Letter to Editor
P.O. Box 2110
Matteson, Il 60443
227 Rich Township School Board Election
Because the Thursday Think Tank is comprised of a group of African American professional males who meet regularly to discuss and research issues relating to our communities, we think that the importance of the issues that are occurring in 227 are deserving of our attention.
The premise of our research is what happens in the schools affects quality of life, the value of property and economic development, as well as the quality education the students receive.
The school board purchased a building for $825,000.00 (using the excuse it is cheaper to own than to rent) to be renovated at a cost of around four million ($4,000,000) to be used exclusively as a building to house 20-30 administrators. This led us to question the fiscal responsibility of the board.
District 227 has some of the highest taxes in the Southland for education and spends a whopping $15,534 per student which is an incredible 39% above the state average.
Yet the school is on the "WATCH LIST" of failing schools. Two thirds of the school population does not meet minimum academic standards. ACT scores are an abysmal 17.0 vs. a state average of 20.5.
The board salutes and heralds the talented but what about the average and below average students?
The School Board has seemingly been unable to raise the standards for all students in the district. Declining test scores are the past board's legacy.
Some residents have sent their children to private or parochial schools because they have felt that the quality of education was lacking in the Rich schools. This has been the trend for several years.
The 227 schools were failing long before the charter school came into existence and it has had nothing to do with the failure of schools in the district nor its fiscal woes.
Southland College Prep is located within a high school district where just 30% of the students meet or exceed standards.
The school holds a lottery because the demand for the program is far greater than its enrollment capacity of 125 students who are enrolled each school year. Currently there are twice as many students seeking enrollment as there are number of available openings.
It is not normally our policy to make individual endorsements. However, we are suggesting that the residents and the board make a change of direction.
To accomplish this means that incumbents should be replaced. We caution against voting for teams and recommend looking very carefully at each candidate. Remember that new the board is one that will make the decisions for your children for at least the next three years.
The residents can end ineffective board leadership by electing Four Very Effective School Board Members on April 9th and provide the quality education our young people deserve.
We truly believe that all children can be educated. The school community can determine the future of its children.
Contact person:
Bill Wiley
312-952-2575
Avantes@juno.com
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