First look... the new Woodruff Career & Technical Center

Curious about what the former Woodruff High School (now the Woodruff Career & Technical Center) looks like? Well, be sure to catch the "Remarkable Times" program on CAPtions, on August 7th @ 5:00 p.m.

Remarkable Times is the Peoria Public Schools bi-monthly program, which focuses on issues and events in the school district.

This edition includes interviews with various principals: Cindy Clark of Richwoods; Brett Elliott of Peoria High School; Laura Rodgers of Mark Bills, who gives details on the District's new middle years and IB program; Renee Andrews of Trewyn, who discusses the ELITE addition, her staff (which includes 57 new teachers) and transitioning to a K-8 school; Diann Duke gives a first look at Woodruff and discusses the new electives; and Dr. LaToy Kennedy discusses Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) and the incentive program, which will be mandated District wide to insure that discipline policies and procedures will be consistent throughout the District.

Remarkable Times will be broadcast as part of CAPtions on Sunday, August 7 at 5 pm, Wednesday, August 10 at 7 pm & later at Midnight on Peoria Comcast Cable 22. Produced in partnership with PCCEO, Inc.

Congratulations Peoria District 150 has the sixth highest ranking middle school in Illinois

But is it really good news that District 150 has one of the highest-ranking middle schools (Washington Gifted Middle School), which has predominately white students; while also having the third and eighth-lowest-ranking middle schools (Trewyn and Lincoln, respectively) and the second-lowest-ranking elementary school (Tyng Primary School at the time it closed in 2009), all of which have predominately black students (the majority of the rest of the schools in District 150 are also predominately black).

While the news for the select few families at Washington Gifted is outstanding, the gross disparity that exists in the education of black children in Peoria does not escape me.

Click image to view column headers

Across all sections of the ISAT test, 100.0% of Washington Gifted School students met or exceeded standards, which is better than 99% of all schools in Illinois.

Some statistics (i.e., gross disparities):
District 150: 29% white; 62.4% black; 2 Asian; and 5.9%Hispanic.
Washington Gifted: 72.3% white; 12.6 % black; 14.3% Asian and .09% Hispanic.

While the comparison (district vs school) is not exactly apples to apples - the picture is clear.

Washington Gifted School 2010 School Report Card

Shooting up Peoria continues to be a favorite past time

Since the last tally: Peoria has had another homicide; 11 more reports of shots fired; numerous reports of armed robberies and stick-ups of citizens; and a report of a group of armed men dressed in black roaming Trewyn Avenue.

Once upon a time I believed that the only news was what I heard reported on the news, or read in the newspaper. However, after spending some time listening to the local police scanner, I know that stories DO GO UNREPORTED...

TWO STORIES PJS MISSED From Eye in the Sky
Armed robbery at Acatucci's restaurant

November 21, 2010
Agatucci’s Restaurant on university was robbed last night and the owner got into a gun fight with robber. Several shots fired. Robber was caught several blocks away.

Shooting on Dries Lane

November 21, 2010
Second story man was shot in leg by the bingo hall on Dries Lane.

Peoria man's head grazed by bullet
Posted Nov 20, 2010 @10:00 PM
The Peoria Police Department's special response team was called to a Central Peoria residence early Saturday after a man was grazed by a bullet.

Man shot in hands on Southwest Adams Street
Posted Nov 17, 2010 @ 09:19 PM
Police were investigating a shooting that occurred about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday near Harper Oil, 3203 SW Adams St.

Peoria grand jury indicts couple in shooting
Posted Nov 17, 2010 @ 07:42 PM
A South Peoria couple faces charges for their alleged involvement in a botched robbery that left a man shot in the side.

Man apprehended in Peoria shooting
Posted Nov 12, 2010 @ 06:43 PM
A South Peoria man was arrested Friday in connection with a shooting earlier in the day.

Man shot, killed in gas station fight
Updated Nov 11, 2010 @ 10:15 AM
A man released from prison almost a year ago allegedly shot and killed a Peoria man during a Tuesday night fight at a Circle K gas station.

Peoria man sought in gunplay/chase
Posted Nov 08, 2010 @ 06:40 PM
Police are looking for a man suspected of recent gunplay who also was arrested earlier this year on a murder charge but let go after a witness refused to testify before a grand jury.

Man shot, drives several blocks to call for aid
Posted Oct 27, 2010 @ 11:36 PM
Police said a man was in "critical but stable condition" after being shot about 9 p.m. Wednesday near West Millman and South Webster streets.

Man walking on Millman shot in his thigh, calf
Posted Oct 27, 2010 @ 09:46 PM
A 30-year-old man was shot in the leg Tuesday night after leaving his mother's house.

Police look into reports of group of armed men
Posted Oct 26, 2010 @ 09:12 PM
Police are investigating reports of a group of armed men walking at about 9 p.m. Monday in the 2700 block of West Trewyn Avenue.

Gunshots reported twice in same South Peoria area
Posted Oct 23, 2010 @ 11:04 PM
Gunshots were reported fired on consecutive nights in a two-block section of South Peoria. Police were called to the intersection of South Westmoreland Avenue and West Humboltd Street about 9 p.m. Thursday after witnesses reported hearing multiple rounds, according to a report.

Few details on shots fired from red Monte Carlo
Posted Oct 18, 2010 @ 11:22 PM
Details remained murky Monday about shots fired Sunday night outside a home at 2119 N. Underhill St.