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A group was formed to study
the charter school concept more
in depth, including visiting such
schools in Chicago, St. Louis
and Indianapolis. The Peoria
Charter School Initiative was
then formed, with Barton as its
president, but finances were
going to be a problem. Starting
the school was going to have to
wait at least a year.
Then Caterpillar stepped for-
ward with a $500,000 match offer
and the group was able to raise
the rest of the funding needed
to launch the school, which is a
tuition-free college preparatory
school. It opened in 2010. “We
had to put it together in a hurry.
We painted all the walls, put the
furniture together, cleaned all the
blackboards and such,” he said.
“I think people are already
starting to see a difference. It’s
important that we have a solid
relationship with District 150 and
its administration, because the
Quest students go into District
150’s student tracking system and
we get Title 1 funding from the
district,” Barton said.
Barton said his own upbring-
ing is another reason Quest is im-
portant to him. “I have often used
the expression that my college
education was a springboard to
another world and set of oppor-
tunities. I probably would have
been stuck in Oregon County
(Missouri) forever, had I not gone
to the University of Missouri and
then interviewed for jobs with
companies such as Caterpillar.
That’s why I feel an education
is so important: it gives you a
chance to go from a ‘nobody’ to a
‘somebody’. A big difference, and
I want our kids at Quest to have
that chance,” he said.
Barton, now 72, said he plans
to stay busy in the community
and other aspects of business. He
serves on the boards of direc-
tors for a couple corporations,
including Valmont Industries and
Newmont Mining Corp. He also
is president of the Tri-County
Venture Capital Fund.
He said he wants to continue
to lead by example and energize
others. “I still have a very active
mind and a lot of energy and en-
thusiasm. I can satisfy my urges
to be involved and I enjoy doing
it. One can only play so many
rounds of golf,” he said.
The Bartons plan to remain
active for a long time to come.
“We think we can still provide
leadership and influence where
needed,” he said.
Peoria is where they plan to
stay. “We think of Peoria as our
home. Peoria is Polly’s home and
I’m more from Peoria than any
place else. It’s a good place to
live. We find it a very desirable
place to live. It’s quiet, peaceful.
The weather in spring, summer
and fall are about as nice as you
can have. January and February
are usually a different story, but
being retired we can go some-
place warm then,” he said. “But
we’ll always come back.”
Glen Barton speaks to media and civic leaders, including
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, during a
news conference at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center.