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Education affects just about everyone in East Central Illinois
By MICHAEL HOWIE
News-Gazette City Editor
Nothing touches so many lives in Champaign County as education.
Every day, thousands of children go to class at dozens
of buildings – many of them decades old – in East Central Illinois.
Property owners pay the largest share of their tax bill
every year to school districts.
Thousands of people make their living in area school districts.
There are districts of every size and shape, trying everything
from alternative schools to year-round sessions.
For some, the perception of a school district's quality
plays a major role in deciding where to live.
Both Champaign and Urbana districts were criticized toward
the end of the 20th century for the equity – or lack thereof –
in their classrooms. Both undertook major efforts in response. The jury's
still out on how well they're doing.
Two-thirds of the 20th century was history when Parkland
College was founded. Originally holding classes in buildings scattered in
downtown Champaign, Parkland has added buildings and now "scatters"
its students – with interactive classes from remote locations, space
in Rantoul and a business center just up Neil Street from its downtown origins.
Many see the role of community colleges as critical for
job training – and retraining. Parkland and Danville Area Community
College have made specific moves in that direction.
And then there's the University of Illinois. If it
sneezes, Champaign-Urbana catches a cold.
When the 21st century ends, chances are the UI will look
entirely different.
But then, Green Street was a muddy path at the turn of the 20th century.
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