Once again, do not increase the pay of the new superintendents and Homestead can keep their buses. Gotta love our district, shelling even more money for new hires. What about the teachers, you don't think they deserve a raise? Or put the $40,000 increase onto the education of our children, they are the future, not the new hires for the superintendent positions.

Once again, do not increase the pay of the new superintendents and Homestead can keep their buses. Gotta love our district, shelling even more money for new hires. What about the teachers, you don't think they deserve a raise? Or put the $40,000 increase onto the education of our children, they are
the future, not the new hires for the superintendent positions.

So Smith presents "her" plan, then says "Don't blame me, blame the state"?

This is just the beginning of the cuts we're going to see. I see the state going bankrupt followed by Dist 308. Both should have thought about the spending long ago, not waiting for the bottom to fall out. We're in serious trouble folks!!!!

Isn't this nice, cutting buses and bus routes, changing start times. If you look at your tax bill, education taxes went up, but they are cutting services? I don't get it?

Time to really think if moving OUT of this school dist is an option...time to start preparing. My kids education I hope does not start to different for someone elses pay!!

I think this is a positive move made by the school administrators. Throughout the entire state, If you are within 1.5 miles of the school, you are a walker. Prairie Point kids have been crossing Route 71 for years. About time the kids at Churchill and Plank cross over Fifth Street. This is a great opportunity for parents to step up to be crossing guards. After all, these are your kids.

I think we all need to get involved in this before it is too late. I suggest joining forces and coming up with plans to save our homes and schools. Lets all meet on Tuesday May 15 at 7:00 at Oswego East. If you really care about this show up on Tuesday.

The State is certainly not blameless, but neither is the school district. They keep spending money they don't have, and reaching into taxpayers' pockets when they need more. It doesn't make sense to raise pay for new hires and then cut transportation of our children. Is this in the best interest of the students? This is what we are always hearing. Obviously it's all talk. Quit the finger pointing and start coming up with ways to make things work. They cannot justify raises in pay at the same time they cut transportation.

Frugal doesn't mean cheap...it means getting the best bang for the buck. Unfortunately, the past 10 years have been anything but frugal, for both the state and the district. Now we have to pay the piper for the lack of restraint in the past. This board has tough decisions, but increasing pay to the administration was not one of their best, especially when there are no recordings of the process. The State is not coming to the rescue, or even paying their portion anytime soon. It is what it is and my personal opinion is that our finances for kids education has achieved the point where it is now at a diminishing return. In other words, the current education is about as good as it will get for a while, and the future educational quality will most likely dip due to economics.

Ever since Grande Park opened, we have been bussing students who live across the street to attend. The board should of stopped bussing them years ago, after the bridge was finished.

This is a mighty long list of subdivisions NOT getting bus service. Who IS ACTUALLY getting it?? Doesn't appear Wolf's Crossing will have any bus service or Homestead.

I'd love to see an independent audit to see if all day kindergarten brings in 1.1MM profit (her word, although she did correct herself) a year. Making a claim like that really needs certified backup.

One quesition I thought of while watching her presentation, will parents be able to access via a website the ability to track busses? Quoting...Smith said they will also be able to provide parents with real-time updates as to a bus’ location, the bus’ speed, monitor pickup and drop-off times and give the district the ability to track ridership numbers". She didn't say how it would be accomplished.

All the adminstration can do is react when our leaders in Springfield keep changing their minds on a yearly basis. What makes matters worse is its' an election year and the political lipservice will be nauseating.

Here are two of the big ones being talked about...

- Shift funding of teachers pensions onto the local taxpayer
- Look at shifting cost of transportation onto the local taxpayer

Just food for thought when November comes around.

What is a foot bridge for if not to allow walkers to cross a busy highway. Now that Murphy is opening, the walkers are going to increase in number. Any buses in that shool area should be eliminated. Remember when we were children, walking to school uphill both ways in waist deep snow. We were really tough, right???

I find it interesting that the district continually blames the state for it financial woes. For decades school boards including #308 gave teachers and administrators 20% raises as they neared retirement. One of the primary reasons they gave these crazy raises was to boost retirement pay, which the state, not the district pays for. Multiple this by the thousands of retires in TRS and it no wonder that retirement cost are eating up so much money. The state, which has no say in teacher and admin. salaries wants school districts to pay some of the retirement burden that the districts created. The thinking is this may help control cost long term. Why should the state be paying for the retirement of non-state employees, BTW the state doesn't pay for Chicago teacher retirements. While the 20% end if career raises aren't allowed anymore the effects of this long standing practice still are with us.

Paul nice report. I don't buy the 1.1 million. The state is not paying 5 so how are we getting the 1. I'd like to see the FOIA on this one

Russ thanks for the info. Wally time you stop wasting taxpayer money and send your child to their home school. I for one am sick and tired of the whining from others when they are part of the problem.

This is entire community needs to start demanding answers and become involved. The delete bottom will be pushed on this district and everyone will pay the price.

With the GPS units installed in the buses, does that mean we won't be seeing the buses parked at grocery stores and Fox Valley Mall anymore?? It always ticks me off to see my tax dollars sitting at the grocery store!

"Smith said with the registration fees paid by parents, the all-day kindergarten program actually makes the district about $1.1 million annually."

I would like to see proof of this estimate. Oswego's full-day kindergarten progam registration fees for 2011-12 was $250/student. If you do the math, $1.1 million would mean there were 4,400 full day kindergarten students in 2011-12. Hard to believe they all fit inside Eastview!

The full-day kindergarten registration fee of $250 is double that of the highest fee in the district (Jr. High/High School $128). WHY is the fee double that of every other grade level in the district? For the fee, it would seem busing should be available.

On a side note, in general, WHY is Oswego's full day kindergarten registration fee so high, as compared to all other programs in 308, as well as compared to 2 local districts full day kindergartens?
Oswego's full day kindergarten registration fee was $250 (for 2011-12).
West Aurora's full day kindergarten registration fee is $90.
Indian Prairie's full day kindergarten registration fee is $105 (which includes a $30 technology fee).
http://sd129.org/registration/
http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Documents/1213/RegistrationPacket1213.pdf

As a parent of a 2012-13 full-day kindergarten parent, I would like some answers as to everything the fee covers.

Hey all, I'm seeking some clarification on the all-day kindergarten issues. I'll update the story when I get it. Thanks!

The $1.1 million in "revenue" for all-day kindergarten is generated through state reimbursements and not through registration fees. The fees essentially cover the costs of running the program. I apologize for the confusion. Hope that clears it up.

I would like to cordially invite the entire BOE to my house, at the corner of Eola and Keating, to make the walk, 1.4 miles, to Homestead Elementary, preferably in the rain or in two feet of snow. This is completely ridiculous. This BOE is total and complete clown shoes. What a bunch of incompetent self-interested buffoons.

Steven--just curious if it's true that the district pays $40k a year on cabs to bring homeless children into the district? Do you know?

It seems a lot of us knew this decision was coming. With the State ultimately cutting funding, the tightening of the purse strings on busing kids who lived less than 1.5 miles was inevitable. While I am not a fan of a lot of the Board's decisions as of late, I do not see this as a random decision by them. I know we (Homestead) aren't the first school to lose bus routes and some of our concerns may seem petty to those that have already gone through this in the past. I would like to hope that rather than complaining we can band together and work on making safe routes and more streamlined processes for us and our kids, as the other schools/subdivisions have worked through in the past. Whether that means following up with our local Alderman (who is already said to be working on this) to work on making safety issues minimal with signage or crossing guards; working with our school individually to help with the flow of increased Parent Pickup traffic; or setting up car pools and walk to school groups, I think we need to work together. We need to be advocates for our children's education and safety, and ultimately when we can not control the circumstances and decisions of others, we need to step up and do what we can to help find solutions and be aware of what is in our control.

Steven,
Can you obtain/post a copy of Angie's Smith's presentation that was approved by the board. I am interested in in the details.
Thanks

I'm disturbed by the number of people who seem a) resigned to accept the BOE's decisions on everything and b) seem to think that, just because the Board gives us their time, their decisions shouldn't be questioned. For many of us, it's a bigger issue than just making the best of a bad situation. Many of us in my neighboorhood have one or more parents who work in downtown Chicago. Are we just supposed to send our kids off walking for 1.49 miles while we are off to the train? Now we have to form carpools, find additional child care, etc for these LONG walks. Perhaps I wouldn't be as upset if I were a stay-at-home mom or worked nearby, but not all of us are in that position.

I can understand the frustration about things, but the reality is that there just isn't enough money to go around. So funding transportation for students who live within the 1.5 mile mark seems like one of the items that should legitimately be considered as a possible expense reduction. Plenty of people have long commutes (we happen to be among those), but yeah...when you live within that mark, it's a parent's responsibility to arrange carpools, childcare, etc. That seems to be part of the standard job description. lol

I can understand differing opinions - they'll always be around and should be - but using people's trek to the city as a factor in support of continuing to fund unmandated transportation isn't the strongest position to take.

I'd rather see them go to the option that we had when I was a student in the 'burbs - parent-paid busing if you lived within a certain radius of the school but still within the "walking" zone. None of this negates the fact that people can still have real concerns and questions about the recent decision-making and still not necessarily feel that every decision made is wrong.

I have news for the BOE. About half of Harbor Springs is beyond the 1.5 mile rule. Again, we see that no one at the district can read a map.

For Julie dicaro, your house is farther than 1.5 miles.

For the district-state statute does not say "as the crow flies." You have a problem.

When I was in middle school I walked everyday and I actually liked it. Maybe this will serve as a dual purpose to also help curb the obesity in our youth. All the kids have cell phones now so it should help with checking in.

@ Ms Hunter .it is extremely presumptuous of you to accuse parents of wanting full day kindergarten as a means of daycare. Surrounding communities has far less taxes in comparison to home size and have full day kindergarten as well. If the cards had originally been played right, full day kindergarten (optional or not) would be available at the child's home school. I'm sure no paret elected to have their kindergartner bused across town. That was the outcome of poor planning and improper allocation of funds. The way I see it, the extra $400 in my taxes this year should more than cover transportation costs.

I should add, I would be more than happy to transport my child to kindergarten (as I do my older two) if it was located much closer.

If you opt for the duel language program. Theres no exceptable reason not to opt to drive your child!

Most elementary children do not have cell phones nor are they allowed to have them at school. If my elementary student did have cell phone, which they don't since I am trying to figure out how to pay my real estate taxes vs a cell phone for them, the first time they forget to turn it off once they enter the school and it rings with a wrong number, who is going to expunge my student's record of not following school rules. I know this from experience since it alread occurred with my high schooler. There is no leniency with cell phones. The school board and transportation keeps stating we should be angry with the state and go to the state. Do they understand the childish attitude presented with that statement? So, in comparison, when our household has been on pay freezes and no bonuses for a few years, we have needed to make changes within our household to meet the income, instead of telling my children 'no' we cannot purchase that, I should tell them 'go to our work and get angry with our bosses that we are not making as much, not our fault, not our responsibility'. It is the boards issue and they are taking the responsibility of living within the means by eliminating the bus routes. The hypocrisy of it is stating we need to eliminate the bus routes to live within our means but hire new employees out of budget, implement a whole new learning standard, and other line items of which the district cannot afford. Once again the board hyprocrisy prevails!!

Why aren't they making the communities next to wolfs crossing and Bednarcik walkers too? They begged for it in the boundary process. If kids can cross for Waubonsie with crossing guards you can do it there to.

Congradulations for the savingsand the health benefits Walking to school is certainly can promote the Lets' Move campaign, ward off childhood obesity, and promote friendships along the way. Who knows maybe it will overall lower health care premiums as well. Salute! I woudl also continue to add other schools to the walking list as the continuim of health.
I wouldn't even spend the $250,000 ANNUALLY on the GPS systems. It;s kind of a mute point. These kids would benefit from programs such as teaching relaxation, yoga, and meditation and it should be considered as important as a gym class.

This is complete crap. so they are going to make the kids in kindergarten walk? and i think the kids in 1st and 2nd grade should not walk to school they are to young and its not safe! and what about the kids with disabilities? are they going to provide bus services to the kids who cant get a ride to or from school because their parents work?

@Dianna Hunter--honestly--that comment is so insulting to those of us who are going to have to rearrange our work schedules and try to work out flex time with our employers. Homestead is a tight community. We know our neighbors. Our children have plenty of friends. Yes, we can and will arrange carpools and neighborhood groups to deal with it. But we shouldn't have to. Expecting our children to continue to be bused to school is not unreasonable. People in other districts can't believe what is going on in 308. So please save your pep talk about getting out and meeting new people. It's condescending and completely off-base.

Folks, some comments have been deleted here. Please refrain from accusing other people of committing criminal acts for which they haven't been arrested or charged.

Following from that, I think the Patch Newspaper ought to obtain monthly line item revenue and expense reports and publish them in the Patch.

So Patch, how about doing your job and get these reports out into the light of day?

(5 ILCS 140/2.5)
Sec. 2.5. Records of funds. All records relating to the obligation, receipt, and use of public funds of the State, units of local government, and school districts are public records subject to inspection and copying by the public.
(Source: P.A. 96-542, eff. 1-1-10.)

http://www.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

http://www.oswego308.org/assets/5/finance_business/FY12_budget.pdf

Hi folks,
The Illinois legislature is introducing further cuts to the transportation funding they provide. One possibility is that all busing will cease to be mandated at the state level. This would bring the possibility of no busing for anyone without fees. Here is a link. http://www.iasb.com/govrel/alr9748.cfm
The bill was introduced by Sen. Heather A. Steans http://www.senatorsteans.com/

If you are not sure of your current representatives you can search here (don't forget boundaries will be changing after the 2012 election)
http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx

Please voice your concerns to your representatives they will return to session May 1st.

Russ and Wally please take off the gloves. I know that both of you are wonderful people and parents who want what's best for your children and all students in 308. Your energy could be used to help us figure out what we need to do to keep us from loosing our homes and school. As you both know we are in serious trouble on all levels and need to come together no matter where we all live. There are so many who are just trying to keep that roof over their heads and with the tax situation, not to mention the non-funding from the state, we need to come up with real answers/solutions. You're intelligent,passionate men who need to step into our ring, we need you both over here. Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Maryz, When my husband and I spoke with our accountant last yr. he spoke of this,this, looks as though he was spot on. We all pay sooo much money in taxes, I honestly don't know how much more they want. Is anyone listening to us or is it the same old, they'll do what they have to because it effects their kids. Enough already!!!

Of course people are angry when their taxes increase and services appear to be reduced. The bigger issue is that the economic climate and fiscal picture on all levels of government is bleak. When you have a shortfall in any budget - you have a few options...

1. Raise your revenues
2. Reduce your expenses
3. Do both

When your shortfall is significant, you usually end up seeing #3 because the other options are not going to cut it. And like I said - people can absolutely take issue with some of the things that have happened with this district recently and still not necessarily agree that every single decision made is a bad one.

And yes -- parent paid busing. It's essentially a bonus if you have been riding a bus and are within the walking distance and safety guidelines. If one disputes the latter, then that is where the district needs to hear from people. It seems like there is often a desire for wanting everything but not wanting to pay for it. If you want busing, but live outside the parameters where it is "free", then yeah - pay for it.

The argument that we have money for somethings and not for others is hardly new. It happens on every level of government - always has, always will.

@Julie -- I'm about the last person to imply that everyone should work in Oswego. We don't and never will. I'm not one of those who thinks Oswego needs to be the be all, end all so that I can stay in town every single second of my life. Hardly! lol ; )

As many of you are aware,my wife and I have obtained grants for our children's schools.They amount to over $5,000 dollars per school with a promise of more funds in the future...if we meet certain stipulations.Unfortunately,this March, when it was announced that we gave a $5,000 grant to LongBeach Elementary School,a person posting here as Hunt Club Parent stataccused my wife of stealing that grant money from The Hunt Club Home and School Organization.Ironically, that comment jeapordized the grant for Hunt Club Home and School (they received the grant anyway and it was announced in April).Further irony is the fact that my wife, as Hunt Club H&S treasurer, has been able to keep the organization out of a deficit for the first time since they were formed.
I was also chastised for having 5 children in the system, at the taxpayer's expense. It is common knowledge in the Hunt Club Organization that my wife and I have 2 infants buried in the Oswego Cemetery. Liam was an organ donor and through him 6 parents got their children back. He was buried over Mother's day weekend 8 years ago. The same year, we buried Paxton over Thanksgiving weekend. That leaves 3 Harrison children in the school district...not 5.The person making the statements against us is aware of the grants and donations we have made and has now placed the current grant in a perilous position.
The end result is that further grants to this school from the donors will not be forthcoming. Congrats Wally!

Seriously, you are asking this guy to prove his child is deceased? Now I've seen it all.

I'm going to go ahead and close the comments on this story for now. Too many people have left personal attacks, and it's just not productive anymore. There have to be ways to discuss the issues without resorting to personal attacks. Thank you.