Megan Aubuchon is a decade ahead of the national average in completing a key life goal: buying a home. It was a really cool opportunity to close out on a home, especially as a first-time buyer, said Aubuchon, 23, after she was able to buy a new home in north Springfield earlier in May.
The median age for first-time homebuyers is 33, according to the National Association of Realtors. Aubuchon, though younger than the typical homeowner, is one of many nationwide to take advantage of historically-low interest rates to purchase a home.
Local experts were conflicted, however, when they were asked if they would advise buying a home right now due to market uncertainties.
Rainy weather forced administrators, building project coordinators, school board members, students and former principals into Grant Middle School s gymnasium, making Tuesday s groundbreaking more symbolic in nature.
On the school s southeast end, fencing has gone up and the large piles of rocks and presence of heavy equipment gave principal Robb Schurman pause for excitement. This is just going to enhance the environment for the kids and the teachers and it s an investment in the school district, said Schurman, after the brief ceremony. That speaks volumes when you have up-to-date facilities and buildings.
The construction project at Grant, which comes in at a little under $5 million, will increase cafeteria space and add classroom space, a teachers lounge and other offices. The cafeteria will be more like an all-purpose space, Schurman said.
Jennifer Gill was a newly-minted principal assistant at Dubois Elementary School when she got a visit from just-elected District 186 board of education member Judith Johnson. Our friendship started there and it s continued to grow, Gill said. For 20 years, she s been walking alongside me in my work here in District 186.
Johnson was presented with several gifts, including a platinum pass to get her into all District 186 athletic events. Johnson is an avid sports fan, especially basketball.
Johnson s successor in Subdistrict 6, Erica Austin, took her oath of office, along with other newcomer Buffy Lael-Wolf from Subdistrict 5, Anthony Mares of Subdistrict 1 and Mike Zimmers of Subdistrict 4. All were elected in the April 6 consolidated election.
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Rachel Otwell s Rethinking reading (
IT Feb. 25) raises the need for phonics instruction, the process of learning letter sounds. I agree. Phonics hasn t been stressed for many years. I encountered the lack of phonics instruction in 1970 as a student at the University of Illinois. One of my classes required tutoring a student in reading. My student did not know pronunciations so I introduced phonics. He improved. In my required paper for the class, I shared the success. The professor gave me a C, with the comment, Well-written. But, we do not teach phonics. Stunned, I said, If a child needs phonics, then I think phonics should be taught. He just peered at me and repeated, We do not teach phonics. I continue to believe teaching phonics is important.