Friday, August 30, 2013
Dr. Bill Dam's Letter to Centegra Members and Former Members
Notice of Meeting
Dear Current (and recent) Member Centegra Health System Corporation, Each of us feels honored and takes seriously our role as a member of the “Community Governors.” Our task is to study, discuss and weigh in as how best Centegra can continue to address the health care needs of our greater community.
In recent years the annual meeting has turned into a social event at a luxury country club, rather than a forum to exchange ideas and discuss issues. With a majority of members signing away their vote to a hand-picked proxy, motions and seconds without discussion make the meeting somewhat pointless.
On September 25 a meeting has been scheduled at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn at 7pm. Among other issues to be discussed are administrative salaries, pending lawsuits, By-Law changes without membership notice or consent, the process for becoming a member, and the process for nominating candidates for the Board of In the meantime we ask that you do not sign away your vote. If unable to attend the Annual meeting in October please proxy your vote to a trusted fellow member
of the Corporation. A list of members and Proxy forms will be available at the September meeting. Several former Board members have already committed to attend.
Sincerely,
Dr. William C. Dam
Dear Current (and recent) Member Centegra Health System Corporation, Each of us feels honored and takes seriously our role as a member of the “Community Governors.” Our task is to study, discuss and weigh in as how best Centegra can continue to address the health care needs of our greater community.
In recent years the annual meeting has turned into a social event at a luxury country club, rather than a forum to exchange ideas and discuss issues. With a majority of members signing away their vote to a hand-picked proxy, motions and seconds without discussion make the meeting somewhat pointless.
On September 25 a meeting has been scheduled at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn at 7pm. Among other issues to be discussed are administrative salaries, pending lawsuits, By-Law changes without membership notice or consent, the process for becoming a member, and the process for nominating candidates for the Board of In the meantime we ask that you do not sign away your vote. If unable to attend the Annual meeting in October please proxy your vote to a trusted fellow member
of the Corporation. A list of members and Proxy forms will be available at the September meeting. Several former Board members have already committed to attend.
Sincerely,
Dr. William C. Dam
# posted by Cal Skinner : 10:56 AM
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Common Core Education Standards and Assessments Discussed at Hultgren Seminar
At Congressman Randy Hultgren's
“Common Core Summit” there were three people critiquing the new educational standards adopted by the Illinois State Board of
Education in 2010 and one in favor.
The outspoken proponent was conservative think tank Fordham
Institute Executive Vice President Mike Petrilli. He was paired with
Illinois Association of School Boards Deputy Execute Director Ben
Schwarm on the proponent side of the room, but Petrilli seemed pretty lonely
during most of the presentation.
In any event, Petrilli, who served in
the George W. Bush Administration, offered this challenge:
“I dare you to find one [standard]
that you disagree with.”
(Link to the English standards here. Link to the math standards here. On the right hand side of the page under “Standards” one can find four appendices, three for English and one for math.)
He said that Illinois' mid-1990's
standards were weak and the Common Core replacements were stronger.
He bemoaned math standards that had
high school graduates having to take remedial courses in junior college.
Bob Bowdon, Executive Director of
Choice Media, who directed the movie “The Cartel” about the
education industry in New Jersey, and Erin Raasch, founder of
StopCommonCause.org, composed the avowed opponents to Common Core.
While most attention has been paid to
the Standards, all seemed leary that the Assessment portion of the
program could end up causing unintended consequences.
Bowdon attacked the top down model,
arguing that “centralization” would limit competition when
innovation in education was flourishing in various states,e.g., 90%
of schools in New Orleans are charter schools.
“Why would you want national
standards?”
Raash attacked false advertising by
proponents.
She pointed particularly to the claim
that the Standards had been “Internationally benchmarked.”
She said the national web site had
taken down that claim.
When I looked at the ISBE web site, I
found the claim at the bottom of the page.
Raasch agreed on the threat to
competition.
“They're forgetting about market
forces. Common Core will destroy school choice.”
No one seemed to have an answer to
where adequate funds would be found to allow all students to take
Assessment tests simultaneously on computers.
Petrilli pointed out that three
approaches tried so far to improve education had not worked:
- Putting a lot of money in
- Certifying teachers
- Lowering classroom size
Dr. Suzie Morrison Deputy Illinois Superintendent of Education since 2007 gave a history of Common Core in Illinois, stressing that it resulted from state superintendents coming together and deciding that working together on new standards made more sense than each of them doing it separately.
She said the new standards are "fewer, clearer and expectations are higher."
Petrilli revealed that Illinois' old standards had been graded "D" for reading and math, while the new one for English got a "A-" and the new math standard received an "A-."
Bruno Behrend, Executive Director of For the Good of Illinois and a Senior Fellow for Education Policy at the Heartland Institute, moderated the affair.
A couple of hundred people attended the McHenry County College even. From the audience reaction, I concluded that the majority were questioning the new standards.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 9:53 PM
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Accountant Gets Over 5 Years for Bilking Client, Cheating IRS
A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office:
CHICAGO ACCOUNTANT SENTENCED TO 63
CHICAGO – A former Chicago accountant was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison for embezzling more than $4.3 million from trust accounts that he was supposed to be managing for the benefit of clients and also cheating the government of more than $1.7 million in federal taxes on the money he stole.
The defendant, ROBERT ROME, spent the money he stole to pay extravagant personal expenses, including cars, a boat, vacation homes in Florida, and jewelry for himself and his family. Rome, 66, of Chicago, was the managing partner of the former Rome Associates LLP accounting firm in downtown Chicago.
One of his largest clients was a family that owned a group of plumbing wholesale supply companies and he provided accounting and tax services to the family members and their businesses.
Rome had sole authority to sign checks, transfer funds, and sign tax returns for the trusts he managed. He used his unlimited access to embezzle money between 2003 and 2007 by writing checks payable to himself or his firm.
In addition to the trust funds, he stole money from a family investment partnership account and an account of the estate of a deceased family member.
Rome pleaded guilty to wire and tax fraud in September 2012. U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced him to 63 months in prison, telling Rome that his betrayal of the family’s trust made his crime worse than if he had invaded the victims’ homes and stolen their money.
Rome was ordered to begin serving his sentence on Oct. 30, and was ordered him to pay $1,786,053 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Rome filed false federal income tax returns between 2004 and 2006 and failed to file a return for 2007.
The judge also placed Rome on three years of supervision following his release from prison and barred him from working as an accountant or financial advisor.
There was no restitution ordered to the victim family members because they eventually recovered the stolen funds from third parties.
The sentence was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert G. Shields, Jr., Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago; and James C. Lee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey.
MONTHS IN FEDERAL
PRISON FOR STEALING $4.3 MILLION FROM CLIENTS AND CHEATING IRS
CHICAGO – A former Chicago accountant was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison for embezzling more than $4.3 million from trust accounts that he was supposed to be managing for the benefit of clients and also cheating the government of more than $1.7 million in federal taxes on the money he stole.
The defendant, ROBERT ROME, spent the money he stole to pay extravagant personal expenses, including cars, a boat, vacation homes in Florida, and jewelry for himself and his family. Rome, 66, of Chicago, was the managing partner of the former Rome Associates LLP accounting firm in downtown Chicago.
One of his largest clients was a family that owned a group of plumbing wholesale supply companies and he provided accounting and tax services to the family members and their businesses.
Rome had sole authority to sign checks, transfer funds, and sign tax returns for the trusts he managed. He used his unlimited access to embezzle money between 2003 and 2007 by writing checks payable to himself or his firm.
In addition to the trust funds, he stole money from a family investment partnership account and an account of the estate of a deceased family member.
Rome pleaded guilty to wire and tax fraud in September 2012. U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced him to 63 months in prison, telling Rome that his betrayal of the family’s trust made his crime worse than if he had invaded the victims’ homes and stolen their money.
Rome was ordered to begin serving his sentence on Oct. 30, and was ordered him to pay $1,786,053 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Rome filed false federal income tax returns between 2004 and 2006 and failed to file a return for 2007.
The judge also placed Rome on three years of supervision following his release from prison and barred him from working as an accountant or financial advisor.
There was no restitution ordered to the victim family members because they eventually recovered the stolen funds from third parties.
The sentence was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert G. Shields, Jr., Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago; and James C. Lee, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 3:45 PM
Diabetes Kidneymobile Coming to Crystal Lake
As you can see from the flyer below, the Kidneymobile will be coming to Crystal Lake on Friday, September 6h.
It will be located at First Institute, which is at the corner of McHenry Avenue and Golf Course.
Diabetes testing will be offered.
It will be located at First Institute, which is at the corner of McHenry Avenue and Golf Course.
Diabetes testing will be offered.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:17 PM
Feds Arrest Mobile Doctors on Medicare Fraud
A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office:
CHICAGO — The chief executive officer of Chicago-based Mobile Doctors, which manages physicians who make house calls in six states, and one of its physicians in Chicago were arrested today on federal health care fraud charges.
At the same time, federal agents executed search warrants at Mobile Doctors’ offices in Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis, as well as warrants to seize up to $2.568 million in alleged fraud proceeds from various bank accounts.
The charges allege a scheme to fraudulently increase (also known as “upcoding”) Medicare bills for in-home patient visits that Mobile Doctors falsely claimed were more complicated and longer than they actually were.
The charges also allege that Mobile Doctors’ physicians falsely certified that patients were confined to their homes, enabling home health care agencies to claim fees for additional services for patients who were not actually qualified to receive them.
Agents from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and other law enforcement agencies executed the arrest, search, and seizure warrants in connection with the charges and also a broader ongoing investigation that includes allegedly illegal billing practices for medically unnecessary tests and services not performed by a physician.
Arrested were
The physicians assign their rights to bill and collect payment to Mobile Doctors, in return for being paid directly by the company.
Mobile Doctors’ website claims that its associated physicians have made more than 500,000 house calls since its inception.
In addition to Chicago, the company has branches in Detroit and Flint, Mich., San Antonio and Austin, Tex., Indianapolis, Kansas City, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Ajiri was charged with health care fraud and Koroma was charged with making false statements relating to health care benefits in a criminal complaint that was filed yesterday and unsealed today after the arrests.
Both were scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Rowland in U.S. District Court.
The arrests and charges were announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert J. Shields, Jr., Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the HHS-OIG. The Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General is also participating in the investigation.
According to a 75-page affidavit in support of the arrest, search and seizure warrants, agents have interviewed several current and more than 25 former employees of Mobile Doctors, including some who reported allegedly fraudulent billing practices to Medicare before they were contacted by agents.
Investigators have also reviewed emails and documents, claims data, patient files, and have conducted interviews with patients of Mobile Doctors and their primary-care physicians, whose statements contradict Mobile Doctors’ billing and patient records.
Mobile Doctors physicians do not perform tests such as echocardiograms, but do order such tests, which are done on Mobile Doctors’ patients by employees of In Home Diagnostics, doing business as Ultrasound2You.
According to Medicare records, Ajiri is a minority partner in In Home Diagnostics, which is located in the same building as Mobile Doctors, and Mobile Doctors bills the echocardiograms so that they appear to have been done by Mobile Doctors’ physicians.
The complaint affidavit states that Ajiri signed a personal financial statement on Dec. 31, 2012, stating that he received $1.5 million in annual partnership income from a corporate entity, Mobile Doctors LLC, which has a complex ownership structure involving Ajiri and over time, one or both of his parents.
Between 2008 and January 2013, bank records show that approximately $4.365 million was transferred from Mobile Doctors to an account in the name of Ajiri and his wife.
Upcoding patient visits
According to interviews with former and current Mobile Doctors physicians, branch managers, clinical coordinators, employees and patients, a typical visit that a Mobile Doctors physician has with an established patient lasts 10 to 30 minutes and is routine in nature.
In contrast to those interviews, claims data shows that from 2006 through February 2013, approximately 99 percent of all established-patient visits by Mobile Doctors physicians were billed to Medicare using either of the two highest codes indicating the visits involved medical decision-making of moderate to high complexity, detailed or comprehensive interval histories or medical examinations, and/or visits that typically last at least 40 minutes.
In 2009 in Chicago, the local Medicare fee for a visit using the second-highest home visit code was approximately $122.82, while the fee for the highest code was approximately $171.25.
According to a review of claims data for Railroad Retirement Board patients, every single established-patient visit Mobile Doctors billed to Medicare between January 2007 and June 2008 used the highest fee code. Between January 2007 and November 2012, approximately 93 percent of such visits were billed using the highest fee code.
The former manager of Mobile Doctors’ Chicago branch until she was terminated in 2008 told agents that Ajiri told her that the second-highest fee code was the default code for a patient visit so that it would be worth the gas and time spent.
The manager said Ajiri told physicians, “I don’t pay for ones or twos,” referring to the two lower of the four applicable fee codes.
At the end of one day, she said she saw Ajiri in his office “automatically” altering the billing codes and marking visits at the highest fee level on patient records submitted by physicians and assistants who accompanied them on home visits.
A physician told agents that in late 2007, Ajiri did not respond to his concerns about Mobile Doctors’ billing practices and instead told the doctor that he could earn more money if he would order more tests such as electrocardiograms, according to the affidavit.
The complaint alleges that the vast majority of payments made on established-patient visit claims using the highest fee code were the result of fraudulent upcoding.
From 2006 through 2012, Mobile Doctors received approximately $21.4 million in payments on claims using the second-highest code, and approximately $12.6 million in Medicare payments on claims using the highest fee code.
Falsely certifying patients as confined to their homes
The charges further allege that Mobile Doctors physicians, including Koroma, falsely certified patients as confined to their homes and requiring home health services when they were not home-bound and did not require such care. By referring patients to home health agencies that did not warrant Medicare payments, Mobile Doctors received more referrals from those agencies for services provided by its physicians.
According to Medicare data, from August 2010 through July 2013, more than 200 home health agencies submitted Medicare claims for services allegedly rendered to patients for whom Koroma was identified as the referring physician. These home health agencies have been paid more than $10 million for services listing Koroma as the referring physician.
Between January 2006 and March 2013, Mobile Doctors physicians have certified or recertified for 60-day periods approximately 15,598 patients as confined to their homes and requiring home health services a total of approximately 83,133 times, many of which were allegedly false.
Approximately 6,057 of these certifications were attributed since August 2007 to Koroma, with Mobile Doctors billing Medicare for approximately 17,439 patient visits he made during that time, more than any other Mobile Doctors physician.
The health care fraud count against Ajiri carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and restitution is mandatory. The false statements count against Koroma carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Lee and Catherine Dick, assistant chief in the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Phoenix also have assisted in the investigation.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force began operating in Chicago in February 2011, and consists of agents from the FBI and HHS-OIG, working together with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Fraud Section. The strike force is are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Scores of defendants have been charged locally in health care fraud cases since the strike force began operating in Chicago.
To report health care fraud to learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
MOBILE DOCTORS’ CHICAGO CEO AND DOCTOR ARRESTED ON FEDERAL
HEALTH CARE FRAUD CHARGES; OFFICES SEARCHED IN THREE CITIES
CHICAGO — The chief executive officer of Chicago-based Mobile Doctors, which manages physicians who make house calls in six states, and one of its physicians in Chicago were arrested today on federal health care fraud charges.
At the same time, federal agents executed search warrants at Mobile Doctors’ offices in Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis, as well as warrants to seize up to $2.568 million in alleged fraud proceeds from various bank accounts.
The charges allege a scheme to fraudulently increase (also known as “upcoding”) Medicare bills for in-home patient visits that Mobile Doctors falsely claimed were more complicated and longer than they actually were.
The charges also allege that Mobile Doctors’ physicians falsely certified that patients were confined to their homes, enabling home health care agencies to claim fees for additional services for patients who were not actually qualified to receive them.
Agents from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and other law enforcement agencies executed the arrest, search, and seizure warrants in connection with the charges and also a broader ongoing investigation that includes allegedly illegal billing practices for medically unnecessary tests and services not performed by a physician.
Arrested were
- DIKE AJIRI, 42, of Wilmette, CEO of Mobile Doctors, which he has effectively owned since 1996, and
- BANIO KOROMA, 63, of Tinley Park, a physician who has worked for Mobile Doctors since approximately 2007.
The physicians assign their rights to bill and collect payment to Mobile Doctors, in return for being paid directly by the company.
Mobile Doctors’ website claims that its associated physicians have made more than 500,000 house calls since its inception.
In addition to Chicago, the company has branches in Detroit and Flint, Mich., San Antonio and Austin, Tex., Indianapolis, Kansas City, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Ajiri was charged with health care fraud and Koroma was charged with making false statements relating to health care benefits in a criminal complaint that was filed yesterday and unsealed today after the arrests.
Both were scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Rowland in U.S. District Court.
According to a 75-page affidavit in support of the arrest, search and seizure warrants, agents have interviewed several current and more than 25 former employees of Mobile Doctors, including some who reported allegedly fraudulent billing practices to Medicare before they were contacted by agents.
Investigators have also reviewed emails and documents, claims data, patient files, and have conducted interviews with patients of Mobile Doctors and their primary-care physicians, whose statements contradict Mobile Doctors’ billing and patient records.
Mobile Doctors physicians do not perform tests such as echocardiograms, but do order such tests, which are done on Mobile Doctors’ patients by employees of In Home Diagnostics, doing business as Ultrasound2You.
According to Medicare records, Ajiri is a minority partner in In Home Diagnostics, which is located in the same building as Mobile Doctors, and Mobile Doctors bills the echocardiograms so that they appear to have been done by Mobile Doctors’ physicians.
The complaint affidavit states that Ajiri signed a personal financial statement on Dec. 31, 2012, stating that he received $1.5 million in annual partnership income from a corporate entity, Mobile Doctors LLC, which has a complex ownership structure involving Ajiri and over time, one or both of his parents.
Between 2008 and January 2013, bank records show that approximately $4.365 million was transferred from Mobile Doctors to an account in the name of Ajiri and his wife.
Upcoding patient visits
According to interviews with former and current Mobile Doctors physicians, branch managers, clinical coordinators, employees and patients, a typical visit that a Mobile Doctors physician has with an established patient lasts 10 to 30 minutes and is routine in nature.
In contrast to those interviews, claims data shows that from 2006 through February 2013, approximately 99 percent of all established-patient visits by Mobile Doctors physicians were billed to Medicare using either of the two highest codes indicating the visits involved medical decision-making of moderate to high complexity, detailed or comprehensive interval histories or medical examinations, and/or visits that typically last at least 40 minutes.
In 2009 in Chicago, the local Medicare fee for a visit using the second-highest home visit code was approximately $122.82, while the fee for the highest code was approximately $171.25.
According to a review of claims data for Railroad Retirement Board patients, every single established-patient visit Mobile Doctors billed to Medicare between January 2007 and June 2008 used the highest fee code. Between January 2007 and November 2012, approximately 93 percent of such visits were billed using the highest fee code.
The former manager of Mobile Doctors’ Chicago branch until she was terminated in 2008 told agents that Ajiri told her that the second-highest fee code was the default code for a patient visit so that it would be worth the gas and time spent.
The manager said Ajiri told physicians, “I don’t pay for ones or twos,” referring to the two lower of the four applicable fee codes.
At the end of one day, she said she saw Ajiri in his office “automatically” altering the billing codes and marking visits at the highest fee level on patient records submitted by physicians and assistants who accompanied them on home visits.
A physician told agents that in late 2007, Ajiri did not respond to his concerns about Mobile Doctors’ billing practices and instead told the doctor that he could earn more money if he would order more tests such as electrocardiograms, according to the affidavit.
The complaint alleges that the vast majority of payments made on established-patient visit claims using the highest fee code were the result of fraudulent upcoding.
From 2006 through 2012, Mobile Doctors received approximately $21.4 million in payments on claims using the second-highest code, and approximately $12.6 million in Medicare payments on claims using the highest fee code.
Falsely certifying patients as confined to their homes
The charges further allege that Mobile Doctors physicians, including Koroma, falsely certified patients as confined to their homes and requiring home health services when they were not home-bound and did not require such care. By referring patients to home health agencies that did not warrant Medicare payments, Mobile Doctors received more referrals from those agencies for services provided by its physicians.
According to Medicare data, from August 2010 through July 2013, more than 200 home health agencies submitted Medicare claims for services allegedly rendered to patients for whom Koroma was identified as the referring physician. These home health agencies have been paid more than $10 million for services listing Koroma as the referring physician.
Between January 2006 and March 2013, Mobile Doctors physicians have certified or recertified for 60-day periods approximately 15,598 patients as confined to their homes and requiring home health services a total of approximately 83,133 times, many of which were allegedly false.
Approximately 6,057 of these certifications were attributed since August 2007 to Koroma, with Mobile Doctors billing Medicare for approximately 17,439 patient visits he made during that time, more than any other Mobile Doctors physician.
The health care fraud count against Ajiri carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and restitution is mandatory. The false statements count against Koroma carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Lee and Catherine Dick, assistant chief in the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Phoenix also have assisted in the investigation.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force began operating in Chicago in February 2011, and consists of agents from the FBI and HHS-OIG, working together with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Fraud Section. The strike force is are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Scores of defendants have been charged locally in health care fraud cases since the strike force began operating in Chicago.
To report health care fraud to learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 9:20 AM
Hultgren Brings in Washington & Springfield Advocates of Common Core Standards to Debate Conservative Opponents
A press release from Congressman Randy Hultgren:
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) will host a Common Core Summit tomorrow, August 28, to discuss the Common Core Standards (CCS), federal education curriculum guidelines that focus on English and math competencies for college preparedness.
“Parents and educators are rightly concerned about the state of American education as students fall further behind the world in knowledge and competitiveness,” said Rep. Hultgren.
“Before it is implemented in our own state, we need to have an open and transparent conversation about the Common Core and the role of the federal government in our education system.
"This summit will bring together parents, educators, administrators and thought-leaders for a robust discussion.”
The Common Core State Standards Initiative began in spring of 2009 and currently 46 states have agreed to adopt the standards.
It is scheduled to be fully implemented in Illinois school districts by the 2014-2015 school year.
Rep. Hultgren is co-chair of the House National Labs and Science Caucus where he actively supports raising the bar for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to meet the knowledge and skills demands for the future.
WHAT: Common Core Education Summit
WHO:
WHERE: McHenry County College, Luecht Conference Center, Building B, Room 171, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
Hultgren to Host Common Core Education Summit Educators & Community Leaders to Discuss National Standards on Wednesday at McHenry County College
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) will host a Common Core Summit tomorrow, August 28, to discuss the Common Core Standards (CCS), federal education curriculum guidelines that focus on English and math competencies for college preparedness.
“Before it is implemented in our own state, we need to have an open and transparent conversation about the Common Core and the role of the federal government in our education system."This summit will bring together parents, educators, administrators and thought-leaders for a robust discussion.”
The Common Core State Standards Initiative began in spring of 2009 and currently 46 states have agreed to adopt the standards.
It is scheduled to be fully implemented in Illinois school districts by the 2014-2015 school year.
Rep. Hultgren is co-chair of the House National Labs and Science Caucus where he actively supports raising the bar for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to meet the knowledge and skills demands for the future.
WHAT: Common Core Education Summit
WHO:
- Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
- Bruno Behrend, Executive Director, For the Good of Illinois and Senior Fellow for Education Policy, The Heartland Institute
- Dr. Susie Morrison, Deputy Superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education and Chief Education Officer
- Michael J. Petrilli, Executive Vice President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Erin Raasch, Founder, StopCommonCoreIllinois.org
- Ben Schwarm, Deputy Executive Director, Illinois Association of School Boards
- Bob Bowdon, Executive Director of ChoiceMedia.TV, an education reform news service and Director, The Cartel
WHERE: McHenry County College, Luecht Conference Center, Building B, Room 171, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:15 AM
Monday, August 26, 2013
Different Approaches to Computer Security Breaches - Advocate Meidcal Group and McHenry County College
Along with a couple of million other Chicago area residents, I received a letter from Advocate Medical Group's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin McCune today.
Not being a recent student or employee of McHenry County College, I had to rely on others to obtain its letter.
Both institutions lost control of Social Security numbers and other identifying information.
Advocate's came from the theft of four computers from its Park Ridge office.
MCC's occurred with computer software vender Ellucian mistakenly sent data to three still unnamed Illinois junior colleges.
Below you can see in the third paragraph that Advocate is offering a one-year membership in Experian's ProtectMyID Alert to anyone who decides to sign up.
Signing up gets one
McHenry County College, on the other hand, suggests contacting
Not being a recent student or employee of McHenry County College, I had to rely on others to obtain its letter.
Both institutions lost control of Social Security numbers and other identifying information.
Advocate's came from the theft of four computers from its Park Ridge office.
MCC's occurred with computer software vender Ellucian mistakenly sent data to three still unnamed Illinois junior colleges.
Below you can see in the third paragraph that Advocate is offering a one-year membership in Experian's ProtectMyID Alert to anyone who decides to sign up.
Signing up gets one
- a free credit report
- daily monitoring of three credit bureaus
- identity theft resolution by a "US-based...agent"
- "Full access to the same personalized assistance from a highly-trained Fraud Resolution Agent even after your initial ProtectMyID membership expires
- $1 million Identity Theft Insurance...that can help you recover certain costs including lost wages, private investigator fees and unauthorized electronic fund transfers
- "the Federal Trade Commission and/or
- "a consumer credit reporting company to obtain information about fraud alerts and security freezes"
# posted by Cal Skinner : 11:24 AM
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The People at Lou Bianchi's Fund Raiser
Last Thursday night's fund raiser for McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi was the biggest I've seen in a long time.
The Boulder Hill Country Club was packed.
And, this for a man not up for re-election for three more years.
Two judges were there whom I recognized, Michael Caldwell and Michael Feetterer.
Feetterer is serving as an appointed Circuit Court Judge and will be on the ballot in the Republican Primary Election next spring seeking a six-year term.
The effervescent County Coroner Dr. Anne Majewski, elected last year virtually by consensus without needing to reach the $3,000 threshold that would require campaign fund raising and expense reporting was accompanied by her mother, former McHenry County Board member Lou Anne Majewski.
There were two visiting State's Attorneys, Michelle Courier of Boone
County and Michael Neirheim of Lake County.
Courier headed the Criminal Division in McHenry County State's Attorney's Office before winning election as Boone County's State's Attorney.
I had a chance to introduce Chuck Ruth, who has been a leading supporter of the Challenger Learning Center in Woodstock to Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman Andrew Gasser, who runs a group called Tea Party in Space.
I didn't get a picture of them conversing, but I did catch Gasser talking to State Representative Mike Tryon.
Two countywide candidates were pressing the flesh.
One, Harvard's Glenda Miller, is running to replace her boss Bill LeFew as McHenry County Treasurer.
The other was Cary resident Bill Prim, Bianchi endorsed him for Sheriff in his speech to his supporters.
There were some County Board members in attendance.
I saw County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill, Sandy Salgado and John Jung.
Besides Tryon, State Rep. David McSweeney made an appearance.
I don't know a lot of municipal officials, but I did notice Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen talking to Johnsburg Republican Precinct Committeeman and School Board member Steve Rooney.
Undoubtedly I missed a lot of public officials, but I was off to the McHenry County Board meeting where I hoped the Trustees would vote to keep our real estate taxes flat. (And, they did with the three new members, Chris Jenner, Molly Walsh and Tom Wilbeck being joined by the man they elected Board President, Ron Parrish.)
The Boulder Hill Country Club was packed.
And, this for a man not up for re-election for three more years.
Two judges were there whom I recognized, Michael Caldwell and Michael Feetterer.
Feetterer is serving as an appointed Circuit Court Judge and will be on the ballot in the Republican Primary Election next spring seeking a six-year term.
There were two visiting State's Attorneys, Michelle Courier of Boone
County and Michael Neirheim of Lake County.Courier headed the Criminal Division in McHenry County State's Attorney's Office before winning election as Boone County's State's Attorney.
I had a chance to introduce Chuck Ruth, who has been a leading supporter of the Challenger Learning Center in Woodstock to Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman Andrew Gasser, who runs a group called Tea Party in Space.
I didn't get a picture of them conversing, but I did catch Gasser talking to State Representative Mike Tryon.
One, Harvard's Glenda Miller, is running to replace her boss Bill LeFew as McHenry County Treasurer.
The other was Cary resident Bill Prim, Bianchi endorsed him for Sheriff in his speech to his supporters.
There were some County Board members in attendance.
I saw County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill, Sandy Salgado and John Jung.
I don't know a lot of municipal officials, but I did notice Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen talking to Johnsburg Republican Precinct Committeeman and School Board member Steve Rooney.
Undoubtedly I missed a lot of public officials, but I was off to the McHenry County Board meeting where I hoped the Trustees would vote to keep our real estate taxes flat. (And, they did with the three new members, Chris Jenner, Molly Walsh and Tom Wilbeck being joined by the man they elected Board President, Ron Parrish.)
# posted by Cal Skinner : 3:24 PM
Lou Bianchi's Fund Raiser Speech - Part 3 - Endorsement of Bill Prim for Sheriff
This is the final portion of the speech that McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi gave at his fund raiser last Thursday night.
I would like to conclude tonight with some exciting news about a new partnership in Mchenry County…a partnership with the prosecutor.
I have met, and gotten to know as many of you have a professional and ethical career law enforcement officer.
He is an honest and good person.
He is someone that shares our values.
He is a retired commander from the Des Plaines Police Department.
And he has promised to partner with the prosecutor and to join forces with us to keep McHenry County a safe and a peaceful place to raise a family.
Tonight I want to formally and publically announce my full support for Bill Prim for McHenry County Sheriff.
I am urging all of you to give him support and to vote for him at the next primary election on March 18, next year.
I need you to help me and Bill Prim bring about this new Partnership.
Please let me introduce to you, with great pride and respect the person who I want you to elect as our next Sheriff and my I talked about some of our accomplishments introduced our team that made them happen and talked about our new partnership.
I would now like to leave you with a quote from our late Senator Robert F. Kennedy …..a one sentence quote:
A quote that really speaks very powerfully to Me:
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference on our lives.”…Thank you all here tonight for making a difference in my life…thank you all from making that difference.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:23 PM
Lou Bianchi's Fund Raiser Speech - Part 2 - Reasons for Success
Yesterday McHenry County Blog printed McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's goals and accomplishments, as set forth in last Thursday's fund raiser speech.
Today we let you know to what he attributes his office's success:
Today we let you know to what he attributes his office's success:
NOW I want to talk about the reason for our Successes………..More tomorrow.
It is because we have an outstanding group of attorneys. They have achieved a degree of excellence beyond that of their peers.
And they are supported by
I wish I had the time to introduce each member of our office individually and tell you about their unique talents and specific accomplishments. Alternatively, as I have done in the past, I want all our attorneys, our administrative assistants, our investigators and our victim witness advocates that are here tonight to please stand up.
- hard working administrative assistants
- superior investigators and
- dedicated victim witness advocates
Will you please join me in acknowledging this outstanding team of workers?
# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:18 PM
Lou Bianchi's Fund Raiser Speech - Part 1 - Goals & Accomplishments
Yesterday, McHenry County Blog relayed the beginning of the speech McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi gave at his fund raising event last Thursday.
That was the part where Bianchi usually tells a joke.
This year it was a marvelous deception.
His talk continues below:
That was the part where Bianchi usually tells a joke.
This year it was a marvelous deception.
His talk continues below:
Let me repeat what I told the group that gathered on the night of the election, last November 6.
I want to tell you what I told them and this is what I said that after 8 years in office, all I had to say was…eight
Tonight I will talk about three things
As for our continuing work
- first: I would like to update you on our continuing efforts to surpass and expand on our prior goals and accomplishments
- secondly, I will tell you the secret of our success and
- thirdly, and I will finish with some specifics about a special McHenry county partnership.
These are just some of the few of the accomplished goals of our State’s Attorney’s office
- Let me start with our criminal division with 24 attorneys. They have been tough on crime and they have put the right people in jail. Take a look at the flyers that are available at your tables. This is just a partial list of some of the charges and sentences for some of our more serious crimes. We are putting the bad guys away
- Our civil division with 8 attorneys advises all the elected and appointed county officials. Believe it or not, in the past eight years. They have issued over 5000 legal opinions.
- Our Check Enforcement Program continues to be a success. It has returned to date over $300,000.00 to local businesses.
- We have collected over $600,000.00 in monies owed the county for overdue fines, court costs and fees.
- In the past I have spoken about the value of expanding the use of special courts. Remember how we started with the Mental Health Court and just a few weeks ago we had our 9th with 8 graduates with a total of 56 graduates of the program. NOW these specialized courts include not only the mental health court but also Drug Court and a Domestic Violence court. We have been working hard on implementing these courts.
- And we are especially proud of our First Offender Program which gives first offenders an opportunity for a fresh start and this year we believe we may even saved a life. Some of the members of our citizen screening panel are here tonight. I am sure they would agree with me that not only can we change lives we can save.
The reason for Bianchi's office's successes tomorrow.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 1:12 PM
Lou Bianchi's Big Decision
This is how McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi began his speech to his fund raising dinner at Lake in the Hill's Boulder Hill Country Club last Thursday:
I have an important announcement to make tonight.The substance of Bianchi's speech will follow in three parts.
For the last few weeks, I have been struggling with an important issue.
I knew without question that it was of utmost importance to share my thoughts with my wife, Jean.
And I did.
I also sought the counsel of my family and a few close friends and of course my campaign manager Nancy Prioletti.
I took some time to reflect on their advice.
This was not an easy decision for me to make, but I know in my heart it is the right thing to do.
I also know that each and every one of you here tonight will be affected by this decision.
And so I want to share with you all here tonight that I have decided and this decision is irrevocable I have decided that I will not…
I will not make any attempt to do humor tonight.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 12:46 PM
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Two Candidates for Governor Come to Nunda Township Republican Picnic
Nunda Township continues to have the most active Republican Party township organization in McHenry County.Saturday's annual picnic drew two candidates for Governor--Bruce Rauner and Dan Rutherford.
Kirk Dillard ran into transportation problems and Brian Marchese spoke for him.
Rauner test marketed his term limits for state officials--"eight years and you're out." There was not the applause that one might have expected considering that 70-80% of the public answer polls saying they support the concept.
He said he had convinced a national term limits organization to get involved.Rutherford stress that to win Republicans had to get 20% of the vote in Chicago. He told the crowd that he received 22% when he ran successfully for State Treasurer.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross drove up Route 47 from Kendall County and worked the crowd. He was not going to speak until State Rep. Mike Tryon goaded him into it. ("You said if I spoke, you would.")
He had to leave early to take his son to Hillsdale College.
His son Hank couldn't wait to start his college experience, but his father had the usual parental trepidations.
Opponent Andy Zinke was a no show.
Nunda Township Republican Chairman Mark Daniel said he "had a conflict."
McHenry County Deputy County Treasurer Glenda Miller told the audience that she knew the job.
Two District 3 McHenry County Board members up for election next year were present.
They were Joe Gottemoller and Mary McClellan.
Also in attendance were District 3's Nick Provenzano and Mike Walkup.
Although Nunda Township is not in her District 2, Donna Kurtz, who is scheduled to be on the ballot with Jim Heisler next year, was at the picnic.
There were also current county officials, including
- McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi
- McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren
- McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski
- McHenry County Circuit Judge Mike Chmiel
- McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill
- McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer
- Mike Tryon
- Barb Wheeler
- David McSweeney
One of the other wives criticized Madigan for something.
Madigan's reply is reported to have been,
"You're about issues. I'm about control."
"You don't know how lucky you are until you leave something."
On a side note, I asked you what she thought the Illinois General Assembly had done right and she answered, "Fracking."
I expressed my concern for the water that was needed for the process and she agreed that was an unknown, but pointed out that Illinois had the strictest law of any state.
She said projections were that 47,000 jobs would be created and she thought it would bring down unemployment statewide.
I told her I was optimistic about a significant employment increase in Southern Illinois, but saw little effect in northern Illinois.
Wheeler pointed out that sand necessary for the fracking process will most likely come from near I-80.
McSweeney's breathed so much fire in his speech that I heard one person say that he should be the GOP's candidate for Governor.
Two Nunda Township officials attended
- Supervisor Lee Jennings
- Road Commissioner Mike Lesperance
Crystal Lake City Councilman Ralph Dawson and his wife were there, too.
The only educational board member at the picnic was newly-elected McHenry County College Board member Tom Wilbeck.
I probably have missed some folks who hold office. Please let readers know in the comment section.
Newly-elected Illinois Republican State Chairman Jack Dorgan made what was probably his first appearance in McHenry County and our State Central Committeeman Gene Dawson, who is Barrington Township Supervisor made his presence visible still again.
In his second role, McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon was another party official at Veterans Acres.
Featured were the Republican Precinct Committeemen from Nunda Township.
There was a banner that recognized those who contributed to the event.
Mary Alger had a table promoting this week's seminar on Common Core educational standards being sponsored by Congressman Randy Hultgren.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 2:45 PM
