EFFINGHAM TOWN HALL MEDIA ALERT

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

March 23, 2009 Fuzz Hogan

312-467-5902/312-315-7221

Advance Illinois kicks off statewide school reform listening tour with Effingham town hall meeting

Presenters include Charles P. Rose, general counsel-designee for U.S. Department of Education, National Teacher of the Year Joe Fatheree

EDITOR’S NOTE: Advance interviews available

WHAT: Advance Illinois, the statewide education advocacy group co-chaired by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bill Daley, will kick off a statewide school reform listening tour with a March 26 town hall meeting in Effingham.

The event is co-sponsored by the Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the public from Effingham and neighboring community are invited.

The town hall meetings and other consultations throughout Illinois will help inform formal reform recommendations to be issued by Advance Illinois this summer ahead of the 2009-10 school year.

WHO: Scheduled speakers include:

Charles P. Rose, general counsel-designee, U.S. Department of Education

Robin Steans, executive director, Advance Illinois

Joe Fatheree, National Teacher of the Year, Effingham High School

Norma Lansing, Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce

WHEN: Thursday, March 26

5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thelma Keller Convention Center, Effingham