McHenry County Blog

An email from Regional Superintendent of Schools Leslie Schermerhorn explaining how she is staffing her new office:

“There are two new people in the Regional Office of Education (ROE).

“Dr. Amy Weiss Narea has come on as a 100-day Assistant Superintendent. (She can only be employed 100 days as she is retired) Dr. Narea is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Northwestern University, M.ED, Chicago-Kent Law School, J.D. and DePaul University D.Ed.

“She served as principal in a Chicago Public School for 24 years and most recently coached new CPS Principals and student teachers at DePaul University.

“She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the office.

“She and I are working on

• grant writing,
• the truancy policy for the County and
• improving relations between the schools and the diverse populations in McHenry County.

“Dr. Narea is fluent in Spanish and French. We are currently working on the Drug Free Community Grant.

“In addition to the temporary appointment of Dr. Narea, Bob Diviacchi has come on board as the ROE truancy officer.

“A former police officer in Franklin Park, Bob is also fluent in Spanish and Italian.

“He is certainly a man on the go, visiting the schools where chronic truants have been referred to the ROE and knocking on the doors of the student’s homes to get the children back in school.

“The new law effective July 1, 2012 reduced the number of unexcused absences for a ‘chronic truant’ from 18 to 9.

“There is great urgency when a child is missing school to get him/her back in as soon as possible.

“As Dr. Narea has said, we either pay now to get these students in school or pay later when they are unemployed adults or in jail.”

Among topics

Leslie Schermerhorn introduced herself to the Public Health and Human Services Committee this morning.

As McHenry County Blog readers learned exclusively nine days ago, Leslie Schermerhorn qualifies under the stringent educational and professional requirements set by law.

The previous person proposed for the position had the technical and party qualifications, but was found to have a criminal record.

After presenting her qualifications and goals for the office, Schermerhorn was asked by Public Health and Human Services Committee member Donna Kurtz if she had a criminal record.

Schermerhorn reported she had had such a background check last year and had passed.

The attorney added,

“I can assure you I’ve never been arrested,” then pausing, showed her sense of h humor by saying, “other than the three husbands I have buried in my backyard.”

Schermerhorn lives in Bull Valley.

The daughter of retired Republican Judge Thomas Schermerhorn, Leslie Schermerhorn has a recent record of voting Republican, which is also a legal requirement, since she will be replacing Joe Williams, who was elected on the Republican Party ticket in 2010.

Among topics brought up by Schermerhorn were the growing diversity of the school age population, for which she pointed out her experience in her Chicago school had prepared her.

She also used the “consolidation” word, pointing to school districts with just one school. [Riley, Wonder Lake and Fox River Grove came to my mind.]

Schermerhorn’s candidacy was approved unanimously and will go before the McHenry County Board next Tuesday night.

She said she could start May 1st, but “I’m not leaving my school in the lurch,” she assured the committee members.

Friday, April 13, the McHenry County Public Health and Human Services Committee will be interviewing the
Leslie A. Schermerhorn of Woodstock for the post of Regional Superintendent of Schools.

The candidate, who would be appointed by the County Board to fill slot that went unfilled after the 2010 election winner Joe Williams decided not to take the office, is Assistant Elementary Principal at Chicago’s LaSalle Elem Language Academy.

In her letter of application to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, Schermerhorn wrote,

“I am uniquely qualified for this position given my 13+ years as an educator in a highly successful racially and economically diverse school.  Additionally, I being the expertise of having a degree in law.  From all the research I have done on the Regional Superintendent position, in additional to certifying teachers, truancy enforcement and school safety inspections, the Regional Superintendent assists McHenry County schools with school law.”

Schermerhorn the increasing diversity of McHenry County’s population in a communication to Koehler:

“We need to address the needs posed by this new population. ESL ]English as a Second Language] is not enough, nor very effective. We need to reach not only the students, but their families.”

She goes on to note that referendums are not being looked upon favorably by taxpayers and suggests she can assist in finding other sources of revenue, e.g.,

• “doggedly searching for applicable grants and writing grant applications
• “maintaining constant communication and a collaborative relationship with state and federal politicians to ensure monies allocated for McHenry County
• “examination of the use of Title I in each school district to ensure they are specifically targeting the students who require interventions in order to meet the State benchmarks and to increase high school graduation rates and college enrollment.”

The State Board of Education issued a k-12 administrative certificate on August 7, 2007. She holds a 1999 Master of Eduction degree with grades just one A-minus away from a straight 4 point average, plus a 1985 Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University.

To serve the final two years of the term, Schermerhorn would have to be nominated to be on the fall ballot by the McHenry County Republican Central Committee, and, then be elected. So far, there is no indication that Democrats will field a candidate.

While expecting to be hired on the “merits” of her” experience and qualifications,” Schermerhorn explains that her last name has some name identification.

Speaking to her electability, she points out that her father ran successfully for judge in 1996, that she has “many strong ties to the educational community in McHenry County and a name that will be recognizable to many.”

The salary for the Regional Superintendent is about $104,000, a source at the Courthouse believes, although the money comes from state, rather than county coffers.

Schermerhorn’s background follows:

According to the Family Taxpayers Network, she was paid $110,671 in 2011, has 14 years in the Teachers Retirement Fund.

The Republicans who run McHenry County seem to be having some trouble finding a person to fill the slot for Regional Superintendent of Schools.

The requirements are way too strict, having been designed by the Illinois Education Association and adopted by the Illinois General Assembly to increase the probability that someone friendly to the union will hold the office.

Word is that Board Chairman Ken Koehler has someone in mind. I’ve even been told what former county official’s daughter she is.

But, it’s all top secret, hush, hush–at least officially–until the April 13th meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee, according to the Northwest Herald.

But what if something happens to this applicant, too?

I wonder if the McHenry County Democratic Party is trying to recruit a just retired administrator for this not-too-strenuous post.

They could nominate someone to be on the fall ballot…the same way the GOP will have to do, if they want someone to vote upon during the General Election.

The first time I asked, I had no problem getting applications from those applying for the vacant McHenry County Superintendent of Schools post.

This is the elected official, you will recall, whose shoes have been filled by the Lake County Regional Superintendent of Education.

The clerical folks are still pushing the teachers’ and other paperwork, but, when signatures are needed, the Lake County official has kindly agreed to affix hers.

After the last nominee withdrew, three school board members, past and present, wrote comments that the post was unneeded.

Now, it’s

“TOP SECRET, HUSH, HUSH!”

I’m guessing it’s because a daughter of a former elected county official is interested in the job.

Undoubtedly qualified, considering the statutory requirements.

But, come on.

Even the Circuit Court releases the names of applicants for Associate Judge vacancies.  Surely that’s are more important than a Regional Superintendent of Schools vacancy.

Here’s the reason for hiding the name or names.  It involves

“an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy due to the disclosure of information that may be highly personal or objectionable to a reasonable person in which the person’s privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in obtaining the information.”

What’s that all about?

Think “a reasonable person” might decide to vote against such a person if the information surfaced before the fall election in which the appointee will be on the ballot?

In any event, here is the Freedom of Information denial letter. Read it for yourself.

If you don’t read the comments under articles, you are often missing some good information.

Under yesterday’s story containing the application withdrawal letter for appointment to the elected office office of Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeffrey Schleff, there were three comments from former and current school board members about the office.

I’m going to share them with you.

Ned Neumann, former McHenry High School Board member wrote:

“The Regional Supt. of Schools is a needless, worthless form of government. I was an elected member of the McHenry High School Board of Education for eighteen years and I never understood why the superintendents at their monthly meeting couldn’t coordinate schedules for sports or whatever and why the State Board couldn’t verify certification of teachers.

“We can’t constantly complain about Illinois having 7,000 units of government, 2,200 more than the next highest state, while we still support township government and things like the Regional Supt. of Schools.

“We’ve been without a supt for almost a year.

“Can anybody notice the difference??”

Former Crystal Lake Grade and High School Board member Jim Bishop wrote:

“As a past member and President of the Board of Ed in Crystal Lake-Cary-Grove District 155 for 9 years and member of the Crystal Lake District 47 Board of Ed for 4 more years, I wholeheartedly agree that the Regional Superintendent position should be eliminated, the office closed and the expenditures be eliminated.

“While I’m at it, I believe the same is true of the US Department of Education and believe most local educators would agree.”

Current Cary Grade School Board member Chris Jenner adds,

“Another BoE veteran (me, Cary D-26) agrees with the above comments, particularly Mr. Bishop’s proposal to eliminate the US DoE (which was originally going to be called the Department of Public Education till some government genius realized what the acronym would be).”

The discovery of past misdeeds of Lord’s Park Elementary School Principal apparently spooked him enough to withdraw his name from consideration for appointment as McHenry County’s Regional Superintendent of Schools.

Maybe we don’t need one, but until the ministerial duties are placed elsewhere, a motivated person could make something of the office. Certainly it should not be a place that local residents stick a school superintendent they don’t want as it was when I was County Treasurer. (You Harvard folks with long memories may even understand that sentence.)

Here’s yesterdays’ email from Jeffrey Schleff.  He contends that the criminal violations had nothing to do with his work as an educator and continues to believe that he is the best qualified person that can be found.

That’s what I conclude from the February agenda of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Read the main topic to be discussed:

“Resolution Appointing Jeffrey S. Schleff into the Vacant Elected Position of Regional Superintendent of Schools”

From this wedding photo from the Arizona State University Alumni web site, Schleff lives in Island Lake and was married last year.

Here’s what the Family Taxpayers Foundation reports for 2011:

Lords Park Elementary School is in the Elgin School District. Dr. Schleff is listed as Principal.

An email from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Our second week of veto session has ended, and while typically this would signify the end of the fall veto session, legislators are being called back to Springfield on Tuesday, November 29 to consider additional business. However, during the last few weeks several noteworthy votes have occurred.

House Bill 3793: Limits Property Tax Increases in Declining Housing Markets

Limiting property tax increases during times when housing values are declining is a discussion that needs to occur. The same tax cap laws that protected taxpayers in the years of unprecedented growth and prosperity in this area are now causing property taxes to increase while housing values are going down.

I am very sensitive to the issues faced by taxpayers in this declining economy and believe the taxing laws must be changed to protect taxpayers when their property values are decreasing.

As I have said many times, the economy is contracting and people are adjusting their budgets and getting by on less.

I believe the public sector needs to do the same.

This week I voted in favor of House Bill 3793.

The bill failed by a large margin.

The bill would have amended the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) to prevent any taxing body in a tax capped county from collecting an increase in funding during a year when the area’s total assessed value decreases.

There was fierce opposition to the bill by

• school districts,
• municipalities and
• other agencies which rely on public funding for their operations.

I understand this opposition because property taxes are a primary funding source for these agencies, which provide important services that we all expect and rely upon.

At a time when the State is not making timely or full payments to them, the passage of House Bill 3793 would have created a significant hardship.

I have plans to file a bill which will require taxing bodies to publish in the newspaper the percentage increase of their tax rate as budgets are being finalized. I believe this new level of transparency would allow stakeholders to have additional information and an increased opportunity to be involved as taxing bodies’ budgets and levies and finalized.

Senate Bill 77: Unemployment Insurance Reform

It was with pleasure that I joined all other members of the House of Representatives in supporting Senate Bill 72, which reforms Illinois’ unemployment insurance system. Today the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund has a projected deficit of $2.4 billion. This staggering sum threatens the very sustainability of this important safety net for working families. Through this bill, the fund will become fully solvent by 2018 and it will provide $400 million in cost savings for employers across the state. Most importantly, these reforms will be accomplished without raising taxes. The provisions of the bill should also help create private sector jobs and reinvigorate the Illinois economy.

Senate Bill 2147: Funding for Regional Offices of Education

Governor Quinn used his veto power several months ago to eliminate funding for Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) and their employees. Because of his veto, Regional Superintendents have not been paid since June. In fact, in McHenry County, the veto led to the current Regional Superintendent retiring early and the individual who had been elected to replace him declining the job. As a result, Lake County officials have been taking care of McHenry County’s ROE needs for the last five months.

I am a strong supporter of Regional Offices of Education and the statutory services they provide, and I voted in favor of restoring the funding for the remainder of this year from the personal property replacement taxes that are distributed to local governments each year. At the conclusion of this fiscal year funding for ROE’s will revert back to the General fund where I believe it belongs. The bill also creates a 15-member streamlining commission that will look for opportunities to consolidate some offices and duties. I favor the creation of this commission and look forward to learning about how we can increase efficiency and save money in these offices.

Senate Bill 1701: Emergency Medical Services Access

This bill amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act by providing that any person who, in good faith, dials 911 or seeks medical treatment for someone experiencing a drug overdose shall not be charged with a crime. I voted against this bill because I know that today in our area those who call in an expected overdose are usually not charged with a crime.

The bill creates a situation where drug dealers who administer a fatal dose of a tainted drug could escape prosecution. I believe strongly that drug dealers need to be prosecuted. The “common sense” approach currently used in our area appears to be working and I think we need to continue to look at each drug overdose case individually. However, the bill passed in the House and is now pending in the Illinois Senate.

Senate Bill 1652: Com Ed Smart Grid

Today, 44 states have some level of smart grid technology in place, and when Illinois lawmakers approved a bill several months ago to modernize Illinois’ grid, Governor Quinn vetoed it. During the first week of veto session, members of the House and Senate voted to override Governor Quinn’s veto. I voted in favor of the override and did so in part so that Illinois could become more competitive in attracting new businesses and jobs.

The override means that once the improvements are in place, Illinoisans will have fewer and less widespread power outages than we have today. It will also provide the framework for Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to respond more quickly to network problems.

The need to upgrade our electrical grid was never more obvious than earlier this year when many collar county residents were without power for extended periods of time due to storms. But Oak Park, which has been using the smart grid technology on an experimental basis since 2010, escaped the summer’s widespread storm outages while communities all around it suffered significant power outages. The Smart Grid improvements would not only help prevent widespread outages, but it would also provide for a wholesale technology upgrade that will eventually lower overall electrical costs.

A trailer bill presented the first week of veto session included language that lowers the profit rate for Commonwelath Edison and Ameren to rates that are lower than what the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has allowed in the past.

The new language also toughens the performance standards they must meet and increases the amount of money they must spend to improve the infrastructure. The trailer bill also calls for the creation of a fund to help those of lower socioeconomic circumstances pay their electric bills. Based on the changes included in the trailer bill, a consortium of 42 suburbs withdrew its opposition to the bill prior to the override votes.

Gaming Expansion in Illinois

A new gaming bill that scaled back a gambling expansion package approved by the General Assembly several months ago was soundly defeated by the House last week. I voted against the gambling expansion bill when it was originally presented almost six months ago and I voted against the scaled back version last week. The new bill dropped a provision that would have allowed for slot machines at Chicago airports and the state fairgrounds, and addressed concerns by some that regulations were not stringent enough. However, the new plan still allowed for five new casinos in Illinois and permitted racetracks to operate slot machines.

I am not opposed to a modest expansion of gaming in our state such as the addition of slot machines at racetracks. The racing industry is a large part of the McHenry County economy. In my current legislative district, there are 13 thoroughbred farms and several other farms which supply crops and feed for the horses. My issue with the bill was the large nature of the expansion and the way in which the revenue would be spent. It is my hope that a new, scaled back version can be considered when we return to Springfield on November 29.

Coming Up… The Status of Pension Reform and, the Proposal to Close Seven State Facilities and the Sears EDA

Pension Reform…

There are a few other issues that may be debate and/or resolved when the General Assembly returns to Springfield on November 29. I am a member of the pension reform committee and we have met many times to discuss ways to stabilize the state’s pension system.

Today’s pension system includes an $86 billion unfunded liability. Those negotiations are ongoing and I look forward to reading Senate Bill 512 when it reaches its final form.

It is imperative that we solve the pension crisis, but we must do so in a manner that once and for all stabilizes the system without placing the $86 billion liability onto the backs of the taxpayers.

Facility Closures…

As you have probably heard, Governor Quinn recently recommended closing seven state facilities due to budget shortfalls. His announcement was premature, ill-thought out and included no plan for how the patients and inmates would be transitioned to new facilities.

It was nothing more than a political move on his part, and yet another attempt to press for additional funding by using some of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens as pawns.

I also serve on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and as a group we have been visiting these facilities and holding hearings over the last several weeks.

On Oct. 27 we voted against closing the Murphysboro juvenile detention center, Mabley Developmental Center in Dixon, Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford and Chester Mental Health Center.

Last week we voiced similar concerns by recommending against the closure of the Logan Correctional facility in Murphysboro, the Jacksonville Developmental Center and the Tinley Park Mental Hospital.

I am very much in favor of looking for opportunities to blend services so that efficiencies for providing services can be optimized. I also welcome an opportunity to review a comprehensive plan which includes a thorough cost-benefit analysis. To date, we have seen no plan and no cost-benefit analysis.

As the issue moves forward, I feel strongly that any ultimate changes would need to include a provision for a smooth transition for the individuals served by these facilitates.

Sears EDA…

Lastly, there has been much discussion and debate lately about Sears EDA in Hoffman Estates. As the 23-year tax incentive that brought Sears to Hoffman Estates approaches its 2013 expiration date, Sears is looking to the General Assembly to extend the terms of the EDA for an additional 15 years.

I am firmly opposed to the 15-year extension.

For the last 22 years, Sears has operated out of their space along I-90 between Beverly Road and Route 59 while enjoying significant property tax relief. I favor those original incentives and believe that at the time they were a necessary “carrot” that lured Sears and other businesses to the Hoffman Estates location. Jobs were created and the economic impact was very favorable.

District 300 officials have waited for the day when the EDA would expire so they could begin collecting the property tax revenue that rightfully belongs to them. Some legislators are trying to push through an incentive package that places the lion’s share of the sacrifice onto the backs of District 300 taxpayers. Simply put, it isn’t fair. It is my hope that my colleagues in the House and Senate slow down, take a step back, and create a piece of legislation that entices Sears to stay in Illinois while still being fair to the District 300 taxpayers.

I believe strongly that the next incentive package should be structured like the package we used to keep Motorola and its jobs in Illinois. The State gave Motorola a $100 million incentive package based on “EDGE” credits, whereby a percentage of the income taxes paid by Motorola employees was rebated back to the company. It was an incentive that was very lucrative for Motorola, and it wasn’t done at the expense of local taxpayers.

Clearly, all of Illinois is enriched by the economic activity that Sears brings to our state.

Therefore it is not equitable for the taxpayers of one school district to provide the overwhelming majority of the financial incentive that keeps Sears here. Since everyone benefits if Sears stays in Illinois, everyone should share in contributing toward making that happen.

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you in Springfield and at home. If I, or a member of my staff, may be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my Crystal Lake office at (815) 459-6453 or at mike@miketryon.com.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
State Representative, District 64

The lobbying arm of Illinois Township Officials is urging local members to call their legislators to ask them to oppose two bills.

One takes money from a state subsidy that should have been phased out decades ago. It looks like an income tax to business. Actually, it is an income tax, but it was levied when the hated Personal Property Tax was lifted from business in order to replace the lost local tax.

I wish I had been in office so I could have tried to keep the total amount replaced from increasing. It should have been a tax whose negative impact on business would have decreased over time as the rate needed to raise the lost local tax revenue would have gone down.

In any event, the Township Officials of Illinois object to diverting part of that replacement tax to pay the salaries of Regional Superintendents of Schools.

The lobbying group also opposes Jack Franks’ bill to prevent increasing local governments’ tax take when property values and, hence, real estate assessments are going down.

Here is the email of lobbyist Bryan E. Smith, Executive Director of TOI:

• House Bill 3828 was introduced and would divert money from the Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax Fund to pay the salaries and benefits of Regional School Superintendents. TOI is OPPOSED to a diversion like this that would take money away from local governments, including townships and road districts. Late yesterday the bill was called in the House Revenue and Finance Committee and was passed out on a strictly party-line vote despite the opposition of virtually all local government groups. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! We need to have everyone call their State Representative(s) NOW and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 3828 when it is called for a vote in the House. It is time the State stop diverting money that is designated for local governments.
• Another bill we have been closely following is House Bill 3793. This bill amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) to prevent a taxing district (Townships and Road Districts included) from capturing the CPI increase for its extension limitation if the district’s total EAV is less than the previous levy year. TOI OPPOSES this bill because it would reduce available property tax revenues for Townships and Road Districts. PTELL (Tax Caps) already limits (in those counties that have tax caps) the ability of Townships/Road Districts to capture all available growth during good economic times. It would be very unfair to also prevent a township/road district from capturing minimal cost-of-living increases that are available.

Naturally, tax dollars finance the Township Officials of Illinois.

Don’t you wish you could get tax dollars to finance your lobbying of the state legislature?