District 15 Board Election: Tuesday, April 5th

Citizens for Accountability in D15

ENDORSEMENT FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
March 31, 2011

We have a critically important election coming up on April 5th. This election will have a direct impact on our community. This election is our only chance as a community to actually change how our school district is run.

Citizens for Accountability in D15 sent out a questionnaire to all six candidates. Based upon candidate answers, first-hand experiences with each candidate, and data on the incumbents, Citizens for Accountability in D15 fully endorses the three highly qualified non-incumbents who are running for the board: Manjula Sriram, Scott Herr, and Gerard Iannuzzelli.

Though they are independent thinkers, they share a common platform: 1) eliminate deficit spending, 2) strengthen the curriculum, and 3) decide openly and transparently. We fully agree these are the three top issues in our district and strongly support their candidacy. They have demonstrated the intelligence, integrity, honesty, and critical thinking required to lead our school district in a new and much improved direction. They know restoring a balanced budget is needed and they are committed to living within our means. They know the trust of the community has been tested and will work hard to rebuild that trust by being open and honest with all stakeholders. We strongly encourage you to vote for them and to get involved during this final week of the campaign.

All three of them must be elected if change is to occur.

If one of them does not get elected, the current board majority will remain in power. The current majority (Chapman, Ekeberg, Babcock, and Bokor) members have gotten us into a dangerous and destructive deficit spending pattern. This financial mismanagement has put the education of the community's children at risk. Then, they orchestrated the backdoor referendum that would have added millions of dollars of debt to our community without our consent and without presenting a plan for how the money would be used. Had it not been for the efforts of citizens to put the issue on the ballot, and voters rejecting it on a 2:1 ratio, their maneuver would have been successful. If the board majority stays in power, there is nothing to stop them from trying this again.

Change is desperately needed on our school board. Whether you have kids in the schools or not, this is an extremely important issue affecting all of us. The future of our community and our schools will be determined by this election.

Voter turnout is critical. Please spread the word. Visit www.Vote135.org for details on the candidates and for information on how to get involved.

Remember, vote 1-3-5 Sriram, Herr, and Iannuzzelli on April 5th for District 15.

Sincerely,
- Jane Van Wolvelear
- Jen Zold
- Joe Heater
- Lisa Neal
- Mary Vanek
- Vicki Wilson
 

Endorsed Candidates

Ballot Line Candidate
101 Manjula Sriram
103 Scott Herr
105 Gerard Iannuzzelli
 

For More About the Election

Spotlight on the Board

District 15 Parents Involved in Education
 
District 15 Bond Referendum • The Results

Public Question to the Voters
of School District Number 15

November 2, 2010

"Shall the Board of Education of Palatine Community Consolidated School District Number 15, Cook County, Illinois be authorized to issue $27,000,000 bonds for a working cash fund as provided for by Article 20 of the School Code?"
  Yes 33.1% (10,086 votes)  
  No 66.9% (20,344 votes)  

All precincts reported.

  

Citizens for Accountability in D15

STATEMENT FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
 November 3, 2010

The voting public has sent a clear message that they want a responsible financial plan for District 15. This is the result of 7508 people who signed petitions, the 160 people who circulated petitions and everyone who helped defend the petition signatures and spread the word about this referendum question.

We want to thank everyone who supported this endeavor over the past six months. The $27 million bond issue would not have been on the ballot without all of your help, nor would voters have defeated it so decisively on Tuesday. We hope you will stay interested in District 15 and help us keep reminding the Board that they work for the community.

The District 15 Board election is next April and two of the four Board members who voted to issue bonds have terms expiring then. We expect to support Board candidates who will demonstrate fiscal responsibility, openness and honesty.

Sincerely,
- Jane Van Wolvelear
- Jen Zold
- Joe Heater
- Lisa Neal
- Mary Vanek
- Scott Herr
- Vicki Wilson

Join our email list to keep in touch.
 

Upcoming Events

Date/Time & Location Event
Wed, Dec. 15 - 7:00 PM
Walter R Sundling Jr High		 Regular District 15 Board Meeting
Mon, Dec. 13 to Mon, Dec. 20
Kiska District Offices		 District 15 Board Member nominating petition filing period
Tue, Jan. 18 - 7:00 PM
Winston Campus cafeteria		 Second Navigate15 meeting
Tue, Apr. 5, 2011 District 15 Board elections
 

Latest News

Date News

Fri, Nov. 19

• Fremd HS Viking Logue District 15 referendum defeated by voters

Wed, Nov. 3

• PalatinePatch District 15 Voters Just Say No

• Mary Vanek blog post District 15 bond referendum defeated by 2:1 margin

• PalatinePatch D-15 Looks Forward After Referendum Defeat

• Daily Herald Palatine Dist. 15 bond sale goes down (see also reader comments)

Tue, Nov. 2

• TribLocal Palatine District 15 shoots down bonds

District 15 Bond Referendum • The Campaign

Daily Herald says No on District 15 bond issue...
..."Voters should reject Palatine Township Elementary District 15's request for approval of a $27 million bond issue..."

NOTE: Choose an electronic ballot – the bond issue is easy to miss on the paper ballot.

 Bond referendum on the ballot
 
Yard Sign
   Handout Card

Top 6 Reasons to Vote NO

  1. Issuing these bonds will raise your taxes / housing expense.
    ... Isn't this the opposite of what's needed when our community leads the area in foreclosure rates?

  2. The Dist. 15 School Board majority moved to take money before they developed a plan for it.
    ... Why is the cart before the horse?

  3. New bonds won't fix bad money management.
    ... Do you pay for your groceries with a 20-year home equity loan?

  4. There is enough money to pay for necessary projects.
    ... $55.5 million fund balance on 6/30/10... and the Board still hasn't decided on priorities six months after the project list was published.

  5. Fiscal mismanagement takes limited resources away from our kids.
    ... There is a finite amount of money for our children – let's use it wisely for their benefit.

  6. Increased taxes/expenditures don't guarantee improved education.
    ... Has education improved at the same rate that spending has increased?

The FACTS

FACT #1: These bonds will raise property taxes for homeowners and housing expense for renters.
FACT #2: The District ALREADY HAS ENOUGH MONEY to pay for necessary projects. The fund balance as of 6/30/10 was $55.5 million, which includes $14.5 million in excess reserves above the Board-approved target level. See District 15 doesn't need the money.
FACT #3: The Board has not approved a plan for how this money will be used. Instead of first making a list of necessary projects and determining the cost, the Board first voted on 3/10/10 to borrow the maximum ($27 million). The District finally posted a $17 million list of projects on 4/1/10 (without Board approval) in response to a citizen movement to put the bonds on the ballot. This list far exceeded the $10 million in projects over 5 years that the District proposed at the February 2010 Board meeting. The list also contained items that have since been paid for and completed during Summer 2010.
FACT #4: There is NO GUARANTEE that this money will be used only for capital projects. These bonds are for a working cash fund and the money can be used for anything.
FACT #5: Interim Superintendent Thompson has recommended that the District only borrow $16 million for capital projects now. If the referendum passes, the District will have 2 ½ years to borrow the entire $27 million. They won't have to ask for permission when they decide they need to borrow more than the $16 million recommended by Thompson.
FACT #6: This referendum, whether it passes or fails, should have NO IMPACT on class size or student programs, because none of the bond money has been earmarked for these items.
FACT #7: Late revenue payments by the State of Illinois are not forcing the District to take out this 20-year loan. The State portion of District revenue is only 7%, we have $55.5 million in reserves, and the District can take out a short-term loan to cover any delays. See District 15 Cash Management.

 

Citizens for Accountability in D15

• Join the D15 Citizens email list

• News alerts at twitter.com/d15spotlight

Handouts

- "Vote NO" Facts (PDF: 1 page)

- District 15 Doesn't Need the Money (PDF: 1 page)

- Your Share of the Tax Increase (PDF: 1 page)
 

Campaign Materials

- Request a yard sign
 

Key Dates

Date/Time & Location Event
Tue, Nov. 2 Election Day!
 

Latest News

Date News

Mon, Nov. 1

• TribLocal Palatine Residents push bond issue to ballot

Wed, Oct. 27

• PalatinePatch Vote No to Move District 15 Forward

Mon, Oct. 25

• Daily Herald editorial No on District 15 bond issue (see also reader comments)

• Daily Herald letter to the editor Dist. 15's financial house not in order (see also reader comments)

• Daily Herald letter to the editor Don't add to D15's debt; vote no on ref (see also reader comments)

Fri, Oct. 22

• PalatinePatch D-15 Citizens Group Queries School Officials

• Mary Vanek blog post Some highlights of last night's public meeting

• Missed yesterday's public information meeting? See the presentation from Citizens for Accountability in D15 (PDF 15 pages, 389 KB)

Wed, Oct. 20

• Updated 1-page flyer available

Tue, Oct. 19

• PalatinePatch Why D-15's Financial Outlook Changed Dramatically

Sun, Oct. 17

• Daily Herald letter to the editor D15 hasn't made its case for bond sale (see also reader comments)

Fri, Oct. 15

• D15PIE District 15 doesn't need the money

Thu, Oct. 14

• PalatinePatch A Matter of Trust in District 15

• Daily Herald Dist. 15 financial outlook suddenly brighter? (see also reader comments)

• Mary Vanek blog post Getting "Culverized" with D15 Superintendent Scott Thompson
 

More about District 15 bonds...

• Spotlight on the Board

• District 15 Parents Involved in Education

• District 15 School Board Watcher

• CCSD 15 Financial Documents

© 2011 Citizens for Accountability in D15