McHenry County Blog

The last teachers’ strike in the area was by the Huntley Teachers Association in 2008.

Strike votes are being taken at various schools in Carpentersville Unit School District 300.

Teachers who wish to go on strike seem to be winning.

In preparation, leadership is pointing to Friday, October 19th, as the day the picket lines will go up.

It seems likely that it is not a coincidence that Friday, October 19th is the end of a pay period, the day that pay checks are due.

2010 deductions for union dues in School District 300. Click to enlarge.

With all the fuss in Wisconsin concerning what Democrats call “union busting” legislation, I thought it might be interesting to see what’s at stake.

Under one proposal of Republican Governor Scott Walker, public employee union officials (excluding police and fire personnel, as I understand the bill) would have to collect their own dues.

No more getting a check every pay period from a school district.

I asked the largest school district operating in McHenry County how much was paid to its various unions last year.

Carpentersville Unit District 300 said it was $1,122,392.  in 2009-10 there were 1,997 employees who were union members.

No wonder union officials are so strongly opposed to this proposal of Governor Walker.

Imagine how much more difficult it would be to convince all the union employees to authorize automatic deductions from their checking accounts.

The job of shop steward or whatever such officials are called in teacher unions would not be a pleasant one.

Well-attended District 300 School Board meeting.

National Taxpayers United of Illinois President Jim Tobin has been touring the state releasing the top 100 public pensions for various counties.

From looking at the lists, it’s obvious that judicial pensions are missing. Haven’t seen any legislators’ retirement income either.

Tobin made it to Kane County recently and tagged a couple of Carpentersville District 300 administrators. Their names and pensions follow:

• Norman R. Wetzel, retired District 300 superintendent: $212,651
• Joseph Scime, retired District 300 superintendent: $157,233
• Robert Hansen, retired District 300 associate superintendent: $131,136

Wetzel’s was the highest Kane County pension found.

OK, District 300 taxpayers in Algonquin, Barrington Hills and Lake in the Hills, let’s hear that unfamiliar football cheer in the Chicago area:

“We’re number one! We’re number one!”

It is worth mentioning that the Elgin School District is larger than the Carpentersville one, yet its retired administrators don’t show up higher on the list than Scime.

Joe Williams in a relaxed atmosphere at the McHenry County Fair.

Future McHenry County Regional Superintendent of School Joe Williams is quoted in an article on Home Schooling published by the Illinois State Board of Election.

Here’s his two paragraphs:

“Joe Williams, ROE #44 assistant superintendent in McHenry County and also the county’s lone truancy officer, said very few abuse cases happen among the 60,000 or so school- age children there. ‘Maybe two or three per year,’ he said, adding that if truancy is an issue, he is prepared to take it to court if needed.

“’On whole, it’s been a largely positive experience regarding the home school families in McHenry County,”’he said. ‘They work hard, they love their kids, and if they need something, they’ll call.’ But he also said he has no hard numbers on how many home school kids are in the county.”

A 1950′s Illinois Supreme Court decision prohibits regulation of Home Schooling.

Williams is running unopposed in the fall election.

I always get exercised when I see marginal highway projects in Downstate Illinois, while area residents are threatened (with the support of local officials) with a local toll bridge across the Fox River between Carpentersville and Algonquin.

In 2007, we were driving from McHenry County to Coles County via Interstate 57.

Right north of where we got off the highway in the Mattoon area, we saw a new overpass.

“What a waste!” I thought.

Coles County Population shows no growth since 1980.

It’s not as if the area is growing.

Then I thought of Eagle Creek Resort, a state-owned, but not flourishing resort on Lake Shelby we stayed at.

We enjoyed it.

I got a marvelous photo of a butterfly and a little girl and her father in the pool where my son spent most of his time.

I was told the overpass was to provide better access to it. Some were planning to put a casino there.

Overpass being build in 2007 north of Mattoon in Coles County.

So, I took a picture of it on the way home.

Another overpass was being constructed on the east side of Champaign in 2007.

When we got to the Champaign area, I spotted another new overpass.

“Another waste,” I thought.

At least Champaign County's population is growing a little bit.

Another photo opportunity.

Fast forward almost three years and what does the news say about the Champaign County overpass?

That Republican candidate Bill Brady had a subdivision he was trying to build east of town and the overpass would make that possible.

That he voted for the bill to build the overpass.

Charges of conflict of interest.

Just in case you think any candidate for governor is pure as the driven snow.

And, what about McHenry County’s population growth?

While Coles County population flatlined and Champign increase every so little, McHenry County's population soared.

And Kane County’s growth was none to shabby either.

Kane County has seen steady growth.

That sucking sound you hear is Northern Illinois Motor Fuel Tax money draining south for marginal road projects, while we sit in traffic jams.

Former District 300 Board member was out of the country on his new job when I emailed him asking what he thought his accomplishments were.

Interestingly, he did not mention getting elected as a Home School Dad. In 2007, he was one of two McHenry County Home School Dad’s to win a school board seat.

The other was John O’Neill, now a candidate for state representative against veteran incumbent Democrat Jack Franks.

Ryan got more votes than any of the other eight candidates when he ran for the Carpentersville School Board. He defeated incumbent School Board President Mary Fioretti.

I asked him to reflect on his accomplishments. Here’s his reply:

John Ryan

“As you may recall, my campaign was based upon a pledge of both fiscal and ethical accountability and transparency.

“To that end, there are several accomplishments I have particularly strong feelings about.

“I am very pleased that I was able to disprove the image of me that was portrayed by my adversaries and earn the trust of my colleagues, administration and staff of D300.

“Through my conduct, I believe I was able to show all of them that just because someone aspires to a high standard, and as such will occasionally disagree with group think, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an enemy.

“Just the opposite – often times you’re the voice of reason and conscience.

“While it has often been referred to as ‘pay to play,’  I think ‘conflict of interest’ describes the policy more accurately.

“Besides the practical benefits of its implementation, such a policy sends a strong message in regard to the values a Board hold important.  I am proud that I didn’t give up on it after it was defeated the first time around, and of the collaborative approach used to get it ultimately approved.

“The degree of opposition by a key administrator both times around was initially stunning and proved quite revealing in regard to how entrenched and pervasive the ‘me first’ attitude of educrats really is.

“I am proud of the tasks accomplished under my watch as Chair of the Policy & Legislative as well as the Construction and Facilities Oversight Committees.

“In particular, strengthening D300′s policies on

• bullying, harassment and intimidation;
• authoring the cash reserve policy that saved taxpayers $2,000,000 by producing a 5-tier increase in D300′s credit ratings;
• developing specific protocols for construction change orders (a good topic for an in depth investigative article would be an audit of the referendum projects before these guides were in place);
• implementation of a FOIA policy which proactively posts the D300 ‘checkbook,’
• BOE meeting packets and FOIA responses online; as well as
• working with our local legislators to get a common sense ADA implementation bill signed into law (and subsequently being appointed to the C(aptial) D(evelopment) B(oard)’s ADA Task Force as a result).

“Lastly, although my role was minor,  I am pleased that my efforts as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee played a role in implementing the ‘Educational Program Review Technique’ (EPRT) process that was the foundation for eliminating D300′s $27M deficit in two years. (Credit must be given to Dr. (Cheryl) Crates for initiating the process).”

I next asked Ryan to reflect on his activity in the successful referendums passed by District 300:

“I strongly opposed the referendum – specifically the lack of fiscal discipline, integrity and transparency that necessitated it in the first place.

“Even more so, I stood opposed to the less than forthright tactics used by its proponents to secure its passage.  The same is true for the questionable interpretation of the Open Meetings Act and the post-referendum bonus paid to Dr. (Ken) Arndt by the preceding Board.

“I made one thing clear upon my inauguration though – what was done was done.  It passed and as such, I took it as my responsibility to ensure its promises were kept.”

And, Ryan has a final word:

“In closing, I guess the end of my resignation letter sums it up best.

“I will be eternally grateful to those who placed their confidence and trust in me; and I depart knowing I can honestly say ‘promises kept!’”

The Daily Herald’s Josh Stockinger reported Friday that former District 300 Dundee-Crown High School secretary Lisa Burkhart-Foster of East Dundee was sentenced to repay Carpentersville District 300 $75,000 she apparently finally admits stealing from an extracurricular activity fund for sports related and other activities over a four-year period. It started in 2002.

Apparently the loss of the money was discovered during the school district’s big push to hike the tax rate 55-cents per $100 of assessed valuation, plus authorize over $100 million in building borrowing.

But the loss wasn’t made public until after the hard-fought tax hike campaign financed by District 300 vendors and developers.

The January before last School Board President Joe Stevens emailed me the following when I asked him the status of the investigation:

“Regarding the $100,000 suspected lost from the student activity fund, we have now completed our forensic audit and it does validate such a loss occurred.

“We fully expect to recover all of the money through our insurance provider.

“The matter now rests with the States Attorney awaiting further action.”

Ken Arndt

In an August 6, 2007, letter to Daily Herald reporter Emily Krone, District 300 School Superintendent Ken Arndt releases a timeline which includes

• 2005: Central Office employees identified concerns with student activity accounts and began pursuing answers to their concerns
• September 2006 (after the rate hike and bond referendums, I would note): D300 launched a series of proactive steps to research, define, and correct the root cause(s) of the bookkeeping problems.
• July 2006: D300 filed a police report on the matter with after determining that embezzlement was probable.
• July 2007: D300 filed papers in Kane County Circuit Court seeking financial documentation to help answer the remaining questions, which are relevant both to District’s insurance claim and possible criminal charges.

The local police department says above that the thief was notice by District 300 officials on May 7, 2006.  It was not reported, however, until July 6, 2006.

You may notice that it is now May, 2010.  (Click to enlarge.)

It has taken four years for the taxpayers to receive a semblance of justice.

Interviews are in process to select Supt. Arndt’s replacement.

Since then, there has been a report of a Huntley School District parent-teacher organization treasurer doing something similar and a probe is now going on at Crystal Lake High School District 155 for which no resolution has been revealed.

The following press release has been received from Maggie Auger announcing her candidacy for Kane County Board District 23.

Kane County, unlike McHenry County, has single-member districts. That allows an active candidate to knock on every door.

McHenry County has multi-member districts. Four seats are in each of six districts. Such an arrangement usually holds down minority representation. “Minority” in this case refers to Democrats. Pockets of Democratic Party strength can be expected to be mixed with stronghold areas of the Republican Party during reapportionment.

Margaret “Maggie” Auger of Algonquin continues to prepare for the upcoming campaign for Kane County Board Member for District 23

“My exploratory candidacy has been enthusiastically received by the Kane County community, and we continue to prepare for our formal announcement later this month. My campaign’s official website is up and running as of today, September 12th.

“I will be at the Dundee Township Republicans Picnic tomorrow (Sunday, September 13th) to meet and talk with voters.”

The Citizens for Maggie Auger committee was created last month, and now has its mailing address:

Citizens for Maggie Auger
PO Box 7844
Algonquin, IL 60102

In addition, Maggie’s campaign e-mail and campaign web site are up. Going forward, Maggie can be contacted directly at:

Auger expects to complete the exploratory phase of her candidacy and make an official announcement later this month. Petition filing for Kane County Board begins on October 26th and runs through November 2nd. District 23 includes all of the village of Algonquin within Kane County, as well as portions of Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow, West Dundee and unincorporated Dundee.

For more information about Maggie, including her exemplary qualifications for Kane County Board, as well as to express your wishes to volunteer for her campaign, please check the campaign’s new website at:

Why is she running?

Here’s what her web site says:

“Now that I am done raising my children, I have the time to dedicate to the role of Kane County Board.

“With balancing the budget as a looming issue, I would like to add new insight to the review of the current budget. As in our personal lives, our county government must operate within the revenue we collect, pay as we go, ensure the revenue collected is used as efficiently as possible and plan for the future. I would be open to new ideas and would appreciate your input. The needs of the departments need to be considered along with the needs of the taxpayers.

“With other issues, including transportation, open space, controlled growth; I will listen to all sides of the issue and seek to do what is best for the taxpayers of Kane County. As an attorney, arbitrator, and Chairperson of the Planning and Zoning Commission, I have the skills and experience to listen to various sides to an issue and use that to guide in making a decision that benefits the whole. I will apply these skills and experience as a Kane County Board member.

“Please support me and vote for me on February 2, 2010.”

NASA Education Corporation has let us know that it is cosponsoring the Carpentersville Musical Festival ’09 this weekend.

It will be held in Carpenter Park.

The other co-sponsor is Sargon Productions.

As you can see it is a family-friendly affair, but there are attractions other than food, drink and games for the kids.

If you have a love for music then Carpenter Park in Carpentersville is the place to be this weekend.

Sargon Productions and NASA Education Corporation will be sponsoring the Carpentersville Musical Festival ’09 on Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th.

This cross appeared in the sky south of Huntley Road in Carpentersville late Friday afternoon on March 5th.

I don’t think I have ever seen jet airplane contrails cross at right angles before.

The setting sun brightly illuminates them.