Saturday Soapbox: Lake County
Go for it:
School districts across Lake County are grappling with an array of critical issues from rising class sizes to meeting demands for technology. And, that says nothing of the common struggle over the lack of adequate funding, especially from the state. With that in mind, no options for saving money or streamlining operations should go unstudied, including consolidation. We applaud Antioch Elementary District 34 and Lake Villa Elementary District 41 for planning to examine that issue, and we think there are probably a few other school districts that should take a look as well. Illinois has 870 public school districts, the second highest number in the country. Of those districts, 200 are made up of a single school. In 2006, a state board of education analysis pointed out the benefits of fewer and larger school districts. They included lower administrative costs, improved administrative leadership, curriculum alignment and course offerings. It's a big change that would require referendum approval by voters, but one that would be worth considering.
Gift of safety
The Countryside Fire Protection District gets an A+ for creative thinking for its graduation gift to Vernon Hills High School's Class of 2008. After a rehearsal for the ceremony this week, every teen received a blue-and-silver drawstring bag containing a smoke detector, a battery-operated candle, a DVD about dorm fires and other safety-themed items. The kits, provided by the fire district, are designed to promote fire safety in dormitories and college-town apartments. The Center for Fire Safety says between 2000 and 2006, at least 94 people died in campus-related fires. Kudos to Chief Jeff Steingart, who came up with the idea to provide one more safety lesson to the teens before they left high school.
Time for new uniforms
Two decades is a long time to keep any article of clothing, even if you only pull it out of the closet a handful of times each year. But that's about how old the marching band uniforms are at Lake Zurich High School, and parents and teachers would like to see them retired and replaced. The uniforms have been repaired time and time again, sometimes with duct tape. About 13 percent of the original 172 are unusable, and even if every last one were serviceable, there wouldn't be enough to outfit the entire band, which is one of the largest in the area and continues to grow. Parents are raising part of the $80,000 needed for new uniforms, and we hope the school district and the community will step up to cover the rest. The band program has gained international prominence and is no doubt a source of pride for the entire community. Its members should look the part, and have uniforms they can be proud of.
Is it Vitality Spa or Vanity Spa?
Park districts run mini-golf courses and banquet facilities and restaurants. But at what point do such ventures -- even if they're self-sustaining or raise money toward other recreational programs -- go beyond the boundaries of a park district's mission or unfairly compete with the private sector? It seems that the Buffalo Grove Park District is butting up against that line -- some have said crossing it -- with plans to offer hair-waxing and eyelash-tinting at Vitality, the spa the district runs. It's understandable, even commendable, that public entities try to find new revenue streams. And some of the spa services, like massages, have therapeutic benefits. But there's something peculiar about moving into the arena of what could only be described as vanity offerings. Buffalo Grove Trustee Jeff Bruce Kahn noted some critics have asked him, "What's next? Haircuts?" Perhaps an even better question would be: Botox? A debate worth having.