D15 board doesn't deserve 'yes' vote on referendum

I'm surprised anyone who's not an employee can trust the D15 board and administration on the heels of the 10-year labor contract debacle.

Quick review: Instead of being at the negotiating table, the board chose the former union president (now part of administration) as one of their proxies to "negotiate" on behalf of the community! How can an honest negotiation take place when the union is literally on both sides of the table?

Then they approved two pages of bullet points rather than the actual contract! The increases in that contract FAR outpace the private sector, among other giveaways. The contract was not an honest negotiation, not by a long shot.

Now we are being asked to vote on a $130 million referendum. The entire process by which this referendum came to be was flawed and rushed, just like the contract. The planning committee consisted of a hand-picked group representing only a portion of our schools. This select group did not keep a record of their meetings. How inclusive and transparent!

Our BOE voted to place it on the ballot 20 minutes after presenting it to the public. The lack of community engagement here is stunning.

This $130 million referendum would put us very near our debt limit. Until recently, we were told there was $100 million of safety items across the district that needs addressing. Now, suddenly, we are told it is only $25 million! How can this be? These are not low priority items that can be dismissed.

The $100 million, we were told, had already taken into account which ones could be completed in-house. But now, they tell us that was wrong. Suddenly, 75% of the cost has vanished! Does this make sense?

I strongly advocate a no vote. For all the kids. We need a real plan for all of our schools.

Vicki Wilson

Palatine