|
September 20, 2004 |
|
About Town Dave Uphoff |
 |
|
Past Editorials
|
|
Click here
|
|
Links
|
|
Home About Minonk Alumni Businesses Births Cemetery Chatter box City Hall Community Ctr Classified Ads Editorial Events Genealogy History Homepages Issues Library Lost & Found Map News Obituaries Photos Recipes Reference Satire Schools Search Sports Stories Trees Where are they? |
|
History Links
|
|
Home Buildings Businesses Coal mine Early Settlers Ethnic Groups Origins People Old Photos Sports Tragedies |
Fieldcrest School Board Stays the Split Course
|
Dr. Michael Stagliano resigned from his position as Superintendent of the Fieldcrest School District last week at the Board of Education meeting in Toluca. The resignation is effective June 30, 2005. His resignation is disappointing in that I believed he and his principals had made great strides in addressing the District's financial crisis and strengthening academic programs.
Declining property tax values and an unfair and inept state funding policy can be blamed in part for the school District's financial problems. However, the gentlemen's agreement that gave birth to the Fieldcrest school district and which is evidenced in Board governance by the three communities, has been obstructing attempts to make the district a more efficient and less costly operation. This so-called gentlemen's agreement stipulated that each community in the school district have Board representation for governance rather than "at large" representation. What this practice encourages is home rule to the detriment of the whole district. Fieldcrest is not a truly consolidated district. Instead, it is a collection of schools. The only commonality is that there is one financial roof and it leaks like crazy. Duplicate grades 6 thru 8 exist in both Toluca and Wenona with separate and competing sports programs. New building additions have been completed in two communities rather than constructing one building to combine classes. The net result of this gentlemen's agreement is that each community is fighting to keep its own schools open and keep the pre-high school students in their own town. We have school board members fighting to defend the turf in their own community rather than doing what is necessary to make Fieldcrest more efficient and also to improve the education of our students. |
This fact was made apparent last week when an attempt to consolidate the K-8 programs was defeated 4-3. Again, it was the Minonk board members being outvoted by the other board members. Proposal #3 was agreed upon by a 4-3 vote under the condition that a new superintendent would study the proposal and approve it or not for future implementation. Those voting against putting off this proposal for at least two more years maintained that it is not necessary to wait until the new superintendent is hired and to get his or her stamp of approval before proceeding. Why wait? Will the new superintendent have a new rabbit to pull out of the hat? The Board of Education has studied the issue for over a year. There is no reason to wait. The only reason to wait is to placate the residents of the community which they represent who adamantly refuse to give up anything.
The school district's financial problems have created even greater tensions between the communities. Not that they were great to begin with. Until Wenona agrees to modify its TIF district, by shortening the number of years left, or agreeing to a more fair share of tax dollars from its TIF district, and residents of all communities finally realize that grade schools will need to be consolidated, matters are only going to get worse. I have discussed the school's issues with many Minonk residents. Many of them regret the consolidation and the problems it has created. A new District leader is not going to make that feeling go away. The district's only hope is to elect responsible members to the school board who will make the tough decisions. Until that happens, the District will be subject to the whims of each of the communities in which Board members reside. I wish Dr. Stagliano well in his future endeavors. |
