Education

Work will begin soon on a major renovation and addition at Moline High School. Tuesday afternoon a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Bartlett Performing Arts Center.

The frigid cold in the Quad Cities is causing Augustana College to reopen its residence halls one day earlier than usual after the school's winter break. Dorms will open Saturday at noon.

Black Hawk College's new leader is now on the job. Last month, the board of trustees hired Dr. John Erwin as interim president.

He'll serve in the position while the college looks for former President Bettie Truitt's permanent replacement.

At this point in the academic year, Erwin says Black Hawk's budget is balanced. But soon, he'll have to start working on next year's budget, and uncertainty about state funding will probably continue to be a problem.

Students may once again fill the halls of a vacant college campus in Clinton. On Tuesday, the county board approved incentives for a development group called Clinton Catalyst, which wants to host high school students from China at the former Ashford University. 

With help from alumni and students, a new plaque will be mounted on the wall in front of the Hall of Fame at United Township High School in East Moline.

The "UTHS Wall of Heroes" will list the names of men and women who died while serving in the US military, and who attended the school.

Once again the Bettendorf School District will measure the academic year based on hours instead of days. Monday night the board of education approved setting the length of the 2018-2019 school year at 1,080 hours.

Construction could start in the spring for a major addition to United Township High School in East Moline. Monday night, the board of education approved plans for the "Student Life Addition."