February 11, 2002 11:15 PM
Brunsvold steers $325,000 more to Rock Island-Milan fitness center
By Leon Lagerstam, Dispatch/Argus Staff writer ROCK
ISLAND -- Before the Rock Island-Milan school board weighed making about $2 million in
possible budget cuts Monday night, they learned the district will get $325,000 from state
Rep. Joel Brunsvold to finish a high school fitness center.
Rep. Brunsvold, D-Milan, had arranged for the district to get
$556,075 in Illinois FIRST grant money last year. He persuaded House speaker Michael
Madigan, D-Chicago, to earmark an additional $325,000 this year to complete the project.
``It will bring the total contributed to $881,075,'' Rep.
Brunsvold said. ``For all intensive purposes, it will take care of the fitness center.''
Costs for it are running around $953,589, district comptroller
Michael Oberhaus said. The district already had pledged to pay $70,000 for a new roof, and
the district's development association will pick up remaining costs of $2,514.
The grant money can only be used for one-time projects, and could
not be used to help the district solve its current budget problems, Rep. Brunsvold said.
The district could have never built the fitness center without
the financial help, Superintendent David Markward said.
``It will help a number of kids through a number of years, and
our contribution will be modest compared to the overall scope of the project,'' he said.
Board president Elma ``Mooch'' Gay and board member Linda Dothard
earlier had opposed the fitness center because they didn't think any district money should
be used for it. Rock Island-Milan Education Association president Dan Miller opposed the
idea for similar reasons, voiced before the district knew it was going to face a projected
$3.5 million deficit next year.
Ms. Gay Monday profusely thanked Rep. Brunsvold on behalf of the
board. Rep. Brunsvold was called a long-time friend of education, and board members gave
him a standing ovation. High school principal Dawn Snyder also thanked Rep. Brunsvold on
behalf of all the students who will benefit from the center.
Rep. Brunsvold was a teacher and coach at Sherrard High School
from 1969 to 1983. He was first elected to the state House in 1982.
Budget cuts and Rep. Brunsvold's gift are two separate issues,
Mr. Markward said.
Rep. Brunsvold's generosity will cover 90 percent of the center's
construction costs, he said. The center should be finished by late spring.
The project allowed Rep. Brunsvold, a Rock Island High School
graduate, a chance to give something back to his alma mater. ``This is where I came
from,'' he said. ``If it weren't for Rock Island athletics, I probably wouldn't have gone
on to college or have this job.''
In other action, the board expelled a female high school student
for the remainder of the year for theft.
Staff writer Leon Lagerstam can be reached at 786-6441,
Ext. 298, or by e-mail at leon@qconline.com
Copyright 2002,
Moline Dispatch Publishing Co.
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