Three File So Far for Four CL Grade School Spots

Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 has four seats up for grabs in April’s election. Terms are expiring for Jeff Mason Rob Routzahn Ruth Scifo Virginia Visin So far three people have filed petitions for the openings: Jeff Mason Rob … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Grade School Supt. Says School Closing Study Won’t Be Ready for for Months

Yesterday Crystal Lake Elementary School Superintendent Donn Mendoza sent Crystal Lake Library Director Kathryn Martens the following email: “Attached is the operational information you requested. “As per our discussion, last night, our Board directed me to commence a study and … Continue reading

Will Crystal Lakers End up Paying for a Grade School Twice?

The Northwest Herald has a fascinating article about the possibility of the Crystal Lake Library District using a Crystal Lake Grade School District elementary school. Wednesday night the Board held a meeting in which the following was on the agenda: … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Middle Schoolers to Attend Rachel’s Challenge Anti-Bullying Assemblies

An email from District 47 Superintendent Donn Mendoza: Subject: Exciting Opportunity for District 47’s Middle School Students and Families Dear District 47 Middle School Families: The purpose for this correspondence is to inform you that all three District 47 middle … Continue reading

Teachers’ Pensions on Table at MCC Tuesday Night

A press release from the Illinois Policy Institute: Illinois Policy Institute to host debate on teacher pension reform Debate 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14 at McHenry County College in northwest suburban Crystal Lake CHICAGO (Aug. 13, 2012) – On Tuesday, … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Elementary School Doesn’t Know How Much Democrats’ Proposed Pension Shift from State to Real Estate Taxpayer Might Cost

I have to say I am disappointed that Crystal Lake District 47 has no idea of how much it might cost to shift the financing of teacher pensions from state taxpayers to local taxpayers. In a Freedom of Information Request, … Continue reading

School Payments to Vendors Online at For the Good of Illinois

A tool for those who want to know where their tax dollars are going went up today on the Adam Andrzejewski’s web site, For the Good of Illinois. Pick your school district (after signing) in. Take a look at where … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Grade School District Asks Taxpayers’ Help to Fight Their Self-Interest

A email has been sent this morning soliciting parental opposition to State Rep. Jack Franks’ bill to prohibit the collection of more property tax dollars when assessments go down. Apparently Superintendent Donn Mendoza and School Board President Jeff Mason were … Continue reading

Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services Holds Annual Dinner

Two sections of the Concord Banquet Hall in Lake Zurich were filled by Pro-Life supporters of the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Center Thursday night. The night was held for the purpose of replenishing the treasury of the ministry, which operates … Continue reading

Former South Grade School Principal Succumbs to Ladder Fall

Bill Fetzner, the former Principal of South Grade School and most recently before his retirement in charge of buildings, died during surgery following a fall from a ladder at his home. Fetzner’s son Rob currently serves on the District 47 … Continue reading

McHenry County Tax Bills Online at Treasurer’s Office

Although they are not going to be put in the mail until Friday, McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew’s web site has tax bills on the internet already. At least they were when I tried about an hour ago. I’m getting … Continue reading

School Districts Tax Rates Soar as Assessments Plunge

School districts take most of our property tax dollars. It is fair to compare unit districts to unit districts. These are how all schools were originally. During the run-up to the 1870 Constitutional Convention, there was tremendous borrowing by local … Continue reading

What Crystal Lake Grade School to Close

The Northwest Herald’s Brett Rowland wrote a thought-provoking article published Sunday about how Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 has had fewer and fewer students after 2007. Down from 9,124 to 8,359. Down 765 students. So, there seems to be … Continue reading

In District 47 Guy Without Yard Signs Loses

That headline is not quite correct. I did see a yard sign for Carlo Anello after I voted. In any event, the top three were convincing winners were Robert Fetzner – 1987 Nancy Gonsiorek – 1958 Ryan Farrell – 1862 … Continue reading

Source Says District 47 Teachers Support Board Candidates

The people on the ballot for the Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 School Board number four: Robert Fetzner Nancy Gonsiorek Ryan Farrel Carlo Agnello There are three to be elected. I’m ashamed to tell you that my level of … Continue reading

Teacher Contracts in Poorest Performing Illinois Schools Require No or Little Teacher Payment

Former Huntley School Board member Larry Snow has done a prodigious amount of research about school districts where teachers pay nothing for their pensions. Those employed in the private sector pay into Social Security. But they also pay the entire … Continue reading

$3.8 Million in Local School Employee Union Dues of Local School Employees

McHenry County Blog has surveyed school districts with major presences in McHenry County and discovered that union employees paid $3.8 million in dues during calendar year 2010. The total amount was $3,825,572. Contracts are typically for more than one year … Continue reading

School Consolidation Would Cost Taxpayers Plenty

Governor Pat Quinn thinks that consolidating schools will save big money because fewer administrators would be required. Reading the Daily Herald article, I notice that no mention is made of equalizing up elementary school teacher salaries to the level paid … Continue reading

Lakewood and District 47 Only Crystal Lake-Area Election Contests

No contest for Crystal Lake Mayor or City Council. No contest for Crystal Lake Park Board. Those are usually the big vote draws on election day. In addition, there are no contests for the Crystal Lake High School Board. The … Continue reading