DeKalb Times

 State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is encouraging students in his 70th District community to submit artwork for his upcoming Legislative Art Contest. 

“I am offering a Middle School Art Contest again this spring,” Keicher recently posted on Facebook. “Please visit my website for details and feel welcome to share with any middle school students in your family or community.”

The winner and two top runners-up will have their work featured at Keicher’s Sycamore district office in May. With the competition open to all middle school students, each entry must be original in concept, design and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. All artwork must be two-dimensional and no larger than 30 inches high, 30 inches wide and 4 inches deep.

“I appreciate the value of artistic expression and the role it plays in a child’s education,” Keicher said in a post to his website. “This Art Contest is one effort to show my support of the arts in our schools and to celebrate our talented students.

All entries must be postmarked or delivered to Keicher’s office by April 15.

Keicher has also been busy calling attention to the way COVID-19 concerns have impacted student learning across the state and how the new Illinois Tutoring Initiative within the NIU College of Education is now seeking to help.

“Northern Illinois University is teaming with the State of Illinois to provide tutoring that will support students whose learning has been impacted by COVID-19," Keicher said in a press release. "Tutors hired by NIU will focus on math and reading with children in 3rd through 8th grades."

With funding from the program coming from the nearly $8 billion in pandemic relief provided to the state, priority will be given to the school districts most impacted by the pandemic. Districts will then be responsible for identifying which students need tutoring assistance and in what area help is needed.

Illinois Central College is also slated to take part in the tutoring initiative in support of its more than 8,500 students.