District 87 -- Could it happen here?

[forthekids]

I just found out about this issue facing the Glenbard Schhool District. I had no idea that they were facing this issue and think it is important for us to realize that if we do not support education through referendum, we may someday be facing this issue. These kids are getting the bare minimum to graduate, but not enough to qualify for many college entrance requirements. When we don't support these referendums, the kids suffer!

Frequently asked questions about restoring Glenbards 7-course school day
Q: What is the objective of the March 21 referendum?
A: To restore the 7-course school day. Students in Glenbards four high schools
could have another 50 minutes of instruction each day starting next fall and continuing into the future.
Q: How does Glenbards schedule compare to that of other high schools?
A: Glenbard is the only DuPage high school district to limit the education of its
students to six classes a day.
Q: Why are Glenbard students limited to taking only 6 classes per day?
A: There are insufficient funds to offer 7 classes per day. Additional revenue is
needed to offer students another class every day. The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and has said providing the 7-course day is a priority.
Q: What will I see on the ballot when I go to vote?
A: Glenbard District 87 is asking the community to approve issuing up to $32 million
in bonds. The money would be used to pay off current bonds, thereby freeing up $2.3 million each year to staff the 7-course day. The following is the actual ballot wording:
Shall the Board of Education of Glenbard Township High School District Number 87, DuPage County, Illinois, be authorized to issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $32,000,000 for the purpose of paying its outstanding general obligation alternate bonds heretofore issued for the purposes of paying the cost of improving the sites of, building and equipping additions to or altering, repairing and equipping school buildings of said School District or issued to refund general obligation alternate bonds issued for any of such purposes?
Q: Why were the current bonds issued?
A: The bonds that would be paid off with this referendum were issued to pay for
additional instructional space needed to meet the needs of an increased student

[forthekids]

forthekids said:

I just found out about this issue facing the Glenbard Schhool District. I had no idea that they were facing this issue and think it is important for us to realize that if we do not support education through referendum, we may someday be facing this issue. These kids are getting the bare minimum to graduate, but not enough to qualify for many college entrance requirements. When we don't support these referendums, the kids suffer!

Frequently asked questions about restoring Glenbards 7-course school day
Q: What is the objective of the March 21 referendum?
A: To restore the 7-course school day. Students in Glenbards four high schools
could have another 50 minutes of instruction each day starting next fall and continuing into the future.
Q: How does Glenbards schedule compare to that of other high schools?
A: Glenbard is the only DuPage high school district to limit the education of its
students to six classes a day.
Q: Why are Glenbard students limited to taking only 6 classes per day?
A: There are insufficient funds to offer 7 classes per day. Additional revenue is
needed to offer students another class every day. The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and has said providing the 7-course day is a priority.
Q: What will I see on the ballot when I go to vote?
A: Glenbard District 87 is asking the community to approve issuing up to $32 million
in bonds. The money would be used to pay off current bonds, thereby freeing up $2.3 million each year to staff the 7-course day. The following is the actual ballot wording:
Shall the Board of Education of Glenbard Township High School District Number 87, DuPage County, Illinois, be authorized to issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $32,000,000 for the purpose of paying its outstanding general obligation alternate bonds heretofore issued for the purposes of paying the cost of improving the sites of, building and equipping additions to or altering, repairing and equipping school buildings of said School District or issued to refund general obligation alternate bonds issued for any of such purposes?
Q: Why were the current bonds issued?
A: The bonds that would be paid off with this referendum were issued to pay for
additional instructional space needed to meet the needs of an increased student

(sorry, the rest got cut off)enrollment. Classrooms were renovated, and two field houses, an auditorium, and teacher and administrative office areas were built.
Q: What would the March 21 referendum cost a taxpayer?
A: A homeowner whose home has a market value of $300,000 would pay $50 more
per year starting in June 2007.
Q: What effect would these new bonds have on the tax rate?
A: The new bonds would increase Glenbard District 87s tax rate by approximately 5
cents. The payment of the new bonds would remain the same over the 20-year term of the bonds.
Q: In the two previous referendums, Glenbard sought greater tax rate
increases. Why is this referendum seeking so much less than those requests?
A: This referendum does not address all of Glenbard District 87s needs and
therefore involves a lesser amount than was sought in earlier requests. This referendum does not address Glenbards facility needs, accumulated deficit, increased student fees and other instructional support needs.
Q: How can I learn more about this referendum?
A: Please contact Glenbards administration center at [phone]. Also, please
attend a community open house scheduled at each of the four Glenbard high schools. Community open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates:
• Glenbard East, Wednesday Feb. 22
• Glenbard North, Monday, Feb. 27
• Glenbard West, Tuesday, March 7
• Glenbard South, Wednesday, March 8
Posted: February 3, 2006

[Arch]

Interesting that the ballot wording mentions nothing about adding another period in the day.

It could be approved, and STILL not give them another period because the purpose of the money doesn't state it as such, making it binding. They could *STILL* have a budgetary crisis even with passage and *STILL* have a 6 period day.

If they say it's for something, that something SHOULD be on the ballot, IMO.

[forthekids]

archwinsome said:

Interesting that the ballot wording mentions nothing about adding another period in the day.

It could be approved, and STILL not give them another period because the purpose of the money doesn't state it as such, making it binding. They could *STILL* have a budgetary crisis even with passage and *STILL* have a 6 period day.

If they say it's for something, that something SHOULD be on the ballot, IMO.

The point of the post is for people to realize that voting NO on school referendum's adversly affect the student's education. These kids only have six classes a day because the district doesn't have the money to pay teachers to teach more classes. I realize that it is much easier to pick apart the wording on the ballot than to acknowledge the fact that this is a slippery slope when people ignore educational needs.

[wvhsparent]

I was unaware of this either. Just goes to show most issues are very local.

Devl's advocate here:

Last time I checked the real estate market covered by Dist 87 about as hot as 204......

[warriorpride]

They only lost that extra HS period 1 or 2 years ago, du to a failed referendum that asked for a larger amount of $, due to combining several issues. I think the main ones were 1) funding the extra HS period; 2) funding building repairs; and 3) funding sports.

Last year they passed a ref. that only asked for $ for funding builing repairs, and now they're focusing on the HS period.

From what my coworker said, he thinks it'll pass as people have felt the impact of this. This is something that at least they can "get back" without any challenges, unlike 204, where vacant lant to build an HS is getting more scare each year.

[wvhsparent]

The old proverbial 2X4 across the forehead....works every time!

BTW they are a HS Only district

[Arch]

forthekids said:

I realize that it is much easier to pick apart the wording on the ballot than to acknowledge the fact that this is a slippery slope when people ignore educational needs.

If I disagreed with the point of the post I would have stated so.

I've pointed out before in previous posting the danger and 'gotchas' that exist by not having proper wording to make the actions legal and binding with the public. I was merely pointing out that same thing in play again and stating that people could *THINK* they are voting for one thing, and not end up with it.

[forthekids]

warriorpride said:

They only lost that extra HS period 1 or 2 years ago, du to a failed referendum that asked for a larger amount of $, due to combining several issues. I think the main ones were 1) funding the extra HS period; 2) funding building repairs; and 3) funding sports.

Last year they passed a ref. that only asked for $ for funding builing repairs, and now they're focusing on the HS period.
From what my coworker said, he thinks it'll pass as people have felt the impact of this. This is something that at least they can "get back" without any challenges, unlike 204, where vacant lant to build an HS is getting more scare each year.

I stumbled upon this thanks to a friend who had seen a letter-to-the-editor in the Herald awhile back. She stated that in this letter the writer was supporting the referendum because his/her kid was going to have to go to COD in order to acquire the classes that were needed for certain colleges. Either way, poor educational opportunities cost us not only in dollars but the effect on our kids and our communities.

[wvhsparent]

Another thing I noticed...they are using 20Yr Bonds

[warriorpride]

wvhsparent said:

Another thing I noticed...they are using 20Yr Bonds

Great point - I wonder how many of those Dupage SD's have 20 yr bonds. Might be interesting to have this when comparing tax rates - not that 204 still hasn't clearly has to build a much larger number of schools than any other district over the past 10 years, so comparing ONLY tax rates isn't paticularly fair.