Education Matters US

Big Hollow Violates Open-Meetings Law

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune today, the Big Hollow School Board violated the open meetings law and possible some school codes. [Emphasis mine]

When Big Hollow School District 38 officials voted to cut lunch, gym, recess, the arts and extracurricular activities, among other programs, they violated a state open-meetings law and may have ignored some education code requirements, officials said Wednesday.

The Lake County state’s attorney’s office notified school officials that the board’s May 21 vote was improper because the school board took final action on an issue that was not posted on its meeting agenda, said Meg Marcouiller, chief deputy of the state’s attorney’s civil division.

School officials agreed to rectify the mistake during their next board meeting Monday night, rather than face the possibility of having the improper vote voided in court, she said.

“There will be a motion next Monday to rescind the action of May 21 regarding the program cuts,” Marcouiller said, after talking to Big Hollow Supt. Ron Pazanin and the school district’s attorney, Robert Kohn. The agenda “did not indicate the board would vote on budget cuts.”

The board meeting will be Monday night where the board is going rescind the illegal vote. How long before they vote again on this issue and cut the programs legally?

Officials from the Lake County Regional Office of Education also are working with the Ingleside-based district this week to ensure that school code is followed if the board proceeds with its proposed budget cuts, said Roycealee Wood, regional superintendent.

————————————-[snip]—————————–
The state requires that physical education, art and music are taught in elementary grades unless a special waiver is granted, said Matt Vanover, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Education.

By violating school code it is easy to see why people see these cuts as punitive toward the kids. A solution can be found if the board will start looking for one. They currently only want one solution and that is more money.

“We can make changes but not before we get more money from the state or pass a referendum,” said Pedersen, who expects that some programs would continue on a “pay to play” basis.

Just like I said before, they only want more money. The board does not appear to want any other solution.

The reactions of parents has been mixed, with some targeting their anger at those who opposed the referendum, which called for raising the tax rate 75 cents, up to $2.57 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation.

This anger is misplaced. The school board spent the district into debt not the no voters. The school board is making these cuts, not the no voters. The majority of the voters have overwhelmingly said no. The school board has refused to listen or find another solution. The district and school board are at fault. The anger should be directed at them.

“Most of the parents I talked to didn’t care,” said one parent, Alyssa Bachara, who said she voted for the tax increase. “They think it’s just a ploy.”

Others are panicked and talking about moving, said Kerry Hubbard, a real estate agent and Big Hollow parent.

“The reality is, the property values will go down if the school district isn’t reputable,” Hubbard said.

It is just a ploy to try and force the voters to agree to fork over more money. Yes, the board will probably make cuts that are punitive to the children. They are using your children as political pawns until you give them money. This is a sad way for school districts and school boards to act, but it is a reality because they have all the money, time, resources and of course your kids to use until you agree to give them money or they invite the State in to force you to give them money.

Parents, voters, and taxpayers, you must start rising up against the ~~public~~ government school monopoly and for the legislature to FUND THE CHILD and not the system. Tell them to give you the ultimate in local control by allowing you to choose the school your child attends. Take the power away from these self-serving educrats who don’t care about your child, but about their own salary and pension. Let’s FUND THE CHILD and not the system.

Share and Enjoy: