McHenry County Blog

One thing candidates get to do that helps potential constituents decide whether they should be elected to office is to react to actions by the officials of tax districts they seek to help govern.

Here is District 300 School Board candidate Robert Lee’s comments on Carpentersville School District 300’s announcement that 46 non-tenured teachers would be let go, pending the appearance of unforeseen revenue:

ROBERT LEE STATEMENT ON DISTRICT 300 ACTION TO RELEASE TEACHERS FOR BALANCED BUDGET

EAST DUNDEE – Robert Lee released the following statement following the actions of the District 300 Board of Education to release forty-six non-tenured staff:

“Given our current economic conditions, I understand the rationale taken by the Board of Education to release these staff members.

“However, part of me also sees this as an opportunity to realistically evaluate how we conduct our business in District 300.

“This is an example of where processes influence the education students receive.

“It’s amazing to me that one year after over filling staff positions the District is then forced to cut.

“Eleven and one half positions last year were filled by the District when they were not required.

“If hind sight is truly 20-20, then our view of what is needed in the future should now be crystal clear.

“The processes by which we plan our budgeting and finances must be improved so that economic impacts like the one we are now experiencing are smaller and less damaging.

“I’ve said throughout my campaign that the methods by which our District uses to allocate resources and fund education has a direct impact on the education students receive.

“It’s not merely enough to make the statement that financial responsibility is a priority.

“Board members need to demonstrate it by constantly evaluating ways to improve the methods by which education is provided to all students in District 300, and candidates for the Board must demonstrate they have specific ideas to contribute to the betterment of District 300.

“The district made a promise to students that teachers would be available for their education. I would have voted in a similar fashion to the current board members, especially in regards to the fourteen teachers released for performance related issues.

“However, I would not have done so without a plan to avoid such drastic measures in the future.

“My proposals for Financial Impact Statements and improved quality measures would help in that regard.

“It’s my personal belief that if you’re not trying to improve, you’re on the road to failure.

“If this vote by the board is not a wake up call for improvement, I don’t know what is.

“Now is the time to act, and that is exactly what I hope to do if I am a board member for District 300. Our students deserve no less dedication than just that.”

The following press release has been received from Robert Lee, the youngest candidate for the Carpentersville District 300 School Board:

ROBERT LEE OPPOSES PROPOSED INCREASE IN STUDENT FEES FOR DISTRICT 300

Robert Lee opposes District 300’s proposal to increases student activity fees, as presented at the Board of Education meeting on Monday night.

“I find it ridiculous that we’re raising student fees in light of our economy and other actions of this school district,” Lee said. “Families are facing tough obstacles in the current economy, and last month the district admitted to hiring more teachers than were necessary. In light of that, the district is still asking parents to pay more activity fees on top of what is already paid.”

Lee highlighted the admission that District 300 hired fifteen and a half more full time elementary teacher positions than necessary for the current school year, costing the district hundreds of thousands of dollars that was not needed.

“I do not believe the District has asked teachers to take a pay-cut next year as a result of its poor financial planning, nor do I think it would be fair. Equally, I think it is horribly unjust to ask parents already facing tough times to pay more money for their children’s school activities.”

Lee said this demonstrates another reason his proposals for Financial Impact Statements (FIS) and quantitative program evaluation are critical to improving District 300.

“An FIS would have given the District a five year cost projection for these student activities, allowing for proper budgeting beforehand. Additionally, the District should be able to demonstrate student achievement and performance will drop without parents paying higher activity fees. I will never support an increase to student fees without both these critical pieces of information available. In fact, I wouldn’t even consider it for my vote.”

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I would note that the inflation rate last year was a mere one-tenth of one percent. In short, there was virtually no increase in the cost of living.

The following press release was received from Carpentersville School District 300 candidate Robert Lee:

Robert Lee offered details on improving the program evaluation process in District 300. He called for the inclusion of program specific quality objectives for the Education Program Review Technique (EPRT) to consider when evaluating programs, and the inclusion of those quality objectives on the District’s new online dashboard.

“Many successful companies and government bodies use quality objectives to drive the focus of their internal activities. District 300 should make the same effort,” said Lee. “Students and families rely on the programs we offer to help build their educational framework. If we offer ineffective programs, we are threatening the strength of that education.”

Lee continued by explaining that quality objectives are program specific goals that can be measured against quantitative data outputs. This data will identify which programs are meeting their goals, and even whether or not the educational goals of a specific program are reflective of what that program should do.

“We can begin to incorporate this information into an understandable and practical reflection of District 300 activities. We already have the tools in place to use this information – the Board EPRT Committee, District 300’s online dashboard – so it is now time we start making a stronger effort to use them.

“As our school district grows, we need to build a sophisticated culture of data driven program evaluation. The current board has made tremendous progress.

“Now is the time to build on that success. By focusing on these quality objectives, we as a District can provide a better educational environment for all students and families with less of an impact to their property taxes. We can get twice the educational value at half the price.”

The following press release was received from Carpentersville School District 300 candidate Robert Lee:

Robert Lee offered details on improving the program evaluation process in District 300. He called for the inclusion of program specific quality objectives for the Education Program Review Technique (EPRT) to consider when evaluating programs, and the inclusion of those quality objectives on the District’s new online dashboard.

“Many successful companies and government bodies use quality objectives to drive the focus of their internal activities. District 300 should make the same effort,” said Lee. “Students and families rely on the programs we offer to help build their educational framework. If we offer ineffective programs, we are threatening the strength of that education.”

Lee continued by explaining that quality objectives are program specific goals that can be measured against quantitative data outputs. This data will identify which programs are meeting their goals, and even whether or not the educational goals of a specific program are reflective of what that program should do.

“We can begin to incorporate this information into an understandable and practical reflection of District 300 activities. We already have the tools in place to use this information – the Board EPRT Committee, District 300’s online dashboard – so it is now time we start making a stronger effort to use them.

“As our school district grows, we need to build a sophisticated culture of data driven program evaluation. The current board has made tremendous progress.

“Now is the time to build on that success. By focusing on these quality objectives, we as a District can provide a better educational environment for all students and families with less of an impact to their property taxes. We can get twice the educational value at half the price.”

Robert Lee, the young man seeking election to the Carpentersville District 300 school board has come up with the idea to evaluate implementation as well as initial costs for proposed expenditures. His press release follows:

Robert Lee previewed his proposal to require all new expenditures include a Financial Impact Statement (FIS) before presentation and approval by the Board.

An FIS will include the initial investment costs and the cycle costs for up to five years of an approved expenditure. The costs will include, for example, all facets of training, operations, maintenance, among other expenses.

“With an FIS, board members can make appropriate decisions about district finances. Without them, they’re often left unaware of the future financial impact a specific new expenditure may have. This is unacceptable with the district’s annual non-capital budget exceeding $200 million,” Lee said.

Lee highlighted three benefits of an FIS. First, the planning power it gives to the school board in approving expenditures. Having that information, said Lee, “cannot be underappreciated. Board members have an obligation to make informed decisions on behalf of the District.”

Secondly, he pointed out that an FIS can highlight deficiencies in the budgeting process when it proves to be grossly inaccurate.

“If three years down the road, the Board finds it underestimated the cost of a program, there is a tool to find out why. If the Board overestimates, and closes off resources to other programs that would otherwise be available, that can improve, too.”

Third, Lee said, “This makes the budgeting process more transparent to the public. An FIS is a simple way to highlight the cost of educating our students, and the criteria behind board decisions.”

“When the board makes an expenditure it cannot afford in the future, it’s making a promise to families that will have to be broken. This will help the Board to make the promises of a good education it fully intends to keep.”

Robert Lee, the young man seeking election to the Carpentersville District 300 school board has come up with the idea to evaluate implementation as well as initial costs for proposed expenditures. His press release follows:

Robert Lee previewed his proposal to require all new expenditures include a Financial Impact Statement (FIS) before presentation and approval by the Board.

An FIS will include the initial investment costs and the cycle costs for up to five years of an approved expenditure. The costs will include, for example, all facets of training, operations, maintenance, among other expenses.

“With an FIS, board members can make appropriate decisions about district finances. Without them, they’re often left unaware of the future financial impact a specific new expenditure may have. This is unacceptable with the district’s annual non-capital budget exceeding $200 million,” Lee said.

Lee highlighted three benefits of an FIS. First, the planning power it gives to the school board in approving expenditures. Having that information, said Lee, “cannot be underappreciated. Board members have an obligation to make informed decisions on behalf of the District.”

Secondly, he pointed out that an FIS can highlight deficiencies in the budgeting process when it proves to be grossly inaccurate.

“If three years down the road, the Board finds it underestimated the cost of a program, there is a tool to find out why. If the Board overestimates, and closes off resources to other programs that would otherwise be available, that can improve, too.”

Third, Lee said, “This makes the budgeting process more transparent to the public. An FIS is a simple way to highlight the cost of educating our students, and the criteria behind board decisions.”

“When the board makes an expenditure it cannot afford in the future, it’s making a promise to families that will have to be broken. This will help the Board to make the promises of a good education it fully intends to keep.”

I’m pleased to have received a press release from District 300 explaining who has filed for school board and print it below.

The election will not be one based on one-man, one-vote.

Because of the state law governing the Carpentersville school district, only three people are allowed to serve on the board from each township. Undoubtedly that law was enacted in order to keep one populated township from ruling a school district, ignoring more rural neighboring areas.

CARPENTERSVILLE – Six individuals turned in their paperwork by today’s 5 p.m. filing deadline (Jan. 26) to be candidates in the April 7, 2009, School Board election.

Three people will be elected to the District 300 Board on April 7, each to a 4- year seat. Those who filed petition paperwork to be candidates are (in alphabetical order):

• Dave Alessio (listed as Dundee Township)
• Dorota Jordan (listed as Rutland Township)
• Robert Lee (listed as Dundee Township)
• Anne Miller (listed as Algonquin Township)
• Tracey Perez (listed as Dundee Township)
• Karen Roeckner (listed as Dundee Township)

Three of these candidates from Dundee Township simultaneously filed their petition papers in the D300 Central Office, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 (the first day that papers were accepted). Therefore, the District will hold a lottery at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, to determine ballot order for these candidates. They are: Alessio, Lee and Roeckner.

No more than two people from the same township can be elected on April 7.

The law states there cannot be more than three D300 Board members from the same township, to ensure a fair distribution of representation across the District.

The four sitting Board members whose seats are NOT up for election this April (Chris Stanton, John Ryan, Joe Stevens, and Monica Clark) each live in a different township: Rutland, Algonquin, Dundee, and Hampshire, respectively.

The three seats up for election are now held by Miller, Roeckner and Mary Warren.

Warren, a teacher in Crystal Lake, is not seeking re-election. Alessio previously served in an appointed Board seat in 2006 and 2007.

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Dave Alessio is seen on the top right. Anne Miller is seen below Alessio. On the bottom left you can see Mary Warren talking to Karen Roeckner.

I’m pleased to have received a press release from District 300 explaining who has filed for school board and print it below.

The election will not be one based on one-man, one-vote.

Because of the state law governing the Carpentersville school district, only three people are allowed to serve on the board from each township. Undoubtedly that law was enacted in order to keep one populated township from ruling a school district, ignoring more rural neighboring areas.

CARPENTERSVILLE – Six individuals turned in their paperwork by today’s 5 p.m. filing deadline (Jan. 26) to be candidates in the April 7, 2009, School Board election.

Three people will be elected to the District 300 Board on April 7, each to a 4- year seat. Those who filed petition paperwork to be candidates are (in alphabetical order):

• Dave Alessio (listed as Dundee Township)
• Dorota Jordan (listed as Rutland Township)
• Robert Lee (listed as Dundee Township)
• Anne Miller (listed as Algonquin Township)
• Tracey Perez (listed as Dundee Township)
• Karen Roeckner (listed as Dundee Township)

Three of these candidates from Dundee Township simultaneously filed their petition papers in the D300 Central Office, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 (the first day that papers were accepted). Therefore, the District will hold a lottery at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, to determine ballot order for these candidates. They are: Alessio, Lee and Roeckner.

No more than two people from the same township can be elected on April 7.

The law states there cannot be more than three D300 Board members from the same township, to ensure a fair distribution of representation across the District.

The four sitting Board members whose seats are NOT up for election this April (Chris Stanton, John Ryan, Joe Stevens, and Monica Clark) each live in a different township: Rutland, Algonquin, Dundee, and Hampshire, respectively.

The three seats up for election are now held by Miller, Roeckner and Mary Warren.

Warren, a teacher in Crystal Lake, is not seeking re-election. Alessio previously served in an appointed Board seat in 2006 and 2007.

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Dave Alessio is seen on the top right. Anne Miller is seen below Alessio. On the bottom left you can see Mary Warren talking to Karen Roeckner.

Robert Lee is running for the Carpentersville District 300 School Board.

This past six months he has raised $2,851 and spent $778.

Jack Roeser is reported to have contributed $500,

Lee received $1,500 for web development from 3rd Estate Ltd.

The Dundee Press was paid $332 for campaign materials.

Robert Lee is running for the Carpentersville District 300 School Board.

This past six months he has raised $2,851 and spent $778.

Jack Roeser is reported to have contributed $500,

Lee received $1,500 for web development from 3rd Estate Ltd.

The Dundee Press was paid $332 for campaign materials.