Sun article 4/2

[brant]

April 2, 2010

By KATHY CICHON [e-mail]
Parents angry with the proposed $1.3 billion cut to education funding will soon be taking their message directly to the lawmakers.

"The school boards and school districts don't have much of a choice but to cut their budgets," parent Lori Price said. "We need to redirect our anger to the state level."

IF YOU GO

Parents and children will gather at 1 p.m. Friday at Nancy Young Elementary School, 800 Asbury Drive, Aurora to protest the state education budget cuts. Photos will be taken to make a video that will be shown to lawmakers in Springfield.
For more information about the April 14 Caravan to the Capitol, visit the "Caravan to the Capitol -- Restore Illinois Education Funding" Facebook fan page or e-mail caravan2thecapitol @yahoo.com.

Budget meeting

Indian Prairie District 204 will hold a community budget meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, in Aurora. Coordinated by parents from Indian Prairie District 204, the Caravan to the Capitol will take a bus full of parents to Springfield on April 14 to meet with elected officials to let them know how they feel about the impending cuts and the effects they will have throughout the state.

"We don't want this to happen to anybody," parent Sherry Tatar said. "There are so many teachers that are going to be out of work and so many children that are not going to have the educational experience that they had this year."

Tatar serves as administrator of the Facebook fan page "Caravan to the Capitol -- Restore Illinois Education Funding," which was created by several parents last week. Since then nearly 240 fans have joined.

To help prepare for the April 14 trip, those interested will gather at 1 p.m. today at Nancy Young Elementary School, 800 Asbury Drive in Aurora to state their opposition to the cuts.

"I want people to show up tomorrow -- parents, teachers, kids. Anybody who can," Tatar said Thursday.

Video of the protest will then be sent to Gov. Pat Quinn and House Speaker Michael Madigan, and will also be shown to lawmakers April 14.

With Quinn proposing a reduction of $1.3 billion in education spending next year, school districts across the state are having to make drastic budget cuts. Last week District 204 laid off 145 non-tenured teachers and discussed a plan to slash $12.2 million from next year's budget in order to close the gap left by the expected state funding cuts.

The district is holding a community budget meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora to provide a brief budget update and accept public comment.

But it's not just District 204 that will be represented on the Caravan to the Capitol. Organizers have heard from other school districts in the state that plan to meet the bus there.

"I don't want just District 204 to benefit. I want the whole state to benefit because it affects the whole state," Price said.

The group has stressed that they are not seeking approval of an income tax increase, but instead are hoping state leaders will cut from other areas of the budget and leave education, health and human services funding at the same levels as this year.

"He's (Quinn) choosing to cut in a way that would get the most people interested in increasing taxes," Tatar said.

Both Tatar and Price said they saw the same thing happen last year when budget cuts threatened many human services programs in Illinois.

"Now that same thing is happening with schools," Tatar said.

"It just seems to be the same tactic played out," Price said.

So far there are at least a couple of dozen people planning on taking the trip, Tatar said. With many away on spring break, plans for the Caravan to the Capitol are still in the works. That includes lining up transportation for the trip. A trip, Tatar said, that is necessary.

"I just don't feel like we should sit back and not do something," Tatar said. "I don't know if we'll make a difference, but it's worth a try."

[brant]

You can't help but wonder how many of the affected teachers would have kept their jobs if MV had not been built. KB points out the funds for MV came from a different source (Taxpayers) but what about the legal garbage with BB, lawsuits, etc? Of course ST is a MV parent.

[brant]

Angry parents heading to Springfield

Cuts to music programs would be great loss


April 2, 2010

Gov. Pat Quinn's planned cuts to school funding have been big news lately. Though the final budget may not be available for several months, school districts must start making budget decisions now about next school year. This has put many Illinois districts in the undesirable position of making massive cuts.

It is the hope of parents, educators and administrators throughout Illinois that state legislators will meet this funding obligation. According to Article 10 of the Illinois Constitution, "The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education." Education funding should remain intact while funding decreases come from other areas. But this would be a terrible time to increase the tax burden on businesses and people working in Illinois.

In District 204 the administration and school board have used community input and spent countless hours looking at a multitude of ways to cut millions of dollars from next year's budget. The proposal presented at the March 22 board meeting included long-term savings by changing bus routes, and developing a new bus contract and a new health care contract. Other proposals include putting off expenses such as building maintenance and technology, renegotiating software licenses, and increases of fees and class sizes.

The community has the opportunity to comment on the various proposals both online and at the April 5 budget meeting. There's still time for new ideas to make a difference.

After the potential loss of dozens of teachers, the biggest concern for some is the proposed music cuts. It is important to note that alternatives within the new budget constraints are being discussed. Please see www.ipsd.org for budget updates and to give online feedback. The district has chosen to leave the fifth-grade and high school band and orchestra programs intact.

Hundreds of district students participating in curricular band and orchestra meet in large classes where they work as a group. Each student also meets weekly in a small group with an instructor for technique class, in which they learn how to play their specific instrument and get crucial individualized instruction. The proposed changes eliminate technique class -- there is a chance technique will be available outside of school hours for a fee -- putting the majority of students who don't take private lessons at a severe disadvantage.

If this occurs, our middle school program could gradually shrink and feed less-prepared students to our high school music programs. In addition, many valued staff members who make the music program what it is today have been notified of their release or are being reassigned. Our Grammy Award-winning high school music programs are well known throughout the country. This may not continue if the program cuts occur.

I commend the administration and school board for their efforts on a financial plan meant to have minimal impact on our students, but this particular proposal has a large and not easily regained effect on one of the very things that makes our district as great as it is today.

It is ironic that President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have proposals to improve education in this country while education is headed rapidly downhill in their home state.

Without the state funding cuts, our district would not be in this position. A group of parents is planning to visit legislators in Springfield soon to voice opposition to the cuts and rally for restoration of education funding. Please contact me for more information.

Sherry Tatar

[brant]

You are right Sherry the cuts to music are a great loss. But look no further then the school you so ardently fought for. I was wrong on my initial support for it but at least I now realize what many other people already knew. We are going to be paying for MV for a long time. The music department is only the start.

[Arch]

Direct your anger to the people MAKING THE LOCAL DECISIONS from the Crouse Center.

Oh, but M2 and KB say it's the state's fault, so all the ducklings fall right into line.

[asmodeus]

On one hand they rip Quinn for targeting education in order to gain support for a tax increase, and then they are going to appeal to him by sending him a video? Doesn't seem like a smart strategy.

[Arch]

People confuse activity with accomplishment.

[onh]

Very much like this blog!

[Arch]

Apr 2, 2010 13:58:11 GMT -6 @onh said:

Very much like this blog!

The difference being: We don't kid ourselves that posting here makes a difference in official school policy either.

[doctorwho]

Apr 2, 2010 10:27:36 GMT -6 brant said:

You can't help but wonder how many of the affected teachers would have kept their jobs if MV had not been built. KB points out the funds for MV came from a different source (Taxpayers) but what about the legal garbage with BB, lawsuits, etc? Of course ST is a MV parent.

or the fact that they spent well over $145M -- ONLY $124 M came from the referendum... let them stand up in front of everyone in this district and explain the bond financing and where those delta funds came from.. where's the article on that ?

MV cost a whole lot of people in this district, it forever divided the 204 community, wasted tax dollars- increased operating expenses by a minimum of $3M for the 3rd school, increased transportation costs due to where it was put--- and we don't need the damn thing. Even our super now admits it will be underutilized - AT BEST 2200-2300 and only for the next 4-5 years then decreases, then kiss Waubonsie goodbye, regardless of her snarkiness to the contrary.
Yes, kids are going to suffer for this and that is the ONLY part I feel for, but people need to look in the mirror for the cause. For all those who wanted their northern Taj Mahal no matter what - starting with former Board President Jeannette Clark ( to the point where she marched in protest against people in the district she was elected to represent)- you got it - now live with the crappy circumstances. The sad thing is you pulled the rest of the district in the hole with you - nice job.
Many of this saw this coming - regardless of the state funding issues but and said so repeatedly. SB candidates who showed charts on the topics of the deficit looming here ( not just late payments) were mocked by M2 and his PTSA minions. Who had the right numbers now ?


It's now my turn to tell someone to ' sit down, and shut up' , just like I and others were told with our concerns -- enjoy your trip to Springfield. Maybe I can find a google map to get you these in 20 minutes or so.

[doctorwho]

Apr 2, 2010 10:23:15 GMT -6 brant said:

April 2, 2010

By KATHY CICHON [e-mail]
Parents angry with the proposed $1.3 billion cut to education funding will soon be taking their message directly to the lawmakers.

"The school boards and school districts don't have much of a choice but to cut their budgets," parent Lori Price said. "We need to redirect our anger to the state level."

IF YOU GO

Parents and children will gather at 1 p.m. Friday at Nancy Young Elementary School, 800 Asbury Drive, Aurora to protest the state education budget cuts. Photos will be taken to make a video that will be shown to lawmakers in Springfield.
For more information about the April 14 Caravan to the Capitol, visit the "Caravan to the Capitol -- Restore Illinois Education Funding" Facebook fan page or e-mail caravan2thecapitol @yahoo.com.

Budget meeting

Indian Prairie District 204 will hold a community budget meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, in Aurora. Coordinated by parents from Indian Prairie District 204, the Caravan to the Capitol will take a bus full of parents to Springfield on April 14 to meet with elected officials to let them know how they feel about the impending cuts and the effects they will have throughout the state.

"We don't want this to happen to anybody," parent Sherry Tatar said. "There are so many teachers that are going to be out of work and so many children that are not going to have the educational experience that they had this year."

Tatar serves as administrator of the Facebook fan page "Caravan to the Capitol -- Restore Illinois Education Funding," which was created by several parents last week. Since then nearly 240 fans have joined.

To help prepare for the April 14 trip, those interested will gather at 1 p.m. today at Nancy Young Elementary School, 800 Asbury Drive in Aurora to state their opposition to the cuts.

"I want people to show up tomorrow -- parents, teachers, kids. Anybody who can," Tatar said Thursday.

Video of the protest will then be sent to Gov. Pat Quinn and House Speaker Michael Madigan, and will also be shown to lawmakers April 14.

With Quinn proposing a reduction of $1.3 billion in education spending next year, school districts across the state are having to make drastic budget cuts. Last week District 204 laid off 145 non-tenured teachers and discussed a plan to slash $12.2 million from next year's budget in order to close the gap left by the expected state funding cuts.

The district is holding a community budget meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora to provide a brief budget update and accept public comment.

But it's not just District 204 that will be represented on the Caravan to the Capitol. Organizers have heard from other school districts in the state that plan to meet the bus there.

"I don't want just District 204 to benefit. I want the whole state to benefit because it affects the whole state," Price said.

The group has stressed that they are not seeking approval of an income tax increase, but instead are hoping state leaders will cut from other areas of the budget and leave education, health and human services funding at the same levels as this year.

"He's (Quinn) choosing to cut in a way that would get the most people interested in increasing taxes," Tatar said.

Both Tatar and Price said they saw the same thing happen last year when budget cuts threatened many human services programs in Illinois.

"Now that same thing is happening with schools," Tatar said.

"It just seems to be the same tactic played out," Price said.

So far there are at least a couple of dozen people planning on taking the trip, Tatar said. With many away on spring break, plans for the Caravan to the Capitol are still in the works. That includes lining up transportation for the trip. A trip, Tatar said, that is necessary.

"I just don't feel like we should sit back and not do something," Tatar said. "I don't know if we'll make a difference, but it's worth a try."

I hope they are not greeted by a governor holds up a large banner with a picture of the $150M high school we just built and some population figures -- and asks " Next Question " ?

[EagleDad]

This is playing exactly into Quinn and the dems hands.

You don't negotiate with terrorists, you gun them down.

[Arch]

Woops, someone let the cat out of the bag:

""I don't think it is our responsibility to pay for the state's mismanagement of funds," said parent Jennifer Streder, who is the president of the Indian Prairie Parents Council.

"I'd rather see a referendum pass here than see the state income tax increase, because in the long term I don't think that money will stay in the district.""

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2138328,2_1_AU03_PROTEST_S1-100403.article

[macrockett]

Apr 2, 2010 13:58:11 GMT -6 @onh said:

Very much like this blog!

Now there is a constructive contribution! Onh, I would love to see your financial analysis.

[doctorwho]

Apr 3, 2010 2:00:58 GMT -6 Arch said:

Woops, someone let the cat out of the bag:

""I don't think it is our responsibility to pay for the state's mismanagement of funds," said parent Jennifer Streder, who is the president of the Indian Prairie Parents Council.

"I'd rather see a referendum pass here than see the state income tax increase, because in the long term I don't think that money will stay in the district.""

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2138328,2_1_AU03_PROTEST_S1-100403.article

loose lips sink ships-- and this would be strike 2 for said speaker.