School Board Election Could Drastically Change The Course Of Education In Our City
One of the most important elections in the history of St Charles will occur on April 4. Unfortunately, very few people are aware of this fact. The election in question is for two positions on the St Charles R6 School Board. The people who fill these positions will drastically change the course of education in our city.
There are also two tax measures on the ballot regarding our public school system. Proposition ‘A’ asks for a 28-cent tax levy transfer. This does not increase your taxes. It does, however, stop taxes from going down by $80 per year for a home with a value of $150,000. If passed, it would generate $2,300,000 per year for the school district.
There is also a tax increase proposal on the ballot (Proposition ‘B’), which asks for a 50-cent tax increase. If this proposal is passed, it would cost a homeowner $142 per year for a home valued at $150,000. It would generate $4,100,000 per year for the school district.
Our three main school administrators (Superintendent Dr. Jim Cale, Ass’t Superintendent Dr. Kim Harding and Ass’t Superintendent Cheryl Compton) have proposed sweeping changes in the organizational structure of our school system. The seven members of our school board have agreed to these changes if the 50-cent tax increase is not passed. Two of the seven seats are up for election on April 4.
The following is a brief description of the changes that have been proposed. There are seven elementary schools now, which contain kindergarten through 5th grades. One or two elementary schools would be closed. The most likely schools to be closed are Benton, Blackhurst, and/or Lincoln. The 5th grade at the remaining schools would be closed and moved to Jefferson Middle School.
Jefferson Middle School would be reconfigured from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades to contain only grades 5 and 6. Hardin Middle School would also be reconfigured to contain only grades 7 and 8.
Every elementary school boundary would be redrawn, causing hundreds of children to change schools. Every child in grades 5 through 8 would ride a bus to school, except the 5th and 6th graders in walking distance of Jefferson and the 7th and 8th graders in walking distance of Hardin.
Some money will be saved by physically closing the buildings. However, the cost of maintaining an empty building is not that much less than the cost of operating a building. The primary cost savings is through the reduction of teachers and staff. With fewer teachers, we will have more children in any given classroom. In short, the vast majority of the savings comes by increasing the ratio of students-to-teachers. The number of students per class in kindergarten through 8th grade will increase by 4 to 5 children per class.
The ‘seminar’ period at both high schools would be drastically changed. Presently seminar is held every other day for 85 minutes. Numerous activities occur during seminar. This includes: school assemblies; Student Council Meeting; Renaissance Club Meeting; various other club meetings; students meet with teachers for special help and assistance; computer lab is available for extra work; and general study hall. This will be changed to once per week for 45 minutes. This is almost an 80% reduction in seminar time. Students, parents, and teachers publicly opposed this change during the public comment portion of every school board meeting.
Two of the seven seats are up for election. The President of the School Board, Dr John Smith, is not running for re-election and one other seat is available. Each seat is for a three year term. Two or three seats are filled each year on a rotating basis.
There are five candidates running for election. To date, very little information is available about each candidate. Nonetheless, the information we do have is very significant. The following is the information that is publicly known about each candidate relative to their position regarding closing and reconfiguring our school system. This is based on the public comments and/or voting record of each candidate. They are listed in the order as they appear on the ballot.
Wayne Oetting: Mr. Oetting has served over twenty years on the school board. He lost his last bid for re-election. Before the election he had strongly suggested that Benton and/or Lincoln Elementary Schools be closed. Prior to that, he had supported a tax increase to make physical upgrades to all eleven public schools. The specific upgrades had been presented to the public and approved. He wished to close the schools prior to making the improvements, even though the public had specifically approved the work and passed the tax increase. Mr. Oetting has not made any public comments at the informational meetings held at the elementary schools last fall regarding the proposed school closing and reconfiguration or during the public comment portion of the school board meetings.
Mary Darting: Ms Darting is the incumbent school board member. She ran unopposed last April to complete the term vacated by Jerry Reese after he was elected to the city council. Ms. Darting has voted in favor of closing and reconfiguring the schools. She is one of three ex-teacher/principals on the school board. (School board members Linda Schulte and Donna Towers are former St Charles school principals.)
Mike Thorne: Mr. Thorne is also a former teacher in the school district. To the best of my knowledge, he has not made any public comments regarding closing or reconfiguring schools.
Gary Spearman: Mr. Spearman, a district parent, has spoken at numerous school board meetings. He has strongly opposed the decision to close and reconfigure the school system. He does not feel the financial position of the school district warrants the actions proposed by the district administrators and approved by the school board. He believes the 28-cent tax levy transfer (on the ballot as Proposition A) provides adequate funding to operate all eleven schools without the need to close or reconfigure our school system.
Gary Shelton: Mr. Shelton, a district parent, has spoken at numerous informational meetings and school board meetings. He has met with Mick Willis, who is the Business Manager for the district, and Dr. Harding regarding the financial position of the district. He also believes the 28-cent tax levy transfer provides adequate funding for the near future and is strongly opposed to closing or reconfiguring our school system.
There is a clear ideological difference between the candidates, based on the actions they have taken and the words they have spoken. Regardless of your position regarding Proposition A and B, your choice, as a voter, is to determine which candidate’s ideology is most closely aligned with yours.
