Huntley police seek national recognition

Huntley police are on the verge of a rare achievement.

The department is about to become only the second in McHenry County to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

That means the department has updated its practices to reflect high standards of law enforcement.

But the deal hasn't been sealed yet. A team of assessors from CALEA is scheduled to visit the department on Saturday to ensure Huntley police have met the commission's standards.

Part of the final assessment stage is public feedback. You can offer your feedback on Huntley police at an information session at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 26 at village hall. You can also call (847) 515-5358 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday to speak with a member of the assessment team.

For those who prefer snail mail, you can send your comments to CALEA at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Va. 22030-2201.

Huntley police stress that your comments should relate to the department's compliance with CALEA's standards, available at the department.

That means you can't whine about that ticket you got when you double-parked during the Turkey Testicle Festival or the speed trap that nabbed you on the way home from the bar.

You can't save these seats with beach towels: If you're planning on attending Monday's Community Unit District 300 board meeting, I'd advise you to arrive early.

The board is scheduled to vote on more than $1.6 million in transportation reductions. Among the areas that would be affected include Preschool for All, the dual language program and students who attend parochial schools.

If past meetings and the e-mails I've been receiving are any indication, the Carpentersville Middle School auditorium will be filled to the brim when board President Joe Stevens bangs the gavel around 7:30 p.m.

Be prepared to be there a while if you want to witness the final vote. Dozens of parents and advocates are likely to sign up to speak, and Stevens says he plans to let them all have their say before the board votes.

Among the proposals that will be considered Monday that have generated the most backlash is the recommendation to stop special routes for kids who attend religious schools within District 300 borders.

Carol Norman, a teacher at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in West Dundee, tells me that teachers and parents collected more than 550 signatures opposing the proposed cuts to parochial busing.

That's just at one school; petitions are also being circulated at the district's four other parochial schools.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that parents' appeals will sway district officials, who have a good excuse: right now, they simply can't afford anything they aren't required to provide by law.

That's a recipe for angry, frustrated parents.

As Stevens said this week, "Everyone will be glad to have that vote resolved. - I expect it to be a long evening."