of Mardi Gras By MARGARET HAYES THEIS Pantagraph correspondent DOWNS Tuesday was Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, for second-graders at Tri-Valley Elementary School, and the bedlam, flamboyance and celebration mirrored that of New Orleans. Some girls wore regal costumes of long purple gowns and tiaras on their heads, while other students were dressed in a variety of costumes typical of the streets of New Orleans each year on the festive day. On a cord halfway to the ceiling, colored beads dangled like those tossed by costumed and masked riders from elaborately decorated floats along Carondolet Street on the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans. A large decorated bulletin board told stories of the history of Mardi Gras, brought to the United States by the French. It began in 1837, with King Rex and the Krewe of Comus and their love of the "bal masque" the day before Lent Other stories included King Cake recipes (taken from a Pantagraph Food section several years ago).

The students in Ruth Kraft's second-grade class joined second-graders in Marti Maginel's class for the gala event The two teachers team teach. When activities got under way, Lisa Fitzgerald of rural Bloomington, whose daughter, Bailey, is a second-grader, related to the students that Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, "a day you fatten up because tomorrow is the first day of Lent and fasting to make you a better person." The students sat glued to their chairs listening attentively while she told the tale of her exciting trips to the Mardi Gras parades when she lived in Louisiana. "When I was your age I lived in La Place, Louisiana, near New Orleans. On Fat Tuesday we traveled to New Orleans, arriving early to get a place in the front row in the street so we could catch beads and doubloons that were thrown by masked people dressed in fancy costumes on huge, decorated floats in the Mardi Gras parade." She explained that King Rex, who is always a prominent New Orleans businessman, is the king of all krewes, and on his float is a young lady from the current year's crop of debutantes chosen by a secret committee to be his queen. After the second-graders asked her numerous questions, Fitzgerald read a story to them titled "Mimi's First Mardi Gras," which could easily relate to her own first trip to the pre-Lenten galaxy of parades and excitement The students separated into groups of five, one of whom was a reporter, and had 20 questions to answer to see what they learned from their studies concerning Mardi Gras "What is the French word for Fat "When does the carnival season begin?" and so on.

If they answered cor- The PantagraphLLOYD YOUNG it. lh Struck spoke with district and school admin- Carol istrators Tuesday morning. She hired most of Struck them during her tenure, which began in 1990. "It was a huge surprise to me," Peggy Smith, Stanford Elementary principal, said Tuesday. "I came to Olympia because of Carol.

We are all better educators because of working with her." Struck said the recent expansion of the Bloomington machine repair and sales company, The Struck owned by her husband, Steve, made her rethink her role in education. She and her husband also own About Books, which they opened in 1994. "You don't give up a 26-year career lightly, but I feel good about the district and where it is and where it is headed," said Struck. Among the accomplishments is the start of a block-scheduling plan at Olympia High School. The block format is the culmination of several years of work by a staff built by Struck.

She also was at the helm of the district in 1991, when voters approved a $6.8 million improvement and expansion project at three of its schools. Although money is always on a superintendent's mind, Struck said the annual battle for state and local funding wasn't a factor in her decision. Recently the board also shelved two curriculum plans because of cost, but neither of those votes were factors in her decision. "I think people know me well enough that they know I am always ready for the next fight for the district" she said. Former co-worker Harold Dunham, Unit 5's business manager, said Struck is a good educator who will be missed.

She is among few women superintendents in the state, and only one of two in the Pantagraph circulation area. According to the State Board of Education, during the 1995-96 school year only 87 of 860 Illinois superintendents were women about 10 percent That though, is about triple the number of women superintendents when Struck arrived at Olympia seven years ago. Alexander said Struck brought statewide attention to Olympia through her education efforts. He hopes that translates into an easy search for a replacement The board president said members will have to get over the shock before starting that search. They begin that process at a 7 p.m.

Feb. 19 meeting to determine search criteria. You could hear the excitement of a celebration down the hall coming Tuesday afternoon from a classroom of second-graders who celebrated Mardi Gras at Tri-Valley Elementary School. The 40-some social studies students donned costumes, made masks and even devoured two King Cakes during the celebration. Above, students reached for gold chocolate coins tossed to them.

At right, Sabrina Owens took a big chomp out of her piece of the King Cake. rectly, they received a happy face. After that the students had a heyday with paper plates, feathers, straws, glitter, paste and a multitude of other materials to make their own version of a Mardi Gras mask. "How do you like it?" Ryan La Pier, a son of the Mike La Pier of rural Bloomington, asked as he held up his mask of red, white and blue feathers taped to a straw handle. When the clutter of paper and decorations was cleared away, the festivities ended with a treat of King Cake, which Peggy Stark of Downs has been making since she had a child in second grade four years ago, plus a surprise birthday cake celebrating Ruth Kraft's half-birthday and some juice.

Did they have a good time? "It was fun," they exclaimed. ji Illinois State student, 19, dies after hitting head .1 JiMSm mmm mm i ii fad $SfeH' By KEVIN SIMPSON Pantagraph staff An Illinois State University freshman died Monday night from head injuries suffered last week while playing around with friends outside a downtown Normal tavern. Sanjay K. Das, 19, of Naperville was dead at 10:40 p.m. after his family allowed doctors to disconnect the artificial life support that had kept him alive since Sunday, McLean County Coroner Dan Brady said.

The family's decision came only after it was determined Das' brain had stopped functioning. The general studies student had been among a group of friends who were waiting in line outside Rocky's, 103 E. Beaufort St, Friday night, said Capt Gary Speers of the Normal Police Department Speers said one of the people in the group inadvertantly struck Das in the mouth, knocking him off balance. Das was temporarily knocked unconscious after striking his head on the pavement, but he later managed to tell a police officer that the incident was accidental and a report wasn't necessary. He was transported to BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal, where it was determined his skull was fractured and there was internal bleeding.

Das' condition seemed to be improving until Sunday, when he suffered a seizure and full cardiac arrest, Brady said. Das was placed on artificial life support after all at- Sanjay Das' condition seemed to be improving until Sunday, when he suffered a seizure and full cardiac arrest, Brady said. Das was placed on artificial life support after all attempts to revive him failed. tempts to revive him failed. "Very tragically, complications developed as they do many times with injuries like this," Brady said.

An autopsy revealed the preliminary cause of death was extensive bleeding and swelling related to the brain injuries. A coroner's inquest will be scheduled to determine the manner of death, which is still under investigation. Normal police detectives were interviewing members of the group who were with Das, but have yet to declare his injuries accidental. "It looks simply to be a situation that was inadvertent," said Speers. "We are talking to people at the scene.

The information we receive will be forwarded to the state's attorney's office." The group was apparently waiting in line outside Rocky's, which allows people under the age of 21 into the establishment It isn't known if Das or his friends, whom police declined to identify, had been drinking alcohol before the accident The PantagraphSTEVE SMEDLEY McLean County Coroner Dan Brady, left, and Normal police department's Gary Speers spoke during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Mclean County Law Justice Center about the death of Illinois State University student Sanjay Das. Parking violators beware By Associated Press with Pantagraph staff Drivers who abuse handicapped parking privileges could face new fines of $100 and the loss of their license for 30 days under proposals unveiled Tuesday by Secretary of State George Ryan. The secretary of state's office is receiving a growing number of complaints about people who aren't disabled but use handicapped placards or license plates to avoid feeding parking meters or to save a few steps by parking in a reserved space, Ryan said. The distinctive blue placards have become easier to obtain in recent years, and Ryan's office said the-number issued has gone from about 119,000 in 1990 to about 370,000 through 1996. Ryan's proposal, introduced as Senate Bill 951, provides for: A $100 fine for anyone who illegally uses a placard or license plate to park for free in a metered space or a handicapped space.

An automatic 30-day driver's license suspension for either illegally using, altering, falsely applying for or purposely lending a placard or plate. A felony for anyone who uses, sells or makes fake placards or plates. State Rep. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, recently pushed a bill through the Illinois House that would allow police to ticket handicapped parking violators on private property, such as shopping malls and grocery stores. Under current law, police can only ticket on private property if the land owner has signed an agreement with police.

Brady's bill, which comes in response to complaints by Bloomington city officials, would eliminate the need for such a contract Mayoral candidates endorsed Housing Authority enjoys sound year financially endorse or the procedure for doing so. Not surprisingly, much of Tuesday's discussion focused on the race between her and the mayor. Terven said members were "overwhelmingly" in favor of Smart, describing him as "clearly the favorite." He cited the area's low unemployment, and the mayor's willingness to fast track projects to keep union members employed. "He's worked with us to move work forward so people would not be out of work," Terven said. "We don't go out and have pizza parties together, but if we have a problem I think he'll (Smart) pick up the phone and call us back," he added.

Members did not, Terven continued, oppose Markowitz because they feared she would be anti-growth. Terven said a lot of that is simply perception, adding no single person can control growth in the area. However, he said, "I don't know if she impressed upon us she will be as open as Mayor Smart has." Markowitz said she was grateful for the opportunity to speak to the groups, but added she wasn't surprised by their decision. "I don't think it will have any effect on my candidacy at all," she said. By KAREN HANSEN Assistant metro editor Two local labor organizations Tuesday opted for the status quo in their Twin City mayoral endorsements.

Incumbent mayors Jesse Smart of Bloomington and Kent Karraker of Normal received the endorsement of the Bloomington Normal Trades Labor Assembly and the Livingston McLean Counties Building Construction Trades Council. "We believe in what they're doing and we believe in the future they've got laid out for us," Rick Terven, president of the Building Construction Trades Council, said at a morning press conference at the Electricians Local 197 Hall in Bloomington. The trades council represents 24 construction unions, while the Trades Labor Assembly is comprised of 33 local AFL-CIO unions. They represent 8,000 to 10,000 McLean County residents. The endorsement followed meetings with the incumbents, as well as the two challengers, Alderwoman Judy Markowitz in Bloomington and Steve Harsh in Normal.

Last month, Markowitz told a group of retirees she had been rebuffed by local AFL-CIO representatives when she tried to discuss her candidacy. However, at that point, the organization hadn't decided whether to By IRENE COOPER Pantagraph staff The Bloomington Housing Authority's 1996 year-end financial statement reflects an organization conservative in its spending, according to BHA comptroller Gwinn Campbell. The BHA put $103,000 into its reserve fund last year, the BHA board learned at its meeting Tuesday. The amount replenishes the fund to 98 percent of the previous year's $105,000. The U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development requires housing authorities to keep their reserve funds, which act as a savings account for agency emergencies, at 40 percent of the previous year. The fund is made up of operating subsidies, insurance reserves and unused miscellaneous money. But Campbell feels the reserve fund is more than it should be. "I think it's (reserve fund) too high," the comptroller said. "We are too conservative in our spending." BHA Executive Director Kim Holman-Short said she does not see Campbell's observations as criticism.

Being conservative can be a positive thing, Holman-Short said. With reductions in federal subsidies hitting the BHA, being financially conservative can be an advantage, she explained. Holman-Short said the reserve funds may soon be used to make up for recent cuts in modernization funding. "I think we are in a good position," Holman-Short said. "The BHA is fiscally sound." In other business The board: Accepted a bid of $17,500 from Clark Engineering of Peoria to replace the elevators in Woodhill Towers.

According to Bill Myers, BHA modernization coordinator, the current elevator system is 28 years old and is malfunctioning. It does not have alarms, door sensors, and does not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Accepted a bid of $332,140 from Stelle Construction of Bloomington for modernization work on the John Kane homes. Four buildings at the complex will receive new facades and roofs. Approved hiring Goodwin and Associates, an Atlanta, consulting firm, for $7,620 to review management maintenance and modernization programs at the BHA..