An Open Letter to the D102 Board of Education

Dear District 102 Board:

Tonight, the Board of Education will take the first of many necessary and painful steps toward eliminating deficits that have dogged us for years. It will consider $1 million in proposed budget cuts. These proposed cuts were only just made public on Monday and the Board is set to vote on them tonight. Ordinarily, the Board does not take up something this important without a lot of input from all stakeholders.

The District organizations that supposedly exist for this purpose were ignored. Financial Advisory Council was not consulted. This is unprecedented in a discussion affecting $1 million dollars. Nor was the Parent’s Advisory Council; again unprecedented, given the impact on students and curricula. In short, the District did not ask for any community input. On the contrary, it appears as though the District went out of its way not to involve the community. 

When addressing budget cuts, you are in a no-win situation. Whatever you do will make somebody unhappy and they will not be shy in letting you know. However, it was always the policy of District 102 to have those difficult discussions and to give the community a real role in the decisions that affect our schools and our children. The District’s proposal includes a likely call for a referendum. To pass a referendum, the District will need a tremendous amount of community buy-in, support and trust. Voting on this proposal tonight, under these circumstances will seriously damage that. 

It is not too late. I urge the Board to table voting on this proposal until there is a real opportunity for community involvement.

Respectfully,

Peter Daniels