28 Years after the 104-3 Defeat of My Legislation Requiring School’s to Report Information on Teacher Sex/Physical Similar Bill Passes 112-0

Tribune highlighted the problem of school districts not being able to find out if prospective teachers had been found to have sexually abused students. In 2009, eight years after bringing too many boxes home my legislative office, I was doing … Continue reading

Re-Run: Tribune Features Problem 1994 Skinner Legislation on Gathering Information on Teacher Sex/Physical Abuse Would Have Solved

This weekend the Tribune highlighted the problem of school districts not being able to find out if prospective teachers had been found to have sexually abused students. In 2009, eight years after bringing too many boxes home my legislative office, … Continue reading

District 155 Board Meeting Approves $1 Million Cheaper Health Insurance, Raises Question of How to Pay for $50 Million in Capital Needs, District 47 Backdoor Referendum Possibility

Went to the Crystal Lake High School Board’s meetings Tuesday night. The Finance Committee spent most of its time listening to a presentation from its insurance consultant Wendy Williams. A new high deductible option is being introduced this year and … Continue reading

Tribune Features Problem 1994 Skinner Legislation on Gathering Information on Teacher Sex/Physical Abuse Would Have Solved

Considering the legislation now being considered by the Illinois General Assembly, this article about my incredibly unsuccessful attempt to provide transparency in legislation from over twenty years ago might be of interest. The amendment was killed by over 100 votes … Continue reading

District 155 Dueling School Board Slates Deploy Signs

There’s a fight for control of the Crystal Lake District 155 School Board this spring. One team is led by McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz. You can see that side’s four by four foot sign below: Running with Kurtz … Continue reading

Tryon Reports

The end of session report from State Rep. Mike Tryon: New FY17 Spending Bills will Enable Full K-12 School Operations for Entire School Year SB 2047. Some elements of the package appropriated money so that it could be legally used … 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

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

Tryon Points to Potential Loss in State Aid to Education

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:  Representative Mike Tryon Asks Residents to File Official Objections to SB16 through www.ilga.gov<http://www.ilga.gov/> Web Site CRYSTAL LAKE….. State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), concerned about a committee hearing [on Novmber 18th] that … 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

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

Crystal Lake Middle School Student Arrested for Aggregated Battery, Hate Crime

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department: On Monday, February 10th Police Officers were summoned to Hannah Beardsley Middle School; 515 East Crystal Lake Avenue for a report of a physical altercation between two students*. Upon initial investigation it … Continue reading

Crystal Lake, Cary and FRG Grade School Districts Closed Monday

From Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47: School Closing for Jan 6th Kathy Hinz, Superintendent of Schools for District 47 – As you may know, record wind chills and low temperatures are expected to arrive in McHenry County this evening … 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

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