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Commitment to Lincoln's Challenge program questioned

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Since 1993, the Lincoln's Challenge Academy based in Rantoul has given high school dropouts a second chance at getting an education and learning the self-discipline needed to be successful in life.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">But static funding and a crumbling infrastructure at the academy that needs significant repairs has two state lawmakers who represent Rantoul questioning state government's commitment to the program.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"The state has not made it a priority," said Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Gifford. "The facility is suffering from neglect, as has the program."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"If it is something necessary and vital for Chicago, somehow we always find (the money)," said Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, complaining about the difficulty securing funds for the program.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Problems at the facility have led to speculation the program could actually be abandoned. That's flatly denied by the Illinois National Guard, which runs the Lincoln's Challenge Academy.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"There's never been any intent to close that program," said Brig. Gen. Jay Sheedy, assistant adjutant general for the Illinois Air National Guard. "My gosh, that's one of the most successful programs we've got in the state."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The Lincoln's Challenge Academy offers a quasi-military environment to high school dropouts who want to turn their lives around and obtain an education. The program emphasizes academics, job skills, physical fitness, health and hygiene, life skills, leadership and community service. A participant must be aged 16-18 and not have a drug problem or any felony convictions.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The program starts with a two-week course that director Peter Thomas calls the "hard-core challenge."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"This is where they learn how to say yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am," Thomas said. "That's where they learn physical fitness."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">It's also where most of those who decide to drop out do so. The ones who stay with it then start a 22-week course, living at the facility in Rantoul. The program leases five buildings at the old Chanute Air Force Base, two from the village of Rantoul and three others from a private company.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The buildings leased from Rantoul include housing and food service for the cadets, as well as classroom space. The state pays $185,000 a year for the buildings, but is also responsible for utilities and maintenance. The condition of the buildings - constructed in the 1950s - is what's causing the current concerns.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">In April, both boilers serving the dormitory and dining hall failed. Among other things, it meant cadets in the program had to march to another building to shower.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"The weather was decent, not too hot or too cold," Sheedy said. "While it was a little uncomfortable, it was not an unsafe situation."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">One boiler was beyond repair. The other was fixed, but is unreliable. If it fails, there will be no heat in the dormitory or water to prepare meals. The current class will graduate in December, but another is scheduled to start in January.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"Cadets can't live with no heat in the middle of winter," Black said.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Under terms of the lease with Rantoul, the state is responsible for making repairs. Sheedy said there is $175,000 available to make permanent repairs to the boiler or replace it. The problem is the state doesn't know if that is enough money to do either job.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We have people going over next week to look at the options," Sheedy said.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Even if the boiler were to fail, he said, the building would not necessarily have to be abandoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The state would use a portable boiler to keep the program operating, although Sheedy said cadets could be sent home if student safety is an issue.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We're not any different than a school district," Sheedy said. "Things go off in a school, they have to send the kids home. If worse got to worse, of course we would do that."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">There are problems beyond the boiler, though. Floor tiles are missing, paint is peeling, roofs need repairs, carpeting is frayed, and energy-efficient windows should be installed.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We did a rough estimate, and we are talking about $2.9 million in improvements we are going to have to do," Sheedy said. "We are still trying to figure out how much we can do at one time."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The cost has the Guard rethinking the terms of the building leases, which expire in 2011.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"The rent was so small, to do the maintenance was a very, very good deal for us," Sheedy said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We're probably looking at that rather hard right now. It's not such a good deal anymore."</font>

<font face="Imperial">Both Frerichs and Black said they will do whatever they can to secure additional funds for the Lincoln's Challenge Academy.</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"These buildings need to be brought up to a higher standard," Black said. "I'm not even sure they meet building codes."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527 or doug.finke@sj-r.com.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The numbers (for breakout)</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fy04;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>FY05;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>FY06;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>FY07;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>FY08;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Total since program's start</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,948;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,565;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,510;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,626;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>714;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>25,023</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">REGISTERED FOR</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">INITIAL PHASE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,596;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,300;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>1,243;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>603;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>19,347</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">ENROLLED IN</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">CHALLENGE PHASE: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>985;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>841;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>837;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>795;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>459;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>12,260</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">CADETS GRADUATED<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>784;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>618;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>663;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>606;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>363;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>10,010</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Source: Lincoln's Challenge Academy. FY08 is for the first of two scheduled classes. The program began in 1993.</font>

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