Dist. 303 should focus on the basic

I was sitting with a group of parents last weekend discussing D303 and not one parent in the room had anything positive to say about our district. We were rehashing some of the things that have happened within our district and we all sat there shaking our heads. One parent remarked "Can you imagine trying to run a business like that?"

Now our new superintendent is hiring a PR agency for $11,000-plus a month to help bolster the image of D303. Here's a suggestion: first get rid of Gaffney and Hewell and your image will immediately improve. The taxpayers no longer want trust nor want them and no consultant will fix that. From there start conducting the district in a business-like professional manner openly and honestly without hidden agendas and arrogant attitudes. And, your image will soar.

The fact is too much money is wasted on hiring consultants for things the district and board should be able to handle themselves, or could put together volunteer committees to do. The money wasted on consultants should be earmarked for the district school's for things such as textbooks fees, registration, equipment for the classrooms, teaching needs, stadium lights and benches for a new soccer field or other athletic or extra curricular needs.

Too often the taxpayers are asked to shoulder the responsibility for necessities that the district could set aside money for if they weren't spending so much time mismanaging money and wasting it on consultants. The taxpayers are already burdened enough with their property tax bills and don't want to be burdened anymore especially when they see money spent on things such as consultants to booster an image tainted by members on the board.

It's time to clean house and start running the district professionally and asking to have money earmarked for things it truly needs instead on continually relying on the taxpayers or consultants.

Cheryl Bast

South Elgin