League to host Feb. 13 program on school district consolidation study
Decreased government education funding, declining student populations, lagging achievement, growing expectations for academic offerings, costly accountability measures, and high property taxes compel us to question: Are we getting the most out of every education tax dollar?
The League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale conducted a formal study to answer that question and create their position on consolidating the five elementary school districts that feed Lake Park High School including Bloomingdale (District 13), Itasca (District 10), Keeneyville (District 20), Medinah (District 11), and Roselle (District 12).
They will share the results of that study at a community education event at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Lake Park East Auditorium, 600 Medinah Road in Roselle.
This event is free and open to the public. Attendees do not need to become League members to attend.
They will present the final study to the community and host a panel of experts who can answer questions from the audience.
The event features Donna Limper, Issues & Advocacy specialist and lead author of the study, who will deliver a 25-minute presentation summarizing the key findings of the study.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session fielded by a panel of experts:
• Annie McGowan, Deputy Director of Research, Civic Federation
• Dr. William Phillips of Midwest School Consultants
• Jack Bentley, Executive Director and Community Lawyer, Citizen Advocacy Center
After the program, the League encourages citizens to contact their local elementary school board so they can voice their opinion on the wisdom of undertaking a formal study by a consolidation expert.
The five districts would incur no cost to investigate reorganization because the state of Illinois would fund the full cost of the study.
The year-long research of both benefits and considerations resulted in our taking a consensus position to guide our actions. The study is available for review and prompted the League to recommend that all five Lake Park High School feeder elementary school boards jointly commission an expert report to determine the financial impact of consolidating district administrations to redirect those high expenses to the classroom and perhaps provide some relief to property taxpayers.
Their goal is to increase educational fiscal efficiency in a manner that advances academic outcomes for Lake Park High School community students and controls rising property taxes. In other words, control spending and invest money where it counts.
Set aside Tuesday, Feb. 13, to learn more about this important topic and share your opinion about elementary school district consolidation.
For more information about the study, visit School District Consolidation Study. To learn a bout other League events and monthly meetings, contact us at (630) 283-2894 or lwvrbmail@gmail.com or visit www.lwvrb.org.
About the League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale
Formed in 2012, the League of Women Voters of Roselle/Bloomingdale is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy and does not support or oppose any political parties or candidates. With over 100 years of experience and more than 800 local and state affiliations, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations. Membership in the League is open to people, ages 16 or older.
For more information about the League’s events and monthly meetings, or to become a member of the League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale, please visit www.lwvrb.org or call (630) 283-2894. Follow www.facebook.com/lwvrb or www.instagram.com/lwvrosellebloomingdale.
For more information on the League of Women Voters of Illinois, visit www.lwvil.org, or for information on the League of Women Voters of the United States, visit www.lwv.org.