Extending tax deal pushes Sears away

Community Unit District 300, one of the largest school districts in Illinois by area, covers 118 square miles and reaches into 15 municipalities in Kane, McHenry, Cook and DeKalb counties.

The Illinois Senate plans to vote on Senate Bill 540. Amendment 3 of this bill would rob our schools of more than $200 million over the next 15 years. Just imagine what that funding could do for class sizes, programs, educational resources and our financial security.

Not only would Amendment 3 severely hurt the educational opportunities of our students, but its passage may also require additional staff layoffs and would continue to shift the tax burden from Sears Corporate Holdings and Hoffman Estates residents onto the taxpayers of District 300. We believe that 23 years has been long enough.

To be very clear, we are not against Sears. Sears employees are our friends and neighbors. They are the parents of our students, and they are a vital part of our community. We want to find a win-win solution for Sears and our community. However, Amendment 3 of Senate Bill 540 would actually make it easier for Sears to leave Illinois. So if the state wants to keep Sears in Illinois like we do, the EDA is not the way.

Debbie Hartman

Instructional Technology Coordinator

Student Information System Administrator

District 300

Carpentersville