Advocates call for Spectrum Teen Center reopening

All six members of the Schaumburg Township Committee on Youth resigned Wednesday night due to their not being consulted before the township board’s controversial decision to close the Spectrum Teen Center this month.

Two of the members had served since the 1980s.

Committee Chairman Todd Ruder said he would love township trustees to reverse their decision on Spectrum, but fears it’s too late.

Nevertheless, the meeting room Wednesday was packed with dozens of teens, parents, alumni and former staff of Spectrum who praised the program for its uniqueness and called passionately for its reinstatement.

Township Supervisor Mary Wroblewski said the board’s decision was final, but that she’s been approached by four governmental and non-profit agencies interested in restoring the full range of services local teens had before.

The township has already contracted for teen counseling services with Elk Grove Village-based Kenneth Young Center, which began operating out of the township building March 19.

Ruder said what he and his fellow committee members wanted to do Wednesday was let other advisory committees know they’re wasting their time in researching issues for the township board as they’re not going to be consulted on major decisions anyway.

“I think what it comes down to is that we’re upset about the way (township board members) went about this,” Ruder said. “We’re their advisory committee and they left us out of the decision.”

Seventeen Spectrum employees lost their jobs.

Wroblewski said the decision to close Spectrum was a purely financial one that had nothing to do with the quality of services those employees provided.

She added that the exact savings from switching to Kenneth Young Center has yet to be determined, but is likely to be hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Ruder criticized the township board for cutting services to a population still too young to vote while the board members themselves continue to receive insurance benefits through the township.

“If their interest is to save taxpayer money, why not start with themselves and the benefits they’re taking?” Ruder asked.