Continued Discussion on School Consolidation

In the “Here we go again” category is consolidation of schools. These comments by Lakewood’s Steve Willson stimulates me to re-post the analysis I did seven years ago under his reflections: I’m so tired of this “consolidate the schools” argument. … Continue reading

Schermerhorn Reveals School Building Savings Possibilities

In her letter to McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee members last week, there were suggestions of how local taxpayers might save money in meeting the housing needs of students. School expansion. Alden-Hebron Unit District Does Alden-Hebron really need … Continue reading

Prairie Grove School Employees Send $58,747 to Illlinois Education Association

Seventy teachers and forth support staff members working for Prairie Grove Grade School District 46 contributed almost $60,000 a year to the Illinois Education Association. The union, which captured control of the school board at one point, counts all seventy … Continue reading

2016 Statistics for McHenry County Schools – Demographic Data

A while ago, a commenter asked for more information about schools than whether and how much they increased or decreased taxes since last year. While data for 2017 is not available, that for 2016 is. A Friend of McHenry County … Continue reading

Considering Consolidation of High School District 155 with Feeder Grade Schools

The following was written by Cary Grade School Board President Scott Coffey: Thoughts on School Consolidation A new, consolidated district is NOT required to migrate to the highest wage rates of the legacy contracts of the combined districts. However, that … Continue reading

Comparing School Tax Totals – 2015 and 2016 Collections

Schools are the tax districts that take most money in every part of McHenry County. Below is a comparison of what was levied last year for collection this year and what was asked for the year before. Thanks again to … Continue reading

McHenry County Schools Asking for 1.23% More This Year

Below you can see what McHenry County school districts will be asking to extract from your checking or escrow accounts this year. You will note that all of them put together are requesting 1.23% more, although the rate of inflation … Continue reading

Replay: School Consolidation Would Cost Taxpayers Plenty

In the “Here we go again” category is consolidation of schools. Just as with township consolidation, I ask, “Where’s the beef?” Show me the money that school consolidation would bring. Don’t just assert that consolidation of school will save money. … Continue reading

School Stats including Cost per Classroom

Here are some 2013 McHenry County school statistics–average expenditure per pupil and per classroom, plus average teach salary–to ponder. They were calculated by a Friend of McHenry County Blog. I don’t think I have seen average spending per classroom for … Continue reading

Teacher Salary Spikes

The Chicago Tribune’s Education superb Reporter Diane Rado has examined the cost to local taxpayers of school boards that increased teachers’ salaries more than allowed by law just before they retired.  Her main article can be found here. Reported in … Continue reading

Write-In Signs

There are a lot of write-in candidacies in tomorrow’s election. I counted twenty-eight, although I’d guess that a number are not running really active campaigns. Some don’t need to do anything but vote for themselves, because they have no registered … Continue reading

28 Write-In Candidacies Surface, Shepley Challenged by Chadwick

The biggest is the write-in challenge of Sascha Chadwick to Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley. As McHenry County Blog reported the night it happened, Shepley managed to convince his fellow City Council members that Chadwick, a CPA and entrepreneur.  (See … Continue reading

Northwest Herald Keeps Encouraging School Consolidation, which Would Cost Tens of Millions

Late last week, the Northwest Herald praised Crystal Lake School District 155 and its four elementary school feeder districts for holding a meeting for a meeting for all grade and high school teachers. Nothing wrong with that. Articulation between the … Continue reading

Replay: School Consolidation Would Cost Taxpayers Plenty

With the Chicago Tribune pumping for school consolidation in its editorial on education, I thought it was time to re-run the article I wrote almost four years ago when Governor Pat Quinn advanced the idea. The numbers will have changed … Continue reading

Those Interested Enough in Running for School Board to Pick Up Petitions

Petitions for school boards are being handed out by the McHenry County Clerk’s Office this year. Those getting them have an opportunity to sign their names and put other information on a legal pad. You see the results from earlier … Continue reading

Lori McConnville’s Letter of Resignation from Prairie Grove School Board

Thought readers might be interested in what this former Democratic Party candidate for the McHenry County Board had to say when she resigned from the teacher union-dominated Prairie Grove District 46 School Board: November 11, 2014 Statement to the Prairie … Continue reading

McHenry County Tax Take Up by 1.5% or $12 Million

Last year McHenry County real estate taxpayers were billed $797,419,250.88. This year the McHenry County Clerk’s Office has determined that bills amounting to $809,385,180.76 will be issued. That’s a dollar increase of $11,965,930, a percentage increase of 1.5%. The Property … Continue reading

Rear of Prairie Grove Grade School District 46 Bus Hangs Over Railroad Track During Tenth Anniversary Week of Fox River Grove Bus/Train Crash

You might think that local school districts would have learned a lesson from the Fox River Grove tragedy that occurred ten years ago. But, one apparently hasn’t. I was driving west on Crystal Lake Avenue this afternoon about 1:35 and … Continue reading

Rear of Prairie Grove Grade School District 46 Bus Hangs Over Railroad Track During Tenth Anniversary Week of Fox River Grove Bus/Train Crash

You might think that local school districts would have learned a lesson from the Fox River Grove tragedy that occurred ten years ago. But, one apparently hasn’t. I was driving west on Crystal Lake Avenue this afternoon about 1:35 and … Continue reading