Stop Sitting or Get Run Over
- on 12.04.06
- CCSD #46, D-127
- 1 Comment
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Now that this election cycle is over is it time to start looking ahead at the school board elections next spring for both District 46 and District 127. These will be held April 17th to be exact. I’ll run through a few question and answers.
Why do we need to think about them when they are so far away?
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The answer is simple; the period to collect signatures has started. Although it only takes 50 signatures to run, you should get many more than this to make sure you are not kicked off the ballot. |
Are any of the current school board members intending to run again?
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In the Elementary District 46 the terms for Keith Surroz, Sue Facklam, and Cheryl Davis are finishing. None of them responded to my inquiry about whether they are running again. |
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In the High District 127 the terms for Russ Hager, Phil Lippert, Mike Hutchins, and Chris McClain are finishing. None of them responded to my inquiry about whether they are running again. |
Who else is running?
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At this time, I do not know of any confirmed candidates for either D127 or D46. There are unconfirmed reports that a former school board member will be running to regain their seat on the D46 board. I have attempted to contact them, but they also have not responded to my inquiry. If anyone has information about other possible candidates please let me know. |
Why should I run, the current board is doing a good job?
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First, let’s look at D46. Yes, they just abated the bonds where they exceeded voter approval. But, the term for 2 of those who voted to do this is expiring. They need to be replaced with fiscally responsible board members. If not, you will be faced with a referendum sooner rather than later. You can read about many decisions the board has made and decide for yourself if they are doing their job the way you thought they would when you elected them. If you are like me, there are members on the board who are not living up to the promises they made the voters when elected. |
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Second, in D127, 4 board members terms are expiring. This is the opportunity similar to what happened in D46 2 years ago. If we can elect 4 fiscally responsible board members, we can finally hold the district fiscally responsible. When they passed their last referendum in 2002, they took advantage of the loophole allowing them to take millions more than the voters approved. Members of the public were unsuccessful last December in convincing the board to be fiscally responsible. This board has also exceeded their debt limit and overtaxed its residents with the use of bond schemes just like District 46 has done. At least District 46 has chosen to rectify this while District 127 spends money putting in synthetic turf and claiming they are not spending extravagantly. Because of this, we need to elect 4 new members and take control of the board. The current members do not appear to care about the taxpayer and only care about the administration and teachers. |
What do I need to do to run?
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I took the time to pick up board packets from both D46 and D127. You can find all the documents you need to run at both D127News.com and D46News.com. This way you do not have to feel intimidated by having to identify yourself at the district offices. You can see the documentation needed and consider your options more clearly without any outside pressures or knowledge. |
For your information, D46 asks for your name and phone number which they claim is optional but wanted by the County Clerk. The County Clerk does not need this information until you have filled out your paperwork and turned in between January 19th and February 5th.
D127 asked for my name and wanted to setup an appointment to have breakfast with Superintendent Finger. It was stated she wanted to meet and talk to all potential candidates. Again, this is not necessary, but you may do so if you wish.
I know that a commitment to run for the school board and server your community is a major undertaking. Many of you are tempted to sit back and say someone else will run. Many will say I am only 1 person, what can I do? Others say I don’t have the time, but then you find the time to fight a referendum when it arrives. Others say, I am tired and my kids no longer attend those schools, but I say to you, you still pay the taxes to those schools.
It has been very clear this past 2 years that many things happen throughout the year that affect spending and your personal property taxes. If you don’t stand up and make the few hours a week now, then you will be faced with many hours of work later fighting multiple referendums.
Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” I say to you fiscally responsible district residents, we are on the right track, but we will get run over next year if we do not take the majority in D127 and keep the majority in D46. Start moving and stop sitting on the tracks.
Feel free to contact me for further information. I am happy to be the public face for you at this time. You just have to ready in February and beyond.
[...] Residents of District 46 should be outraged by the actions and inactions of individual school board members. This should prove to you once and for all that the public government school system is setup to make it difficult to stop their entitlements. The only way to stop them is to keep an ever watchful eye on them. You can do this by running for the school board yourself, reviewing documents from the district, or by volunteering to help me and others by attending board meetings; taking notes; distributing flyers to others; contacting board members and State Legislators; asking for board packets; asking for total transparency; asking for accurate board minutes on their website; learn the views of board candidates and elect those who are fiscally responsible and want total transparency. [...]