HR1081

LRB094 19980 HSS 57397 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Elmer McPherson 
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on the occasion of his retirement; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 
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history/physical education from McKendree College in Lebanon 
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followed with his Master of Science degree in education 
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leadership from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; he 
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has completed his course work for his doctoral degree in 
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education/organization and leadership from the University of 
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Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. McPherson began his career in education in 
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1972 teaching in the public schools of Cairo, Illinois, where 
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he served as a Middle School Social Studies/Physical Education &
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 Health Teacher, Athletic Coach for Baseball/Basketball and 
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Track, Dean of Students, Athletic Director, Work-Study 
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Coordinator, and finally as Assistant Principal for Cairo High 
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School from 1981 to 1983; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He became the Extension Course Supervisor/Liaison 
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for three years in the Shawnee Community College in Ullin 
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before serving as the Principal at Cairo High School, and later 
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at Edison Middle School in Champaign; in 1992, he became 
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Principal of Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur before 
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moving to the administrative offices in 1993 as Director of 
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School/Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent; he was 
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appointed Superintendent in 2001; and

 
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    WHEREAS, For the past six years Mr. McPherson was 
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responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the school 
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district, as well as serving as a key figure in the Decatur 
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schools' shift to a more decentralized decision-making 
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structure; he was involved with the successful local tax 
 


 






HR1081
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LRB094 19980 HSS 57397 r




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referendum passed in February 2001, the first such success 
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since 1956; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Some of the highlights of his time as 
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superintendent in Decatur include the development of Hope 
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School, a K-8 building that is the first school in the district 
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to go to a balanced or year-round calendar; the Professional 
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Development Institute; the Phoenix Enrichment Center, an 
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alternative school, and Phoenix II, a center for teen moms; the 
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development of a strategic plan; and the organization of a 
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Superintendent Youth Council; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He is a member of the United Way Board, the Metro 
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Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the Joint Drop Out Task Force, the 
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Decatur Public Schools Foundation, Webster-Cantrell Hall, Boys 
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and Girls Club of Decatur, and numerous other civic and 
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professional organizations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He and his wife, Naomi, live in Decatur where 
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Naomi serves as Coordinator for Accelerated Schools with a home 
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base in Decatur; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Elmer McPherson on the occasion of his 
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retirement after 34 years in education; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Mr. McPherson as an expression of our esteem.