November 3, 2003
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Dave Uphoff

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No easy choices for Fieldcrest

Finally, someone in our state government has tried to address the education funding crisis in Illinois. Governor "Hot Rod" Blogojevich has been too busy running the state of Chicago from his home in Chicago to worry about problems in downstate Illinois. Last week, Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn proposed a tax on the rich to help fund schools and give rebates to property owners. Blagojevich opposes the idea. He is holding steadfast to his committment not to raise taxes. Instead, the governor has been instituting fees on businesses and municipalities in order to close the gap on the state deficit.

Quinn's plan is to raise the state income tax from 3% to 6% for people making over $250,000 a year. This plan would raise $1.5 billion. Half of the money would be given to the 2.7 million homeowners to ease the burden on property owners. The average rebate would be $208. The other half would be distributed equally on a per-student basis to our schools.

I feel this plan is a step in the right direction. Other states fund education through state income tax and it's time that Illinois did the same. Minnesota has a graduated income tax that tops out at 9.5% and they do not have an education funding crisis.

Our lawmakers must be made aware of the seriousness of the educational funding crisis. While the wealthy school districts are doing alright, the smaller rural communities are left twisting in the wind. The destruction of our schools will result in the destruction of our communities as well. I urge everyone to send a letter to State Senator Dan Rutherford demanding that he support Lt. Governor's plan to fund education. We have to start at the grass roots level to get our politicians to do something. To send Senator Rutherford a letter, click here or go to his website at http://www.danrutherford.com.

Meanwhile, the residents of the Fieldcrest community must make some hard choices in order to cut costs in our schools. While the state gave us money as an incentive to consolidate into the Fieldcrest school district 11 years ago, there apparently was no guarantee that the consolidation was going to save the school district money. In fact, other than combining the high school from the various communities, there has been little consolidation and little savings. Our district is spread over many miles and many buildings. It is an inherently inefficient district to run as it stands now.

The Fieldcrest administrative staff did a study that suggested that up to $250,000 can be saved by creating attendance centers in which there is no duplicating of grades in the different communities. Instead, all students in the same grade would go to the same school rather than having grades K-5 in Toluca, Wenona, and Minonk and then having grades 6-8 at Wenona and Toluca. The Fieldcrest study recommended that K-2 be put in Minonk, grades 3 through 5 in Toluca, and grades 6-8 in Wenona. This would result in fewer classes and teachers.

Last week there was a meeting in Toluca to discuss attendance centers. The citizens of Toluca do not want to lose their grades 1 through 8. I cannot blame them for their concern because losing students from a school does result in a loss to the community. However, each community is going to have to give up something. If attendance centers are going to be used, I recommend that grades 3 through 5 be in Wenona and grades 6 through 8 be in Toluca instead of the other way around. Toluca has always been a big sports town and the excellent restaurants in Toluca depend on the activity after sporting events from the upper grades, a point made by one of the residents at the Toluca meeting.

The citizens advisory committee to Fieldcrest recommended fees for various student activities ranging from $150 to $200 per activity per student. The CAC is also considering asking volunteer coaches to accept lower pay for their services. I think that is appropriate and I would also recommend that wage cuts be asked of the bus drivers as well. Transporation is a big expense at Fieldcrest and reducing the drivers wages will reduce expenses substantially. However, this cut may have to be negotiated with the union.

Creating attendance centers and not funding extra-curriculars may save Fieldcrest up to $500,000. However, another $500,000 must be cut in order to get back to a balanced budget. This means other cost cutting measures must be determined. Normal Community is considering outsourcing its custodial duties to a third party firm. Many people I have talked to feel that Fieldcrest should investigate this possibility also. Needless to say, at the next negotiation of the teachers contracts, restrictions on increases will be needed since salaries constitute 75% of the education fund.

Rumblings about the need for another referendum are being heard again as the only way for our school district to regain financial solvency. However, cuts need to be made before anyone will be in the mood to vote for a referendum. Unfortunately, unpopular cost saving measures such as creating attendance centers may cause some voters to become angry and vote against a referendum. The district is faced with a Hobson's choice between different unpopular moves.

If the Fieldcrest school district is to survive, everyone is going to have to give up something. This means parents, students, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, etc. and taxpayers. Things are going to have to change whether we like it or not. If we as a community are not willing to make the necessary cuts and changes needed for the school district to regain financial solvency, we will eventually be taken over by the state and then they will tell us what we are going to do whether we like it or not. So we had better make the hard decisions now rather than having them crammed down our throats by the state two years from now.


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