League OK with District 200 budget
The League of Women Voters believes the primary purpose of schooling is the transmission of knowledge and culture through which children learn in areas necessary to their continuing development. The Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 board budget process should give priority in the allocation of resources to fulfilling the primary purpose of schooling, that of educational excellence for all children.
The League supports the following instructional mandates: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies/history, foreign language, art and music, vocational education, special education, gifted education, early childhood education and health education. The League supports the schools and educational excellence for all children. We realize there is a need for balancing the budget and that cuts have to be made in order to achieve a fiscally responsible budget for 2010-2011.
The League encourages the board to give priority in the allocation of resources to fulfilling the primary purpose of schooling. The cuts discussed by the board at the March 23 meeting on the 2010-11 budget seem fair, and the process has been transparent and open.
The school board should continue to look to save as many full time employees as possible to ensure the continued excellence of the education given to our children. The state of Illinois currently provides 15 percent of District 200's budget and is significantly behind in payments for this school year.
The state should resume funding public schools (mandated by Article 10 of the state constitution) and guarantee adequate levels of financial support. The league supports HB 0174, a comprehensive reform package, and raising at least revenue as that bill proposes. Taxpayers should contact elected officials and urge them to push their leadership to consider revenues adequate to support the budget.
Missey Wilhelm
President, Wheaton League of Women Voters