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

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

Looking at More School Debt Information

Taken from bond documents by bond analyst Steve Willson is the following information: … 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

Taxes for Schools, This Year & Last Year

Since schools comprise the bulk of property tax dollars, I thought some might be interested in seeing how they changed from last year to this year. Although the percentage change column is labeled “% Change + of -” the first … 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

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, 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

Four File for Fox River Grove Grade School School Board

A majority of the Fox River Grove Elementary School Board are up for election next April. And four people have filed to run: Tim Hatfield Stephen Pickering Patrick Riley Patrick Wall Only Pickering is listed in the McHenry County Yearbook … Continue reading

Fox River Grove & Harrison Grade Schools at Maximum Tax Rate in Education Fund, Harvard Hits It Next Year

Looking at maximum tax rates for school districts in McHenry County, I discovered that Fox River Grove Elementary School District 3 is blocked from raising its taxes not by the Property Tax Cap, but by having reached it $3.50 per … Continue reading

Cary and Fox River Grove Grade School Distrricts Contemplate Merger Study

That’s what seems to be behind this innocuous looking agenda item on the Cary District 26’s School Board Agenda tonight: 10. Topics for Discussion 10.2 Consolidation Feasibility Study We have it on our agenda as “to discuss discussing about merging … Continue reading

School Districts Tax Rates Soar as Assessments Plunge

School districts take most of our property tax dollars. It is fair to compare unit districts to unit districts. These are how all schools were originally. During the run-up to the 1870 Constitutional Convention, there was tremendous borrowing by local … Continue reading

$3.8 Million in Local School Employee Union Dues of Local School Employees

McHenry County Blog has surveyed school districts with major presences in McHenry County and discovered that union employees paid $3.8 million in dues during calendar year 2010. The total amount was $3,825,572. Contracts are typically for more than one year … Continue reading

School Consolidation Would Cost Taxpayers Plenty

Governor Pat Quinn thinks that consolidating schools will save big money because fewer administrators would be required. Reading the Daily Herald article, I notice that no mention is made of equalizing up elementary school teacher salaries to the level paid … Continue reading

Competition Sparse for Grade School Board Spots

The filing has just ended, but lots of grade school board candidates in McHenry County are assured of election. Here at Election Central, McHenry County Blog declares the fifteen candidates listed below elected. In Fox River Grove Grade School District … Continue reading