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Archive for the ‘What the Ficke (Bradford)?’ Category

Waukegan joins school districts backing sales tax referendum: ‘A source of income that will benefit our students’

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Chicago Tribune, Cost of Living, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 30, 2026| 1 Comment »

CUSD 220 has reportedly already requested the 1% county sales tax referendum be placed on the Nov. 3 Ballot.

By Steve Sadin | For the Lake County News-Sun

A referendum proposing a 1% countywide sales tax to fund education is a step closer to reality now that Lake County’s largest school district has joined a group asking Regional Superintendent of Education Michael Karner to take the necessary steps to place it on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

If public school districts representing more than 50% of the students in Lake County approve resolutions asking Karner to certify the referendum to County Clerk Anthony Vega by Aug. 26, voters will decide the fate of a proposed 1% sales tax funding education.

Already directing Karner to place the referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot are: Barrington Community Unit School District 220 (3,489 students), Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 (3,504 students), Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 (5,777 students), Kildeer Countryside School District 96 (3,419 students), Lake Buff School District 65 (877 students) and Big Hollow School District 98 (1,653 students).

The full article can be read here.

Note: An attorney quoted in the article said, “proceeds from the sales tax can only be used for long-term capital improvements, such as building renovations or repairs, like a new roof, school resource officers, or mental health professionals.”

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5 things to know about Illinois’ new school rating system

Posted in Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, FUBAR, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, SNAFU, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 30, 2026| 2 Comments »

Labels on the familiar state report card are poised to change.

By Hannah Schmid | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois plans to revamp how it rates public schools, meaning familiar labels on the state report card will change.

The Illinois State Board of Education in April approved a new school accountability system beginning in fall 2026.

The board says the overhaul will make school ratings clearer and fairer. The changes also remove some key measures and reshape how performance is judged.

Yet at a time when nearly half of Illinois students can’t read at grade level and even fewer are proficient in math, the board’s overhaul will change how schools are labeled but not how they perform.

Here are five things you should know about the changes while the plan awaits federal approval.

1._Schools will no longer be graded on a curve.

Illinois’ rating system ranks schools against each other. Only the top 10% can be in the top category and only the bottom 5% are ranked in the lowest.

The rankings are based on a school’s performance against other schools rather than strictly on how well its students meet specific criteria.

The new system will grade schools based on fixed standards. The goal is to eliminate moving goalposts, where a school’s rating could change based on comparison to other schools even if its performance doesn’t change. That could make ratings more consistent over time.

Article continues here.

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CUSD 220 Notice of document destruction

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Daily Herald, Illinois Federation of Teachers, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Notice is hereby given that Community Unit School District No. 220 in Barrington, Illinois will be destroying all temporary regular and special education records for students who graduated, transferred, or permanently withdrew from Barrington schools as of June 2021.

Students over the age of 18 or custodial parents interested in obtaining copies of these records may do so by contacting: Student Services Department, 847-842-3507, 515 W. Main Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010 BEFORE June 15, 2026.

Source

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Cuba Township Assessor Shares: Important Update Regarding Upcoming Property Tax Bills

Posted in 220, Board of Education, County, Cuba Township, District 220 referendum, FUBAR, Lake, Property Taxes, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Important Update Regarding
Upcoming Property Tax Bills

(Please click on image to enlarge)

Dear Cuba Township Residents

Our office would like to provide an important update regarding the upcoming May 2026 property tax bills, particularly as they relate to the November 2024 Barrington CUSD 220 referendum.

At the time of the referendum, Barrington CUSD 220 presented taxpayers with an estimated increase of approximately $236 per $500,000 of market value. Based on the tax rate information now available, this estimate appears to be significantly understated. Current projections indicate the actual impact may be closer to three times the estimated amount for similarly valued homes. The following is a link to the referendum tax calculator: Barrington 220 2024 Referendum Tax Calculator. We encourage you to compare this calculator to your May tax bill.

While we understand this increase may be concerning, it is important to clarify how property taxes are determined and the role of the Assessor’s Office in that process. Our responsibility is to establish fair and equitable property assessments based on market value. We do not set tax rates or control the budgets of taxing bodies.

Property taxes are determined by two primary components: assessed value (EAV) and tax rates. In simple terms, the total tax burden is driven by how much revenue taxing districts levy to fund their budgets. The tax rate is then adjusted to generate that amount and is distributed across all property owners based on their share of the total assessed value.

An easy way to think about this is like splitting a restaurant bill. The total check represents the amount taxing bodies have decided to spend. Each person’s share is based on what they ordered—someone who ordered a steak pays more than someone who ordered a salad, just as properties with higher assessed values pay a larger share of the total tax burden. If the total bill increases, everyone pays more, regardless of how the bill is divided.

Typically, when overall assessed values increase across a taxing district, tax rates decrease to offset that growth. However, when taxing bodies increase their levies, tax rates may rise or remain elevated to meet that higher spending level. In this case, while most taxing bodies now have a reduced rate, Barrington CUSD 220 has an increased rate, resulting in a higher overall tax burden for property owners. While factors such as the County’s equalization process may impact assessed values, they do not, by themselves, increase the total taxes collected.

For questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this increase, we encourage residents to contact Barrington CUSD 220 directly. If you would like to send a message to Board members as well as the Superintendent of Schools, please Click Here.

Barrington CUSD 220 Contact Information
District Administrative Center
515 W. Main Street
Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: (847) 381-6300

Upcoming Board of Education Meetings

All regular Board of Education meetings are held on Tuesday evenings, beginning with a Closed Session at 5:30 p.m., followed by Open Session at 6:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, meetings take place at the District Administrative Center. Meetings include opportunities for public comment and provide a forum for residents to learn more and share input.

Our office remains committed to transparency and ensuring fair and accurate property assessments. If you have questions regarding your property assessment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Cuba Township Assessor’s Office
Cuba Township| Website

Cuba Township | 28000 Cuba Road
Barrington, IL 60010 US

Email sent April 20, 2026

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District 220 Board of Education meets tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:

  • FOIA Request Report
  • Revised Personnel Report
  • Consideration to Approve 2026-2027 Meal Prices
  • Consideration to Approve 2026-2027 NSLP Food Service Renewal
  • Consideration to Approve Transform 220 Bids
  • Project Work Order #12 to the Pepper Construction Company Master Agreement
  • Consideration to Approve a BHS Athletic Program Donation Agreements
  • Grade Level Program Transition Update
  • Transform 220 Pre-Construction Update
  • Teaching and Learning / Equity Update

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

Related: “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”

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Pritzker could unlock $1 billion for Illinois students

Posted in Education, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 16, 2026| 1 Comment »

The governor should say yes to a program that would provide donated education money for Illinois families.

By Lilly Rossi | Illinois Policy Institute

A billion dollars for Illinois students is on the line.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker can opt into a new program and allow Illinois families and students access to almost that much in donated education money.

Or he can watch the money flow to other states.

A new program allows donors to take a tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualified donations. If just 30% of filers in Illinois took the full credit, the state could gain nearly $1 billion a year in new education resources to be used for millions of students.

The money would help students afford a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition or fees, get special education services or assist with other academic needs.

Starting next year, any taxpayer can get the credit for a qualified contribution up to $1,700 to a scholarship-granting organization.

The only cost of the program is minimal foregone income tax revenue to the federal government. There is no cost to participating states, only the benefit of more help flowing directly to students.

A number of taxpayer-participation scenarios show that “even modest taxpayer engagement could translate into significant resources,” according to an analysis from Education Reform Now. Based on an estimated participation rate of taxpayers eligible to receive the full $1,700 tax credit in Illinois, students in the state could see as much as $1 billion.

Article continues here.

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Happy April 15th: Illinois property taxes up 27% under Pritzker

Posted in Barrington Education Association, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The governor pins the issue on local governments, but state law and decisions contribute to the problem.

By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy Institute

Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t as innocent as he wants us to think when it comes to Illinois’ property tax woes.

“I want to remind you that property taxes are not determined by the state of Illinois, but rather by local governments…including school boards, park boards, library boards, municipalities, etc.,” he said last month.

He put special emphasis on school boards.

Pritzker is right that local taxing bodies set levies, but suggesting those decisions have nothing to do with him is naive at best and dishonest at worst. State mandates, pension obligations and funding choices he oversees play a significant role.

Under the governor, property taxes have risen nearly 27% — from $31.8 billion in 2018 just before he took office to $40.37 billion in 2024.

State decisions shape some of the largest pressures behind those tax bills.

Illinois public schools are primarily funded by property taxes. But school districts are forced to rely so heavily on those taxes in part because the state diverts a growing share of its education spending to pensions instead of classrooms.

Article continues here.

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Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job

Posted in 220, AI, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Guest Essay, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 7, 2026| 1 Comment »

“As a resident of Barrington, IL, I am deeply concerned about the actions of one of our School Board members, Erin Chan Ding, who has admitted to violating School Board policy, using her position for personal gain and political leverage. Her recent activities have raised eyebrows in our community, as it seems she is prioritizing her run for the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 52nd District over her duties and responsibilities to our children and community. The Board has already voted that she has flagrantly violated School Board policy.

School Board members should exemplify unbiased dedication to the educational needs and welfare of our students. However, it has come to light that this individual is leveraging her role for publicity to further her political career, diverting attention from our District’s educational priorities. Our students deserve leaders who are fully committed to their well-being, not those looking for personal advancement or caught in political machinations.

Evidence of this misuse includes multiple occasions where she solicited petition signatures during school events in violation of Board policies. She was warned by the Board President in July of the violations and her need to adhere to Board policies and she agreed to do so. Despite these admonitions and Chan Ding’s agreement to adhere to policy in July, she’s continued to repeatedly violate policy. The Board voted for remedial training as the consequence for her violations. This is not an acceptable response to her conscious decision to repeatedly violate the very policies she presided over as one of the 2 Board members on the Policy Committee; particularly where Chan Ding was warned by Board President Bradford publicly at the July Board meeting of the violations but continued violations despite the public admonitions.

Chan Ding’s interests align more with her political campaigning ambitions than with School Board responsibilities. Furthermore, decisions made on critical educational issues are now being scrutinized for potential conflicts of interest influenced by her political agenda. This is not the kind of behavior we can afford to permit, as it undermines the trust and integrity essential to governing bodies like our Board of Education.

Removing this member will not only help restore the Board’s focus on its core mission but also sends a clear message that our community will not stand for misconduct or exploitation of elected positions for ulterior motives. It’s crucial that our School Board reflects the best interests of our students and maintains an unwavering commitment to their education and growth.

Join me in calling for the removal of Chan Ding to ensure our Board remains a place for sincere, student-centered service. Let’s protect the integrity of Barrington’s educational system and hold our officials accountable. Sign this petition today to take a stand for our schools and community.”

Read more here.

Related: “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers,” “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,”  “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “Ding Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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District 220 Board of Education meets tomorrow

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Big Brother, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

 

The District 220 Board of Education meets Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:

  • FOIA Requests*
  • Personnel Report
  • Resolution abating the working cash fund of the District
  • Consideration to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Honorable Dismissal Due to Reduction in Force of Part-Time or Full-Time Educational Support Personnel
  • Consideration to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Honorable Dismissal Due to Reduction in Force of Group 2-4 Certified Staff
  • Consideration to Approve Non-BSEO Classified Staff Compensation and Benefits for the 2026-2027 School Year
  • Consideration to Approve Administrative Compensation and Benefits for the 2026-2027 School Year
  • Consideration to Approve the Adoption of Multi-Year, Performance-Based Contracts for Chad May, BMS-Station Campus Principal; Chelsea Hedges, Assistant Superintendent of HR & Talent Acquisition; Eric Steckling, Director of Communications; Heather Schumacher, Hough Elementary School Principal; Josh Carpenter, Assistant Superintendent of Schools; Melissa Byrne, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning; Micah Korb, Countryside Elementary School Principal; Michelle Acosta, Early Learning Center Principal; Sarah Rabe, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction & Student Performance; Steve McWilliams, Barrington High School Principal; Peg Lasiewicki, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Support; Travis Lobbins, BMS-Prairie Campus Principal
  • Consideration to Adopt Resolution directing the Regional Superintendent of Schools for The County of Lake, Illinois, to certify to the County Clerk of said County the question of imposing a retailers’ occupation tax and a service occupation tax to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals, for submission to the electors of said County at the general election to be held on the 3rd day of November, 2026 – Resolution – Lake County School Facilities Sales Tax

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

*Interesting to see NBC Chicago requests.

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Restoring Integrity to the School Board ~ A Seat is a Trust, Not a Consolation Prize

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Goat Rodeo, Illinois Federation of Teachers, League of Women Voters, Legal Expenses, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Erin Chan Ding posted the following to her Facebook followers Tuesday:

While Chan Ding claims to be ‘honored’ to continue her service on the Barrington 220 Board of Education, her actions during her failed primary campaign suggest she has forgotten who she truly serves.

By using District resources to fuel a partisan run—earning her an official ethics sanction—and subsequently accepting campaign donations from the very union whose contracts she must impartially negotiate, she has created a profound conflict of interest.

Most disappointingly, she has let down the constituents who elected her on the fundamental promise of nonpartisan leadership. A school board seat is a sacred trust meant for the advocacy of students, not a political steppingstone.

To treat the Board as a ‘consolation prize’ after a partisan defeat, while carrying the weight of these ethical breaches, is a disservice to every voter who expected her to put our schools above her own political ambitions.

Related: “Chan Ding, Teachers Unions losers in IL 52nd District Primary Election,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “Candidate Erin Chan Ding’s opinion on Data Centers,” “Barrington area Democrats condemn Chan Ding mailers,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “School district’s parking plan defies logic,” “Zoning change defies village policy,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “Erin Chan Ding: The violations just keep piling up…,” “Erin Chan Ding starring in another episode of, ‘Rules For Thee But NOT For Me…’,”  “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency,” “Ding Politicking on School District Property,” “Dual School Board and State Rep Positions Legally Incompatible,” “D220 Abuses Taxpayer Funds in favor of Partisan Campaign,” “Ding In Her Own Words – CONFLICTED!,” “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

 

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