Dist. 95 to hold forum on budget, curriculum, fees
Budget, curriculum, finances and fees are expected to be the main focus of a special community forum Thursday for residents of Lake Zurich Unit District 95.
District officials are encouraging parents to bring questions and concerns to the town-hall style forum, 7 to 9 p.m., in the Lake Zurich Middle School South gym. The school is at 435 W. Cuba Road, Lake Zurich.
"We wanted to make ourselves available to the community. Not only to get their questions answered, but also hear their concerns." Superintendent Mike Egan said. "The feedback is always appreciated."
There is no agenda or schedule for the meeting, but Egan said the school board and administration plan to address any questions, and he will stay until all questions were addressed.
Although no specific concerns initiated the decision to hold the forum, he said he expects district finances will be a popular topic.
No deficit is expected in the upcoming 2010-11, but officials are cautious about spending because state funding has been behind in payments.
Officials may also hear concerns about student fees. The school board voted Feb 25. to raise some student fees, but decided against a registration fee increase.
Parent Jodi Carroll said she plans to voice concerns about the air quality in the abandoned May Whitney building, which was closed in 2007 after it flooded and mold and asbestos were found.
Students were moved to the adjacent Annex, which is connected by maintenance doors to the vacant May Whitney building. Her son, who has respiratory problems, attends classes in the Annex.
"I think it goes beyond cleaning up (the school); they've been cleaning it up for all these years. They've had more than enough time to clean," Carroll said.
She and other parents plan to ask District 95 officials about the air quality report issued last August and the condition of the unused building. They plan to urge the board to move students to another school.
The board and administration addressed concerns about May Whitney school at an August 2009 community forum before the district officially received the report.
Egan said he learned of the report last week and is investigation why he was not made aware of it until then. Officials are still deciding the appropriate action for dealing with the abandoned building.
A webcast of this forum will be available online. Those who cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to e-mail comments until and during the forum. The district has received about 10 so far, according to Egan. Emails can be sent to forum@lz95.org.