West Chicago school board president clarifies consolidation remarks

As the school board president of West Chicago Community High School District 94, Tony Reyes helped resurrect a long-dormant discussion on District 94 merging with up to three other feeder districts.

But now that he's a candidate in the crowded Winfield village president race, Reyes wants to set the record straight: He says he doesn't want Winfield Elementary District 34 merging with District 94 or anyone else.

"My position on (District) 34 has always been for it to remain an independent district," Reyes said. "That's never changed. I have never changed my position on that."

Reyes has been forced to clarify himself since announcing he was challenging Winfield Village President Rudy Czech's re-election bid. The village president race has grown into a four-person contest that includes trustees Deborah Birutis and Angel Oakley.

Before declaring his aspirations for the village president seat, Reyes had been spearheading a movement to discuss whether District 94 should consolidate with District 34, Benjamin Elementary District 25 and West Chicago Elementary District 33.

Birutis and Oakley both said they have no plans to make political hay out of Reyes' consolidation efforts. However, they say, some residents have expressed concerns about Reyes possibly modifying his position.

"Many people think he's trying to backpedal from his initial position," Oakley said. "He heard that he wasn't going to get the school vote because all the parents were so upset with him about the consolidation push."

"It seems like it's already an issue in the campaign," Birutis said. "If it wasn't an issue, why would he (Reyes) be responding?"

Reyes said some have misunderstood his position, which was to give residents living within the four districts the chance to vote on whether they support consolidation or not.

"I am not advocating for any district to become one unit," he said. "I am advocating for the people to have the right to vote on it."

In fact, he said, he doesn't believe District 34 voters would support consolidation. But state law requires the district be involved in the consolidation process.

"You cannot consolidate any two of the four districts without all four participating in the consolidation referendum," Reyes said. "For example, in order for (districts) 33 and 94 to consolidate, all four districts would have to put it on the ballot."

Whether voters get the opportunity to weigh in on a consolidation ballot question remains to be seen.

District 34 Superintendent Diane Cody said the results of a consolidation study are expected to be presented next month during a joint meeting of the four school boards. The data could help them decide whether consolidation is a good idea.

While District 34 officials say they look forward to seeing what information the report will provide, historically, consolidation has been a tough sell in District 34 because it already has low tax rates, small class sizes and high test scores.

"From the people that we have heard from," Cody said. "they strongly prefer to stay an independent district."