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Dist. 21 abandoning its responsibility

I am writing to you as the parent of a child who attends a District 21 school, who is concerned about the school board vote against paying the Village of Buffalo Grove for two years of crossing guard services, as well as their decision to table the issue of agreeing to an intergovernmental agreement with the village moving forward.

State statute specifies school districts provide bus service for students who live a certain distance away from their school. Why is the safe passage to and from school by bus the responsibility of school districts, but the safe passage by foot not? That makes no sense; yet, that is the District 21 board's position.

The Illinois School Code goes so far as to address what funds school districts can utilize to cover crossing guard costs. Yet, the school board keeps their heads in the sand by sticking with their story, that the school district has no responsibility in all of this.

What's even more troubling is that the school district has a $3 million surplus in their budget; yet, they pontificate in public meetings how financially strapped they are. I don't begrudge the district purchasing new brick signs at all of their middle schools (which I venture to guess cost $20,000-$30,000); but, I do not understand how they can prioritize an unnecessary cosmetic expenditure (brick signs) over the safety of their students.

Roughly $12,000 a year in cost-sharing with the Village of Buffalo Grove to provide for the district's fair share of crossing guard services (something that really should be entirely their responsibility), as well as the roughly $24,000 over two years owed, are the amounts being argued.

I am embarrassed for the lack of leadership and poor representation of our community by the District 21 board and superintendent during this entire issue.

Mike Terson

Buffalo Grove

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