Jack Franks Wanted to Have Cal Skinner Arrested

We’re back to McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ paranoia. He thinks he is important enough that someone would want to kill him. [Cue canned laughter.] He pretends that he was scared for his life (and his family’s) when a … Continue reading

Effect of Federal GOP Income Tax Elimination of Real Estate Tax Deduction On Randy Hultgren’s District

From Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman: What Ending Property Tax Deductions Would Do To Congressman Randy Hultgren’s District In my understanding, if SALT deductions are eliminated, new tax bill will mean tax increase for local median income earners. New tax bill … Continue reading

“Other Post Employment Benefit Costs” and Impact Withdrawing from SEDOM Will Have on School Districts

Cary Grade School Board President Scott Coffey suggested looking at the Woodstock School District’s “Other Post Employment Benefit Costs” in a comment under Susan Handelsman’s cost-benefit analysis of keeping Clay Academy, a special education facility, open. I asked for an … Continue reading

Susan Handelsman Provides Cost-Benefit Info on Clay Academy D200 Did Not

Susan Handelsman, who has been bird-dogging Woodstock School District 200 for several years is presenting the following information on Clay Academy to make sure it is on the public record. Public Comment to the Woodstock School Board Facility review committee … Continue reading

Susan Handelsman Offers Possible Redress for Jack Franks’ Patronage Hiring

From a comment this week by Woodstock’s Susan Handlesman: This case is illustrative of the condition of which Illinois taxpayers should be keenly aware: There is no practical enforcement policy for Illinois law, County or Municipal Code, or any other … Continue reading

A Look at the Last Woodstock School Board Meeting

Susan Handelsman’s observations from the latest Woodstock School District 200 meeting: 5-30-17 Woodstock D200 school board meeting. At their first experience in exercising  power to control spending of over $100 million taxpayer money in the presumptive highest property tax rate … Continue reading

Minority Report on Keeping District 200’s Clay Academy Open

Susan Handlesmann has written a Minority Report on Clay Academy for the Woodstock School District’s Facilities Review Committee.  It appears below: MINORITY REPORT: FACILITY REVIEW COMMITTEE MISLED ABOUT CLAY ACADEMY COSTS/REVENUE Clay Academy building is being kept open in order … Continue reading

Not Many Attend Woodstock School District Post-Election Facility Review Committee Report Meeting

Here is Susan Handelsman’s report on what happened Monday night at the Woodstock School District’s meeting on the Facilities Planning Committee Report: Facility Review Committee Report to sparse crowd at WHS Superintendent Moan reported the results of Facility Review Committee … Continue reading

Woodstock School District Talks Closing School Buildings

Susan Handelsman reports on the Facility review committee meeting Motion to identify which of 49 voting committee members’ households were compensated by D200 failed to pass by a huge margin. The motion and vote were not recorded by the committee … Continue reading

Kelly Liebman Teaches Herself Lesson in Uncontested Races, Doesn’t Fill in Her Oval

A Friend of McHenry County Blog sent in a copy of the precinct letter she received from Kelly Liebmann in Greenwood Township Precinct 3. Liebmann’s letter informs voters to vote for D200 candidates Barbara Gessert and Susan Handelsman, along with … Continue reading

Donna Kurtz Outlines D155 Cost Cutting Ideas

From Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board of Education candidate Donna Kurtz, who currently serves on the McHenry County Board: COST CUTTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISTRICT 155 As usual Susan Handelsman provides an excellent blueprint for how District 200 can … Continue reading

Susan Handelsman Outlines Possible D200 Cost Savings

Susan Handelsman laid out her candidacy for the Woodstock District 200 School Board in comments, which are re-printed below. She is running with Barbara Gessert. I am running for D200 [Woodstock] School Board. It is stunning to realize that the … Continue reading

D200 School Board Candidates Handelsman and Gessert Send Email Blast

Electronic campaigning is now the order of the day and two Woodstock School Board candidates are making use of that means of communication. Susan Handelsman and Barb Gessert attack high taxes in their email message. = = = = = … Continue reading

District 200 School Board Endorsement

The following letter to the editor appeared in the Northwest Herald and is re-printed with permission of author Kelly Liebmann, who lives in Wonder Lake: They Fight for Taxpayers The choices for overtaxed Woodstock D200 School District residents on April … Continue reading

Woodstock Republican Precinct Committeeman Opines on District 200 School Board Race

This was sent by Dorr Township Precinct 7 Republican Committeeman Cyndi Hemauer: Dear Friends & Neighbors, We had a problem at one time and time ticks away because we don’t want to see the truth and now, Woodstock “We Have A … Continue reading

Susan Handlesman Reflects on Teachers’ Union Candidates’ Night

From Woodstock District 200 Board candidate Susan Handlesman: Tuesday night’s D200 Candidates Forum hosted by Woodstock Teachers Incumbent candidates expressed an attitude of staying the course to provide excellent education  to the students, and satisfaction over their efforts on the … Continue reading

Susan Handelsman Shares Answers to Woodstock Teachers’ Union Questions

In the comment section under the article about the Woodstock Council of Teachers’  candidates’ night tonight at 6 PM at the Woodstock High School auditorium candidate Susan Handelsman provides the IFT local’s questions and her answers. They are reprinted below: … Continue reading