June 20, 2011
Reading, from page 1
advising the development of
the All-America City Grade-Level Reading Award program,
encouraging cities to participate
in the competition and providing technical assistance in the
development and implementation of local plans to improve
grade-level reading. City officials will have the opportunity
to participate in audioconfer-ences and various peer learning
opportunities as they work with
school districts, United Way
and other community leaders on
their grade-level reading plans.
United Way Worldwide and
the U.S. Conference of Mayors
are also serving as partners in
the Grade-Level Reading Award
program.
The Importance of
Grade-Level Reading
A recent KIDS COUNT spe-
cial report by the Annie E. Casey
Foundation entitled, “Early
Warning! Why Reading by the
End of Third Grade Matters,”
highlights the academic achieve-
ment gaps that develop between
disadvantaged students and their
peers early in life. More than 80
percent of students from low-
income families do not read
proficiently by the end of third
grade, putting them at greater
risk of dropping out of high
school. Students who drop out
are in turn more likely to engage
in criminal activity, struggle to
find work and have very low
lifetime earnings. When youth
do not reach their full potential,
the impact is felt most acutely
in the cities and towns in which
they live.
Applying for the Grade-
Level Reading Award
To apply for the All-America
City Grade-Level Reading
Award, communities must sub-
mit a letter of intent to the
National Civic League by
October 14, with award applica-
tions due on March 12, 2012.
Finalists will be invited to send a
delegation to the National Civic
League’s annual conference in
June 2012 for the final round of
competition. The 2012 award
will recognize community mobi-
lization efforts, and the 2015
award will spotlight community
impact.
Applicants will be eligible to
receive technical assistance from
the YEF Institute in the devel-
opment of their city-level plans
throughout 2011 and the spring
NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY 7
of 2012. The YEF Institute will
provide follow-up assistance to
support successful plan imple-
mentation in communities with
strong grade-level reading plans
beginning in the summer of
2012.
Details: To learn more about
the All-America City Award,
visit www.allamericacityaward.
com. To learn more about the
Campaign for Grade-Level
Reading and download a toolkit
for launching a local grade-level
reading campaign, visit www.
gradelevelreading.net.
For more information about
how the YEF Institute can
assist your city in promoting
grade-level reading, visit www.
nlc.org/iyef or contact Tonja
Rucker at (202) 626-3004 or
rucker@nlc.org.
HD, from page 6
update and modernize the Social Security
system was also discussed.
After lengthy discussion, members
concluded that NLC’s policy should state
that the current Social Security system
should be maintained, efforts to privatize
it should be rejected and any changes that
are made to the retirement age or contri-
bution levels should be made gradually.
For example, the committee concluded
that the age of retirement and the cap on
salaries subject to withholding should be
raised, but no other changes seem neces-
sary.
“Any decision to reduce benefits or in
some way change the benefits structure
may result in placing additional burdens
on cities and towns, including additional
health care, day care and related services,”
commented Leta Mach, a Greenbelt,
Md., council member.
CLASSIFIEDS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Positions
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Capital
Area Metropolitan Planning. Central
Texas region seeks Assistant Director
of CAMPO, to assist the Director in
shaping the future needs of the five-
county Central Texas region which
includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays,
Travis and Williamson. CAMPO,
governed by Transportation Policy
Board, is comprised of 19 elected and
appointed officials. Apply on line by
July 6 at www.austincityjobs.org.
CITY MANAGER: The City
of Raton seeks candidates for
City Manager position. Chief
Administrative Officer managing
daily operations and supervising
department heads in city of approxi-
mately 6,800 residents in north-
eastern New Mexico. Minimum
education of Bachelor’s degree in
Public Administration or related
field. Residency required. Grant writ-
ing experience desired. Starting sal-
ary commensurate with experience.
Letter of Interest, resume and two ( 2)
Letters of Recommendation should
be sent to: Geneva Trujillo, City
Clerk, P.O. Box 910, Raton, NM
87740, and received by deadline:
5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2011. Call
575-445-9551 for a complete job
description or check ratonnm.gov.
Classified Rate Schedule
Rates: $12.00 per line for print and online issues. After three insertions (no copy changes), the fourth insertion is free. Insertions need not be consecutive, but may be
spread over three months or less.
Deadline: Week before first insertion.
Terms: Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising deemed unsuitable. Only open ads will be accepted.
Mail advertising copy to: Classified Advertising Sales Manager, Nation’s Cities Weekly, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. N. W., Washington, D.C. 20004.
FAX advertising copy to: Nation’s Cities Weekly at (202) 626-3043, to the attention of Laura Turner.
E-mail advertising copy to: Weekly@nlc.org to the attention of Laura Turner.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC WORKS: City of Killeen.
Salary: DOQ. Population: 127,921.
Open until Filled. City of Killeen
seeking a highly motivated, dynam-
ic and experienced leader for the
Executive Director of Public Works.
Responsible for planning, organiz-
ing, directing, and supervising the
Public Works Department, including
environmental, water, sewer, streets,
traffic control, engineering, solid
waste and other public works projects
and programs. Must be registered
as a Professional Engineer with the
State of Texas before date of hire.
To see a detailed job description
or to apply, go to www.ci.killeen.
tx.us. For further information please
contact: drivera@ci.killeen.tx.us. 101
N. College St., Killeen, TX 76540;
(254) 501-7687.
