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Archive for the ‘Board of Education’ Category

220 Board holds public hearing for estimated 2023 tax levy

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

TAX-LEVY _1_

“At the Dec. 5 Board meeting, the Board held a public hearing for the estimated 2023 tax levy, which is the first step in the process to establish a final levy of property taxes to support the district in 2024. Barrington 220 collects property taxes from Kane, Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties, and property taxes account for approximately 80% of the district’s annual operating revenues.

If approved, the district expects to receive an overall levy increase of 5.5% compared to last year, however, it is requesting a 6.3% increase in the event new construction is larger than expected. This is inclusive of capped funds and debt service obligations. Based on projections, the total expected tax revenue to be collected in 2024 is $158,062,300. The Board is anticipated to approve the final tax levy on Dec. 19.

As part of the tentative levy, the Board will not issue Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB) this year. This will save local taxpayers approximately $2.5 million.”

Click here to read “tax levy FAQs”

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Government Unions Love Democrats – WSJ

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington Hills Park District, Big Red, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, Village Attorney, Village Director of Administration, Village President, Wall Street Journal, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Union Label

(Scott Stantis/ For the Chicago Tribune)

By The Editorial Board Wall Street Journal

The alliance between Democrats and public unions is a dominant feature of modern politics, and the mutual love is growing. That’s the message of a new report by the Commonwealth Foundation, which dug into how government unions fund politics through direct campaign spending and political action committees.

The four largest government unions are the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (Afscme). In the 2021-2022 election cycle, they spent more than $708 million combined on politics. Since 2012 union spending on federal elections has nearly tripled.

Democrats and their causes receive 95.7% of the cash from unions’ political action committees. In 2021-22 the Big Four gave more than $29 million to the SEIU’s United We Can super PAC and the NEA Advocacy Fund super PAC which support federal candidates for office. Another $16 million went to wealthy climate crusader Tom Steyer’s leftwing For Our Future Pac. Some $3 million went to Fair Share Massachusetts which supports a state wealth tax.

Big money also flows at the state level, where public unions all but run many state capitals. In 2021-2022, the four largest government unions spent $27.9 million in Illinois, $24.9 million in California, $13.2 million in Minnesota and $12.1 million in Pennsylvania.

Unions accounted for almost 83% of current Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign funds, and teacher’s unions were the lion’s share. They are getting their money’s worth. Mr. Johnson will be renegotiating the Chicago Teachers Union contract in 2024 and unions will be on both sides of the negotiating table.

Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch received $1.25 million in union PAC cash in the 2021-22 election cycle, more than any other state legislator in the country. Mr. Welch recently let an Illinois school-choice program for low-income children die because it was opposed by the unions.

Read more here.

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District 220 Board of Education property tax levy public hearing and regular meets tonight

Posted in Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, FOIA, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 Admin

The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 7:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Open Public Hearing On Property Tax Levy
  • Public Comment
  • Informational (FOIA) Reports
  • Revised Personnel Report
  • Second Reading of Board Policy

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live-streamed on the district YouTube channel.

Related: “District 220 Board approves estimated 2023 tax levy”

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220 Board to form referendum advisory committee to gain fine, visual & performing arts feedback

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Uncategorized, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 30, 2023| 1 Comment »

Plan B

“At the Nov. 21 Board meeting, the Board continued its discussion about possibilities for new fine, visual, and performing arts spaces at Barrington High School. The design work for these new spaces was an identified project within the $147 million dollar referendum that Barrington area voters approved in 2020. The cost to build these new spaces was not included in the referendum.

The Board is planning to form a referendum advisory committee in order to gain feedback from the community about projects that should be included in a potential (likely) referendum question during the 2024-25 school year. The committee will meet during the second half of this school year.”

Related: “Barrington School District 220 could ask taxpayers for $50M by referendum to pay for arts space at Barrington High School,” “220 Board plans to form referendum advisory committee to gain fine, visual & performing arts feedback,” “District 220 Board plans to seek community feedback about new fine, visual & performing arts spaces at BHS”

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Barrington 220 says students outperform more than 90% of students across the state

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

illinois-report-card

“At the Nov. 21 Barrington 220 Board of Education meeting, the Board heard an update from district leaders about Barrington 220’s annual report card, which is assembled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The report card reflects data from the 2022-23 school year in areas of student achievement, growth, attendance, indicators of college and career readiness, as well as school climate and culture. During the 2022-23 school year, Barrington 220 students performed better than more than 90% of students across the state.

Illinois has five summative designations for schools: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, Comprehensive, and Intensive. All Barrington 220 schools received either exemplary or commendable status, and it is important to note that the schools that received commendable designations are very close to earning exemplary.

One area of focus for the district is improving student attendance, which weighs heavily on a school’s summative designation status. Chronic absenteeism has increased in Barrington 220 and across the state since the pandemic. In addition, the district is focusing on how it can accelerate growth for all students through rigorous academic opportunities. Click here to listen to the presentation.”

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District 220 Board approves estimated 2023 tax levy

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

TAX-LEVY _1_

“At the Nov. 21 Board meeting, the Board heard a presentation about the tentative 2023 tax levy, which is the first step in the process to establish a final levy of property taxes to support the district in 2024. Barrington 220 collects property taxes from Kane, Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties, and property taxes account for approximately 80% of the district’s annual operating revenues.

If approved, the district expects to receive an overall levy increase of 5.5% compared to last year, however, it is requesting a 6.3% increase in the event new construction is larger than expected.

This is inclusive of capped funds and debt service obligations. Based on projections, the total expected tax revenue to be collected in 2024 is $158,062,300. The next step in the tax levy approval process is a public hearing set for the Dec. 5 Board meeting. The Board is anticipated to approve the final tax levy on Dec. 19.

As part of the tentative levy, the Board will not issue Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB) this year. This will save local taxpayers approximately $2.5 million. Click here to listen to the presentation.”

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District 220 Board of Education meets at an earlier time tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 Admin

The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 5:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Consideration to Approve Changes to 2024-25 Academic Calendar
  • Consideration to Approve Audit Report
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital BHS Roofing Bid Award
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital District Paving Bid Award
  • Consideration to Approve Summer Capital District Rejuvenation Bid Award
  • Consideration to Determine Estimated Property Tax Levy
  • Consideration to Approve Barrington Transportation Company Contract
  • Illinois Report Card Update/State Assessment Presentation
  • Fine, Visual, and Performing Arts Discussion, and
  • First Reading of Board Policy

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live-streamed on the district YouTube channel.

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District 220 requests participation in a survey

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, District 220 referendum, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Resident Surveys, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

220 Survey

“In June 2023 the Barrington 220 Board of Education approved the district’s new strategic plan, Framework 220. The plan consists of six strategic priorities. One of the priorities is Community Partnerships & Communication.

Please take our 3-minute external communications survey.”

Their survey link can be found here.

Editorial note: When completing the survey, it appeared many of the questions are crafted to assist District 220 in preparing for their November, 2024 Referendum campaign strategies.

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Barrington School District 220 could ask taxpayers for $50M by referendum to pay for arts space at Barrington High School

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Plan B

By Elizabeth Owens-Schiele | Pioneer Press

A referendum advisory committee is being formed by Barrington School District 220 to explore a potential $50 million referendum, money to help pay for a new fine arts center at Barrington High School.

At the Nov. 7 board meeting, school board members discussed options they plan to charge the committee with as committee members meet with community stakeholders. Details of options for new fine, visual and performing arts spaces are expected to be fine-tuned by board members at the Nov. 21 board meetings and ones in December.

The committee is expected to begin outreach in January and make recommendations to the board in March, as the district plans for a Nov. 5, 2024 referendum on the ballot, officials explained.

The ultimate hope is to create new spaces for high school students in the fine, visual and performing arts.

“We see the benefits of having those spaces, educationally and for extra curriculars. There’s a lot of value,” BHS Principal Steve McWilliams said to the board during the a presentation at the Nov. 7 meeting. “It’s their niche, it’s what makes high school special.”

Board member Leah Collister-Lazzari suggested the district conduct more research on the timing of the referendum and the landscape for referendum support.

More here.

Related: “220 Board plans to form referendum advisory committee to gain fine, visual & performing arts feedback,” “District 220 Board plans to seek community feedback about new fine, visual & performing arts spaces at BHS.”

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Study: Illinois’ and Chicago’s reign as corruption leaders continues

Posted in 2021 Elections, 220, Appointments, Barrington Education Association, Barrington Hills Park District, BCFPD, Big Red, Board of Education, BOHICA, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, District 220 referendum, Dumb and Dumber, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Horse Boarding, Mac's Property Management, Mad Cows, MOOBS, New Normal?, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Roads & Bridges Committee, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

madigan

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor

For the fourth year in a row, Chicago ranks as the country’s most corrupt city. Illinois stands as the third-most corrupt state in a University of Illinois at Chicago study.

To arrive at the findings, researchers analyzed 2021 public corruption statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice. In all, there were 32 public corruption convictions in the Northern District of Illinois that includes Chicago in 2021, nearly a 33% increase from the 22 convictions that were reported the year before.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, isn’t surprised.

“It’s an awful shame, and goes to show you what happens when we have one party controlling everything,” Ugaste told The Center Square. “It gets to people, and they think they can do as they please instead of doing what is required of them under the law and required of them ethically.”

A solution to the long-running problem doesn’t have to be that difficult, Ugaste said.

“We have extremely weak ethics laws,” he added. “If we fixed those within the House and Senate and gave our Legislative Inspector General more authority, I think it would go a long way in helping all of it. On the Republican side, we file bills every year to strengthen the legislative inspector general and the ethics laws but they never get hearings.”

Read more here.

(Very) Related: “Better (decades) late than never”

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