District 211 approves $20K in board association dues

The Palatine-Schaumburg District 211 board of education Thursday approved paying more than $20,000 in dues to renew its membership in the Illinois Association of School Boards, but one board member was vocal in her concerns about the cost.

The association provides workshops for school board members, lobbying for education issues, monthly publications and an executive search department that does nationwide searches for superintendents, office administrators and principals.

Membership dues for 2011-2012 were $20,474. The association created a cap on the increase of dues, which prevents District 211’s from going up by almost $5,000 this year. Because of the cap, the cost will only increase by a few hundred dollars to $20,774 for the 2012-13 year.

Board member Anna Klimkowicz said she appreciates the work the association does but that she became upset reading a letter from the association requesting the dues. Each year, she said, she is offended by the way the association asks for more money.

“I would like to see us maybe send a letter along with (our dues), indicating to them, ‘We support the organization, but tell us what you’re doing for us. Don’t just tell us how much more we might have to pay,’” she said. “This really just disturbed me.

“We pay quite a bit into it. We’re a large district. ... This is a terrible way to treat us.”