CL Grade School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department: Bus Driver Arrested for DUI On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at approximately 7:40 am, Crystal Lake Police were dispatched to the parking lot of Hannah-Beardsley Middle School, 515 East Crystal Lake Avenue, … Continue reading

Tax Protest Suit Against Crystal Lake Grade School District – Part 3

Below is the third tax protest count against Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47. The suit was filed by attorney Tim Dwyer. DISTRICT 47 EDUCATION FUND – EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION In 2015, District 47 levied $52,545,000 for its Education Fund. As of … Continue reading

Tax Protest Suit Against Crystal Lake Grade School District – Part 2

This is the second count in attorney Tim Dwyer’s tax protest suit against Crystal Lake Grade School District District 47: DISTRICT 47 WORKING CASH FUND – EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION At the end of the fiscal year 2015, District 47 had $13,950,587 … Continue reading

Tax Protest Suit Against Crystal Lake Grade School District – Part 1

Attorney Tim Dwyer is not going after just McHenry County, plus Algonquin and McHenry Township levies. He has several school districts in his sites, too. Here is the first of two complaints against Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47: COMMUNITY … Continue reading

Cary Grade School District 26 Prepares for Little State Aid

The following was written by Cary Elementary School Board President Scott Coffey under the article about the high effective tax rates paid in McHenry County, compared to the rest of the Chicago Metropolitan Area: Regarding General State Aid for Chicago … Continue reading

Citizen Vetter Attends Second CL Grade School Meeting

Newly election Republican Precinct Committeeman from a mainly northern Four Colonies precinct reports on attending his seconde Crystal Lake Grade School Board meeting: So, I attended my second D47 School Board Meeting on March 22nd. The meeting started off with a … Continue reading

District 47 PERA Test Cheating Charged

A former Crystal Lake Grade School employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, has filed a complaint concerning the way tests were administered in the district. In the fall of 2012, the employee supervisor was notified that “cheating was taking place … Continue reading

Incumbents, Plus D155 Union Negotiator Seem Headed for Victory in D47

Only four out of fifty-four precincts have their results posted for the Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 contest, but the two incumbents running for re-election, plus the past Crystal Lake High School union negotiator seem headed for election. The … Continue reading

Time to Start Thinking about Running for School Board

Those who look at their property tax bills know that most of the money goes to school districts. Below is where the money went in the Algonquin Township part of Crystal Lake in a recent year. One will note that … Continue reading

Time to Think about Next Spring’s Elections

While attention is being focused on this November’s elections, filing for next spring’s municipal, school, junior college, park district and lesser districts happen shortly after the election. At the Republican Party’s Headquarter’s Grand Opening last Thursday night, Crystal Lake Grade … Continue reading

Tryon Warns of Massive State Aid to Education Cuts

A message from State Rep. Mike Tryon: A controversial and dangerous bill has cleared the Illinois Senate and was delivered to the House of Representatives this morning. Senate Bill 16 seeks to fundamentally change the school funding formula for Illinois … Continue reading

D47 Teacher Contract Approved; Objection to Retirement Incentive

Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47’s Board approved the new teachers’ contract by a 7-0 vote, but not before Nancy Gonsiorek expressed displeasure with pre-retirement incentives. They’re “really hard to swallow,” she said. “When we give big raises to teachers … Continue reading

MCC Refuses to Release Faculty Union Contract

Tonight Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 Board is meeting at 7 at Canterbury School southwest of the intersection of Main Street and Virginia Street Road to consider the contract worked out with its teachers’ union. Another contract has also … Continue reading

Meeting Tonight to Ratify CL Grade School Teachers’ Contract

A summary of the Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 contract that will be considered by the school board tonight at 7 at Canterbury School popped into my inbox this morning. AGREEMENT BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 47 BOARD OF EDUCATION AND … Continue reading

How Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 Views Common Core

In it’s newsletter, Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 gave its take on the new Common Core Standards imposed by the State Board of Education. An Overview of the Common Core State Standards Connecting Standards, Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction By … Continue reading

The Press Release Announcing District 47 Supt. Donn Mendoza’s Resignation

Dr. Kathy Hinz has been named Acting Superintendent of Crystal Lake District 47 after last night’s parting of the ways with Dr. Donn Mendoza. The press release issued follows: STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CRYSTAL LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT … Continue reading

Crystal Lake District 47 Grade School Board Has Three New Members

Just like McHenry County College, Elementary School 47’s Board has a major infusion of new blood. Virginia Visin retired. Incumbents Rob Routzahn and Ruth Scifo ran for re-election. Pretty similar to the MCC Board of Trustees’ contest. A former principal, … Continue reading

Post Card Mailing on Behalf of Donna Ricci and Eileen Palsgrove for Crystal Lake Grade School Board

In my precinct letter, I characterized the incumbent slate as those already on the District 47 Board of Education, plus Betsy Les, a retired principal. The other two on the ballot qualified as “outsiders,” in my view. Here is a … Continue reading