School board member addresses reorganization

To the editor,

I have decided to address the issue of school reorganization from a school board member's standpoint.

I was approached over a year ago to be on the committee to study if school consolidation in Union County would be feasible.

I agreed to serve on this panel after considering that we as school board members, parents and community members owed this study to our children and taxpayers of our school district to determine if everything possible was being done or could be made better to provide the students, staff and community with a safe and positive learning environment.

The first meeting was well attended. The group assembled represented a good cross-section of educators (present and past), community members, parents, school administrators and board members.

I felt the forum was beneficial and good ideas/discussions came from it. It was decided at that time that a study would be conducted by an attorney funded by private funding.

The Regional Superintendent of Schools was in attendance and advised the panel that funds were available from the State Board of Education to conduct such a study.

The facilitator of the forum was set on his group conducting the study with private funding.

This didn't seem to make sense to me and others in attendance as any study conducted would have to rely on the Regional Superintendent of Schools and the State Board for information and statistics.

However, an independent study was conducted and the School Boards requested the Regional Office to conduct a study paid for by the State Board.

As these two studies were being completed, another meeting of the committee was held. Myself and three others were in attendance. Apparently some lost interest in the idea of reorganization or didn't approve of the direction in which the independent study was taking.

The studies were done and results were released. I, as well as many others, believe that many concerns were not addressed in either study.

Our elected Regional Superintendent of Schools reviewed both studies and made the right decision to deny the petitions. I believe she knows our schools better than Springfield appointees.

Our legislators and the Governor, in particular, are trying to reduce the budget. Education funding has been his main target. All of our downstate schools are struggling now as the state has cut funding and eliminated programs.

One can only assume that pressure was put on the State Superintendent of Schools to approve the petition to consolidate our  schools as this is another idea that the Governor has proposed statewide in order to reduce funding of our schools at the state level.

Does anyone truly believe that given the current economy and recent history of the state to pay its obligation that the supposed incentives to consolidate would come through?

We could argue back and forth on the issues that are listed below, however more time and thought need to go into this process before any decisions are made.

1) Tax Rates: This is not known as to what the tax rate would be until a new district is formed and how many schools are involved. The State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Revenue cannot give our Board of Education a concrete figure.

2) Curriculum Alignment: The schools in the area and the entire state are working on aligning curriculum. However, the State Board and all their wisdom have adopted new guidelines that will require the purchase of new textbooks and materials. This will cost money, a lot of money! Our school board, administration and staff decided to purchase the new textbooks. Guess What = They are not available yet. Hopefully in the 2012-2013 school year these textbooks and teaching materials will be available for purchase. These new textbooks and materials will be what all schools will be adopting and acquiring as they become available.

3) Cost Saving on Supplies: Our school districts already work with each other to purchase items on bids. Large items, such as busses and supplies are purchased through a state bid. We strive to purchase locally when possible.

Both studies reported that if a new district is formed that all four schools would remain open. The space is needed, however, a new unit board would be elected and will be looking for ways to cut expenses and closing a school is certainly going to be an option. Which school will it be?

A new unit board will be challenged with the task of negotiating new labor agreements that will exceed the current cost. Strength in numbers of members in the bargaining unit could make this a difficult task for a new board.

And Yes, a new district might have one Superintendent instead of the current four. However, many current Superintendents are under multi-year contracts and will be on the payroll in some position.

I would encourage everyone to ask questions regarding this issue.

This is a major decision regarding our greatest asset, Our Children and their Future.

Our local schools are something that the entire community can be proud of.

All of our schools in the four districts are in good structural condition and are striving to weather the bad economic times. All have had to make tough decisions and will face more.

Now is not the time to change. All issues need to be addressed before a decision as great as this takes place.

I would hope that parents and taxpayers would not give up what they currently have in their own individual school districts such as Staff, Administrators, Board of Educations that are elected and held accountable to the community and taxpayers of their individual districts.

Signed, Roger Waller, Anna