Jeff Mcknight

Editor's reply: I apologize for not reporting that Fieldcrest East was also recognized for going to the State Tournament. I was on vacation while the events were happening and was not kept up to date. In the future, I would like to see representatives from each school keep this website notified of events so that I can report them. I try but I cannot stay on top of everything. I agree that the problem is more with the adults than the kids.

Wow, was I shocked to read Mr. Buchanan's editorial. I thought it was just me and I didn't understand how things worked. I attended the last two meetings of the city council. I heard the complaints that Mr. Buchanan heard. The problem to me seems to be that there is too little discussion and the wrong atmosphere to get more discussion.

There seems to be a completely adversarial environment in our little government. I don't understand this. Are the stakes so high we can't respect each other and talk issues out? I don't think so. At the first meeting I made a comment to add to the discussion. I receive a laugh and put down from the mayor. In the second meeting the city administrator was put down by the mayor for not having some numbers at his finger tips. It makes me think what has happened to turn good people like this?

Now that I've identified how I understand what is going on, here is my recommendation to change the situation. Let's ask the city administration, the alderman, the mayor and whomever else I don't know about to come up with some instructions on how the public can attend these meetings and participate fully. Then let's hold a fake meeting. We could invite everyone in town. No real topics, no decisions just people learning how to talk and get things done.

As far as the attendance centers, I hear alot of talk about sports and attendance centers. Well what about the education aspect. We are one school district "Fieldcrest" so why did Toluca 5th - 8th graders get to do a project with writing a book, and Wenona 5th- 8th graders did not. Last year Toluca 5th graders was introduced to band several months ahead of Wenona 5th graders. What about K-4th grade field trips are they the same? I am sure there are many other education areas that I did not mention. The only time Fieldcrest students are exposed to the same education is when they attend high school, why, because they are together in one building. Based on the education aspect I feel that we should have attendance centers so all the kids of "Fieldcrest" get exposed to the same education. Just my opinon here.

Peggy Winters

As far as the board and their ability or education to lead this district, I think there are some of them that are. I may be a little bit prejudice, but Tom Barth has certainly done his best in trying to do what is best for the School District as a whole. Not just Minonk. He is looking out for what is best for the students and their education. And Joe Kilpatrick brings his business knowledge to the board and is also looking for the best way to solve the school districts problems. I am sure there are many sleepless nights for these people. There are a few others too that are trying, but there are also those who are not trying. Mr. Pickard has made his feelings known quite bluntly and to the point that Fieldcrest South Elementary should close. That made many people angry and, to me, makes me think he is all about Wenona, not the School District. That isn't going to solve all the problems and it could make even more. Like what happens to the building and the new million dollar addition that sits on it? Who is going to buy a school building? There is still going to be upkeep and taxes on it. Not to mention the payments on the addition. What kind of additions would need to be made at the other schools to accommodate for the room needed for all the South kids? Many unanswered questions, but at least by consolidating the Jr Highs, there will be some savings. Whether it is significant or not, who knows, but some is better then none. There are also reasons that don't even involve money. Some of it is just plain common sense. Like Mr. Uphoff noted in his editorial, makes one wonder how good our Jr High team would be with all the obvious talent from both Jr Highs combined on one team.

Now is the time to listen up to the candidates and get their views and opinions and to make your choice for the board. Know your candidates and what their views are on the issues at hand. I don't know them all, but certainly look forward to hearing from them. And remember this Board is elected not appointed. They are taking their own time to serve this school district and not always highly rewarded for the job they do.

I apologize for making the statement "teachers received a raise for the school year 04-05". According to a current School Board member, Fieldcrest's salary went slightly up for the school year (This is where I assumed), but in fact the teachers DID NOT receive a raise.

I seem to have learned my first lesson in politics.

Thank you for clearing this up and putting the needs of the district finances first during your last contract negotiations. Again I am truly sorry.

We encourage all taxpayers to get the information needed in order to make an educated vote in April.

Thank You, Many Concerned Fieldcrest Teachers and Staff

Great editorial this week. Hopefully the powers to be will listen.
I think our children could teach us a lot if we would just stop and ask. Keep up the good work.

WE NEED A NAME

The 4th of July Committee is organizing the 4th of July event that includes a beer tent on the 3rd, parade, night time entertainment and fireworks on the 4th.

We are also organizing a summer event August 18, 19 and 20th this year and we need a name for this event, the event might not be on those days next year so the name can not be tied to a specific date and we would like to have names submitted to either yourself via this website and then forwarded on to me or to me at my home, 309-432-2605. The final decision for a name from those submitted will be made by the 4th of July Committee. The deadline is February 14th.

THEME FOR 4TH OF JULY PARADE
The committee would also like to solicit themes for the 4th of July Parade this year. Anyone wishing to submit a theme please feel free to sumbit the theme to Dave via this website or to me at my home. The deadline is February 14th and the final decision will be made by the 4th of July Committee.

GRAND MARSHAL
The committee would also like to solicit names for the 4th of July Parade Grand Marshal. Usually we look at someone who has been a part of the Minonk community and has been involved in activities in the community. Please submit those as above.

The next meeting of the 4th of July Committee will be February 17th at the Immanual Lutheran Church at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Thanks to everyone who is assisting us as we continue to organize these summer events.

Recognize that I am not endorsing any Mayoral candidate. However, I would like to offer my assessment and opinion on some of what I have been reading in Minonk Talk. Public meetings like Board meetings are governed by protocol. Usually Roberts Rules of Order or some facsimile are the legal and binding starch to meetings. And of course the Open Meetings Act attempts to keep public business public and not in backrooms or cafes.

School Board meetings not unlike other public meetings can be riff with "surprise" questions from the governing board. As far as having facts at ones fingertips at all times and for any reason is unreasonable at best. If one is discussing the budget, then it is necessary to be well versed on this document. However, if a question arises as to our ratio of revenue to expenditures or days of cash on hand (not readily available in budget documents), that zinger could be answered succinctly by the correct answer or "I will find that information for you". I'll bet any school board or city council member can come up with scores of questions to "stump the administrator". However, let's be realistic about what we are trying to accomplish. One cannot have all answers for any questions that come up at any meeting. The best any official can do is to be prepared and anticipate. Fair enough? I ask my elected board to call before meetings on questions regarding bills or other issues on the fringe of meeting agendas. In this way, valuable time is not squandered debating regularly occurring bills that could be used to hash out the meat and potatoes of the posted agenda. Fortunately, our school board follows this advice.

Furthermore, in my opinion only, it is most prudent for any candidate for mayor or city council member to weigh any and all prospects for attracting businesses to town based on long term aesthetic, financial and social benefits to the community. To throw the net out and court any businesses willing to locate could result in buying a pig in a poke. Worse yet, like good marriages, one does not want to sanction incompatible businesses that can have long-term consequences for the community. I can give plenty of examples, but the gist of my entreaty is to carefully plan for growth. Ask probing questions regarding profitability, staying power, influence or compatibility with existing businesses, workforce needs, and impact on infrastructure. All these considerations and countless others should be examined and debated. Not debated ad nauseum, but given a forum for fair and open discussion with a sunset date for action.

We have a growing and viable family oriented community. We are not perfect. We can improve, especially on the litter scene. It is unforgiving that homeowners whose homes front city streets, will not take a few minutes each day to pick up litter at the curbside in front of their homes. This applies to our businesses too. The city does not have a street sweeper. These individuals and business owners should step up to the plate and do their part. I have even personally witnessed, to my dismay, a homeowner picking up a pop bottle to mow, and then replacing the pop bottle in its original location after mowing. Have we grown too dependent? Go figure.

Michael Stagliano
Minonk, Illinois

I feel I need to comment on some of the statements made not only on Minonk Talk but also in the paper about the Mayoral race and the state of Minonk. Addressing Mr. Hawk's letter. There is protocol for the city council meetings. He needs to use the Filger library to research that subject or just ask your alderman or other city official? As for the city administrator not having the information at his fingertips, it is his job to have those things prepared for the MONTHLY meetings. We as his employer should accept no less. Mr. Buchanan sure throws a lot of stones, but offers no viable solutions to any of the allegations even though he is an alderman for the city. I think it takes a commitment from the entire city council to pass and enforce any and all local ordinances. I recall junk being piled on the burm and overflowing into the street in the 400 block of Chestnut St. for city clean up day. Most of it was building materials. Who handled that and how? Is there junk there now? The judicial system enforces the law and local ordinances (slap on the wrist) not the Police or Mayor, who can only cite the laws, unless perhaps you are in fact micro-managing those areas of city government.

For starters why not institute new ordinances similar to Normal Illinois' and start a neighborhood watch program like other communities have? After all, you are an elected city official. I would also like to comment on the article in the Minonk news. In my opinion we have a candidate pointing out the negatives in our community and the things he does not want in our community and yet, he offers us not one single solution. I am sorry Mr. Koos, but any job or fast food business regardless of your assessment of quality is a step in the right direction for Minonk. As a small town we need to look at every tax generating option available. You sit on the city council, why don't you have any printable solutions to offer the voters of Minonk instead of personal preferences? I have seen Minonk grow since Mayor Spencer's election and I believe he possesses the dedication, skill and experience to lead this community into the 21st century. The paper stated this is the first time since 1993 that Minonk has had a choice of candidates. If the choice is going back to the dark ages of Minonk politics or moving forward, making this a GOOD PLACE as our name implies I choose Mayor Mark Spencer.

Bob Jackson
Minonk

Fieldcrest School District is a business even though we may not like to think of it that way. In fact, it is one of the largest businesses in the community and as such it needs to be run like a business which means it needs to be effectively lead and managed; revenue, expenses, funding, resources/labor and a "product" are all components which make up this business. For us to be a successful school district is really no different then what it takes for any other business to be successful. Strong, knowledgeable leadership which makes sound business decisions based on facts and inputs from appropriate sources (community, government, legal, etc.). Following this approach will allow us to make decisions in a timely and informed manner. You can have the best product in the world but without visionary leadership and long-term planning it will not survive. Our "product" is our children, our future - failure is really not an option.

My second reason for running is to be a champion and a voice for the interests of the district and our children as a whole 1st and the community of Minonk 2nd. All of our communities benefit from the continued presence and growth of our local elementary schools, grades K-4. I would strongly oppose any plan, present or future, which includes closing South. The long-term, sustained prosperity and growth of each of our community's elementary schools, middle schools and high school is in the best interest of the entire District not just Minonk.

My thoughts regarding one of the current outstanding hot issues, Attendance centers. I am in favor of moving to attendance centers but not from the perspective that they will save the district money or reduce expenses. I have not seen or read anything that is based on actual facts/numbers which leads me to believe that the district will save any money by moving to attendance centers. However, as I said, I am in favor of moving forward with attendance centers from the perspective that I believe they will provide educational and social benefits to the children.

We are one district but it is only natural that we all want what is (1) in the best interest of our children and (2) in the best interest of our individual communities and (3) in the best interest of the District. Unfortunately it is unrealistic and detrimental to progress to think things will always work out our way. Not everyone is always going to agree or see things equitably but that should not prevent the board from acting. The Board must work together as a unified body to do what is in the best interest of our children and the district. They are counting on us and we have only one chance to get it right.

ALL of our current problems, in my opinion, can be attributed to the lack of long range financial planning which has lead us to our current financial state, which is essentially - broke. We have outstanding teachers that we can not fairly compensate, we have lost numerous other qualified teachers because we had to further reduce spending, we have cut or reduced many non-core activities that are a big part of providing opportunities for all students. We passed a referendum and added on to South only a couple of years ago to accommodate the projected growth - and because the State was going to pitch in one-third. CAC was created to address funding shortfalls associated with our sports and other extracurricular activities. And so on and so on.....where will it stop?

On a side note, as Jeff Gehringer touched on in his email earlier this week, I also give credit to the members of the CAC for the time and effort that they have contributed to helping address our funding gaps. Like Jeff though, I question the legality of this entity.

It won't stop unless we step up and accept some realities. Strong schools and an effective school district benefit everyone who lives in the district. Regardless of whether or not you have children in school or whether you live in town or in the country if this school district fails we will all pay in the long run. To have any chance of getting back on solid ground financially we MUST put a referendum back on the table and pass it. We can not wait on the State to come through with more funding - that is not going to happen anytime soon. Our Governor just published the 2005 budget it calls for a 1% increase in educational funding. Fair or not it is our district, our schools, our children, our communities, and our future. We can continue to nickel and dime our way to complete insolvency or we can come together as a unified district and do what is needed.

I believe that I can help make a real difference. I have proven leadership and business skills that will be valuable assets as we work together as a board to develop a plan to get us out from under our current financial problems and establish a vision and a long-term strategy for the future.

Thanks,
Patrick McGuane

Served in the United State Air Force
B.S. Computer Science (summa cum laude)
IT Manager at State Farm Insurance Cos.
FLMI (Fellow Life Management Institute)
Rutland American Legion member

I have read many of your editorials in my research regarding community member feelings surrounding the issues at Fieldcrest. I appreciate the forum you provide and the fair manner in which you try to communicate all sides.

I understand your concern about residency and I would agree it could be a problem if the new superintendent lived considerably farther than I do. It takes me about 15 minutes to get to the office. I agree that the superintendent MUST be involved and visible in the community and that is certainly my intent. I have a very close connection to the area (personally - 30 years, professionally - 17 years). During that time I have seen the birth of Fieldcrest, its growth and transitions that have led us to the present.

It is no secret that we are facing significant challenges in our school system. I also know that, despite the challenges we face, there are wonderful things happening in all of our schools everyday that deserve as much focus as the issues we face.

The thing that convinced me to accept this position is that in my research into the school system and through the superintendent selection process it was obvious that the commitment to Fieldcrest schools by the board, administration, staff and community members is strong.

I believe Fieldcrest Community Unit School District No. 6 can be a lighthouse district in Central Illinois. I am personally committed to do what is necessary to empower and unify all the committed stakeholders to make this happen.

I read your editorial and I agree, in part, to what you wrote. There are a lot of candidates from Minonk and there is the possibility of the vote being split. I am one of the candidates and have had conversations with other candidates concerning that very possibility. I must also agree with Darren Hester in that simply attending school board meetings does not necessarily qualify a person for the position. I am certainly not even opposed to throwing my support to another candidate. The high number of candidates shows me that there are many people in our community that have lost faith in the leadership of our school system.

The three biggest issues that concern the parents that I have talked to include: consolidation, funding, and the student fees collected by the CAC. Last month I sent an email in which I addressed the consolidation issue. Closing any of the grade schools (K-4) is simply not in the long term interest of neither Fieldcrest nor the communities that they represent. Consolidating the middle schools, on the other hand, is a good idea. Rehashing all of this almost seems like a waste of time. We have been “studying” this issue for a couple of years now. The stakeholders have had input and voted, but we apparently still needed more time. Is it any wonder why there are so many people running for the board?

We are broke. In fact, we are worse than broke. We are in deep in debt and going deeper. We needed to pass the referendum, but I can’t blame people for voting it down. Not only has the board failed to initiate cost savings by consolidating the middle schools, but we have also had the specter of closing South thrown in front of us like psychological warfare. People are not going to voluntarily give up more of their hard earned tax dollars unless they have faith in the leadership spending it.

God bless the members of the CAC! Here we have a group of concerned citizens trying to do what they think is best for our kids. I applaud their efforts. Having said that let me also say that I did not pay any of the fees because I question the legality of the Board of Education relegating its authority. No where in the school code does it specifically allow a school board to do this. I simply feel that the Board allowed the members of the CAC to become their scapegoats without providing adequate guidance. I am not opposed to fees for service. Find out how an activity costs and divide it by the number of students, and I'll gladly pay whatever fee is necessary for my children to participate.

Finally, I’d like to address the teaching staff pay issue at Fieldcrest. Not only does their pay lag behind the state averages, if I am not mistaken, I think they went without a pay raise for at least this past year. We cannot let that happen again! It continues to amaze me that these dedicated individuals continue to work in a district where their efforts are not properly compensated.

I am a graduate of MDR. I served four years in the Marine Corps earned a B.S. in Geography Education and a M.S. in Educational Administration from
Illinois State . I am currently a 7 th grade teacher, Social Science Dept. Chair, and interim Assistant Principal for Bloomington Junior High School . I have two children enrolled at Fieldcrest and one on the way.

Thank you

Since it seems we keep hearing so much negative news about our kids being split from their friends regarding Fieldcrest's grade configurations, I just wanted to give a positive bit of information involving the middle school kids. I am a parent of a current 7th grader and a highschooler who has been through the junior high thing, who cringes every time I have to sit at a game, whether it's volleyball, softball or basketball in which East and West middle schools have to play each other, but I just want people to know that good things can come out of it also. I saw a wonderful thing last night at the 7th grade boys sectional game. Fieldcrest West played for the championship against Metamora St. Marys. Among the large crowd were several of the 7th grade boys East basketball team of which West had just defeated in the Regionals, cheering for these boys! There were parents, and classmates from East and West sitting together cheering for the same team! Tonight in Toluca, Fieldcrest East 8th grade boys team will be playing for the Regional Championship. I can assure you, there will be several of the West 8th grade team, and many other kids and their families from West cheering for these boys. If you are not a sports oriented person, you may think "It's only basketball" but when you see these kids from separate schools dressed up in their crazy outfits cheering for and supporting each other, it is more than just basketball. Maybe our kids are learning more than we think!

I couldn't agree more with your editorial on consolidating the middle schools. This has been the solution to the problem from the very beginning of the consolidation of Fieldcrest. Unfortunately it is an unpopular choice because it would mean one of the towns, Toluca or Wenona having their middle school closed. My sons attended middle school in Toluca and were very happy there, they played many sports and so I understand the parent's comments regarding their children being on a larger team. We are a sports oriented family, all of us enjoy sports, but my sons are now 23 years old and out of college and playing sports had nothing to do with them getting jobs. When faced with this difficult decision it is their education that should win out. I do not understand how some of the board members can say that having only one middle school would not save money, it seems like a no-brainer to me and they just have to bite the bullet and do it whether it is a popular decision or not!