SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt is joining the Illinois State Board of Education in inviting residents to nominate a local school board member for the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding member of an Illinois school board.

“I served four years on a local school board and know firsthand how important their duties are,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “School board members put care and quality into their districts to enhance the value of our students’ education. If you know a board member who has continued to make a positive impact on their school district, I urge you to nominate them for this respected award.”

The Thomas Lay Burroughs Award was created in 1991 in memory of late ISBE Chairman Tom Burroughs and is presented each November at a conference hosted jointly by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

SWANSEA — With strong support from State Senator Christopher Belt, three organizations in the 57^th Senate District are set to receive more than $212,000 in funding through library and literacy grant programs.

“This funding has allowed libraries and literacy programs all over the state provide the best services possible,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Libraries are full of opportunity for all ages, so it’s essential we continue to support them in whatever ways we can.”

The programs are administered through the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who has awarded nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state. The following organizations in the 57^th District will receive funding:

• Mascoutah Public Library - $34,840
• Southwestern Illinois College - $84,384
• MindsEye Radio - $93,626

SWANSEA – To enhance much-needed transportation improvements across the state, State Senator Christopher Belt joined the Illinois Department of Transportation in announcing nearly $9.5 million for 20 organizations to support their planning and developing efforts, including $600,000 for Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District. 

“There is a lot of behind-the-scenes research that occurs before breaking ground on transportation projects,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “With Southwestern Illinois continuing to grow economically, the amount of transportation research projects do too, and I’m all for investing in these studies around the region that are bound to benefit our region in the long run.”

Administered by IDOT using $7.5 million in federal funds, with matching funds of $1.25 million from the state and $741,000 from local governments, the grants are designed to advance the objectives of the agency’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. Among the criteria considered were projects that implement asset-management strategies and performance-based planning and programming, as well as activities that grow and support economically distressed areas.

SWANSEA — State Senator Christopher Belt joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in announcing $1.5 million in funding for the Job Training and Economic Development Teacher Apprenticeship Program, including nearly $500,000 for McKendree University.

“Teachers and paraprofessionals are what make schools valuable, and our students cannot afford to see more declines in the profession,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The JTED Teacher Apprenticeship Program is an amazing approach to recruit future educators. Not only will it help individuals in their professional life, it gives students qualified and reliable educators, too.”

The JTED Teacher Apprenticeship Program is creating pilot programs throughout the state to upscale currently employed paraprofessional educators. Educator preparation providers will lead these pilot programs with partnerships from local education and workforce agencies. McKendree University, located in Belt’s district, is set to receive $499,900 for the program.