Letter: Issue gives unions too much power

Teachers unions say there is a critical shortage of teachers in the state, but Illinois School Board of Education data states differently. Since 2010 enrollment statewide is down almost 180,000 (8.7%) students while teacher head count has increased by over 4,500 teachers (3.5%). City of Chicago has 1/3 of their school buildings at less than 50% full. Yet Chicago, in bed with the teachers union, will not close any schools or reduce head counts.

This brings us to November referendum Amendment 1. This amendment give virtually unchecked powers to state unions and by one estimate would raise property taxes by $2,100 over the first four years.

What we have seen the last two decades, and more specifically last two years due to COVID and remote "unlearning," is that the students' scores are down, number of student at grade level has dropped significantly and the appetite for school boards and unions to consume taxpayer money without any check and balance or guarantees in place call for a loud and resounding rejection of the amendment in November.

Tony Atkins

Wheaton