Send a message with a 'no' vote

After a misleading 2002 referendum and subsequent broken promises, you would expect that District 203 would do a better job on the next referendum. Unfortunately, it looks like the same old story. First, they attempt to legitimatize their proposals as being a result of an "independent evaluation" of architects.

When they could not produce this evaluation, they change the justification to being based on interviews with administration and staff.

Sort through the rhetoric, this means that at least $45 million of the proposed Central plans are WANTS of the district, not needs. The district notes that 13 classrooms are not being used for traditional teaching (of course, the schools found other uses -work expands to space).

They expect a further reduction of 1,000 students in the next three years. At 25 students to the classroom, that would free up an additional 40 classrooms. These 53 classrooms that will not be needed for traditional teaching, exactly what former Superintendent Clark predicted back in 1990.

These 53 non-teaching classrooms would allow the early childhood program to grow six times its current size without any new facilities.

The district should use its existing resources before asking for more.

Lastly, since residents questioned the District spending in 2005, the district has accumulated a $40 million surplus rather than the $5 million originally projected. As we have been saying, the over-taxation is real. However, they only commit $16 million to the capital program. They have another $24 million they could spend on projects.

As the old saying goes, fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Vote no and send District 203 a message. They cannot only maintain, but improve education with the money they have. Don't let them fool you again.

Daniel Denys

Naperville