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District 220 Board of Education meets tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Look For The Union Label, Organizations, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 3, 2024| 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:

  • Public Hearing/Comment – Property Tax Levy
  • Public Hearing/ Comment – eLearning Plan
  • Personnel Report
  • Minor Policies
  • Consideration to Approve DLA Architects Memorandum of Understanding
  • Consideration to Approve Lauterbach-Amen 3-Year Contract Renewal
  • Approval of finance lease agreement with American Capital Financial Services, Inc., to lease for 60 months technology equipment at a cost not to exceed $1,220,700, and service agreement with ProvenIT.
  • Consideration to Approve the PMA Financial Advisory Agreement Access
  • Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $14,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2024, for the purpose of building and equipping an auditorium and an addition at the Barrington High School Building, altering, repairing and equipping existing buildings, and improving school sites; providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds; and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof.
  • 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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Politicians’ five-step guide for making parents think all’s well in Illinois schools

Posted in 220, 300, District 220 referendum, Education, Elections, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)?, Wirepoints on November 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

By Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner | Wirepoints

Illinois’ educational establishment has been doing it for more than five decades. Year after year they’ve automatically advanced kids that can’t read or do math at grade level. They’ve graduated kids that are nowhere near proficiency levels on the SAT. And they always tell parents all is well.

They just did it again this month when the State Board of Education and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the new state 2024 education results. This time to give the illusion of success, they conflated record graduation rates with improved elementary scores. Gov. Pritzker told parents: “This year’s report card shows we’ve reached the highest grad rate in 14 years at 87.7% AND the highest-ever proficiency rate in English Language Arts in grades 3-8.”

Tricky. When bragging about record graduation rates, it’s not elementary scores but rather high school SAT scores that matter. And those SAT scores are at or near all-time lows. Student reading proficiency statewide is down nearly 9 percentage points and math is down by over 10 points compared to 2017 when Illinois began using the SAT.

Note that the scores on the SAT – a requirement for all juniors in Illinois – were trending down even before the pandemic began.

But few parents are going know about those collapsing scores thanks to a five-step process Illinois education officials use to make public education look better than it really is:

Step 1. Lead with lofty statements to set the stage. Use phrases like “reaching new heights”…“powerful example of success”…”delivering real results.” Make sure to throw in the word “investment” several times. From ISBE:

“Students are reaching new heights & educators are setting a powerful example of success…our investments in students are delivering real results as Illinois continues to bounce back stronger from the challenges set by the pandemic. ~ @GovPritzker.

Step 2. Highlight “positive” stats and conflate the data where needed. In this case, tie record graduation rates to higher elementary-level reading scores.

Step 3. Ensure the media echoes the same message throughout the state. Use sympathetic traditional media sources to spread official talking points.

Step 4. Name-call anybody that challenges the narrative. Use terms like “carnival barker” and “denier” for groups that reveal the truth. Gov. Pritzker did exactly that in a gubernatorial debate in 2020 when challenged about Illinois’ school results (see Instagram Reel here).

Step 5. Rinse and repeat. Push the same narrative regarding “improvements” and “investments” just like in 2023, and 2022, and 2021 and 2019…

That’s how politicians perpetuate the system. It’s what prompted the Wall Street Journal to write: Illinois’s Shocking Report Card: The Land of Lincoln is failing its children and covering it up.

Read more here.

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Polls are now OPEN

Posted in District 220 referendum, Elections, Politics, Resident Spotlights on November 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Please VOTE!

(If you haven’t already)

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Polls open tomorrow at 6AM

Posted in Cook, County, District 220 referendum, Economy, Ethics, Kane, Lake, McHenry, OP/Ed, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Resident Spotlights, Road construction, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions on November 4, 2024| 1 Comment »

Please vote for Representative Martin McLaughlin!

Early voting has ended at this hour at most locations.  Tomorrow, many more locations will be open for Election Day from 6AM to 7PM.

Click on your county below to find your polling location:

Or, you can also go to, “Poling Place Lookup,” to find your polling place location.

By now it should come as no surprise that Martin McLaughlin has our wholehearted endorsement and vote because he has earned it. Best of luck tomorrow.

Related: “Chicago Tribune endorses Martin McLaughlin,” “Daily Herald Endorsement: McLaughlin for Illinois House Dist. 52”

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So?

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, News Media, OP/Ed, Organizations, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Illinois’ 2024 report card was released first thing last Wednesday, October 30th. Thus far, CUSD 220 has been silent regarding the results, however one news report we posted stated:

“The report card shows that English language arts and math recovery in high school continue to lag. Proficiency rates in high school have trended down since 2019, and slightly smaller percentages of high school students met or exceeded grade-level standards last year, compared to the year before.”

220 has mounted a full court press for months trying to sway taxpayers to approve their $64M referendum.  To be fair, then, shouldn’t they be provided with 220’s summary (spin) of the latest report card results before those who have not voted do so?

We believe they should.

Related: “Considerations before voting on District 220’s $64M Referendum”

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Statewide effort planned to boost student math scores

Posted in 220, Barrington High School, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on November 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders | Photo by Andrew Adams

By Peter Hancock | Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois education officials plan to launch a statewide initiative over the next several months aimed at boosting student performance in math.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders made that announcement during a recent media briefing to unveil the most recent school report card. That annual report shows how individual schools, districts, and the state as a whole are performing across a wide range of educational measures, including academic performance in English language arts, and math.

“This will be the first-of-its-kind effort here in the state of Illinois,” he said. “As a state, we adopted new learning standards for math in 2010, but there’s never been a concerted statewide effort to provide support to educators in understanding and implementing these shifts in instruction.”

The new report, which is based on standardized tests students took in the spring of 2024, shows student scores in English language arts have fully recovered statewide from the hit they took during the pandemic.

More than 39% of all students scored at or above the state standards for proficiency in English language arts, including a record-high 41% for students in grades 3-8.

But in math, where proficiency rates have always been lower, overall scores remained troublingly low. Only about 28% of all students, and 28.3% of students in grades 3-8, met or exceeded state standards for proficiency.

Math scores also continued to show disturbing gaps across racial and ethnic lines. Across all grade levels, 38% of white students met the state’s proficiency standard, compared to just 15.3% of Hispanic students and 8.9% of Black students.

More students are proficient in reading than before the pandemic

On state tests, 41% of Illinois students reached a “proficient” score for reading, outpacing pre-pandemic levels. Math scores are more slowly recovering, still about 5% lower than pre-pandemic scores.

Sanders cautioned against drawing overly broad conclusions from those numbers, noting that Illinois sets a relatively high bar for what qualifies as “proficient.”

The report card divides test scores into five broad categories, based on the state’s definition of “proficient.” The two highest categories are “met” and “exceeded” the standard. Below those are “approached,” “partially met,” and “did not meet” the standard.

Read more here.

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‘Now is the time to be in Barrington’: village serves up positive economic outlook

Posted in 220, BACOG, DARCHED, District 220 referendum, Elections, Frau Blücher, Politics, School Districts on November 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Barrington officials dished out a heaping helping of positivity about the village this week to an audience of brokers, developers, potential tenants, property owners and managers in an effort to promote economic growth.

“Now is the time to be in Barrington,” Village President Karen Darch told the group at Tuesday’s “Be in Barrington” breakfast at the Barrington White House.

The village is hoping to see the former McGonigal’s Pub in Barrington reoccupied soon. | Daily Herald file photo

Village Manager Anderson touted the village’s economic position, highlighting Barrington Aa1 bond rating.

“AAA, the top of the rung, is really reserved for larger communities,” he said. “We’re a stutter step off of that.”

Anderson recapped some additions to the economic landscape — restaurants like Epic Burger, GiGi’s Wine Bar & Bistro, and significant movement in the automotive sector, including the relocation of the Cadillac dealership to the Motor Werks campus.

He mentioned the addition of 156 residential units within the past seven years, the most recent being a 15-unit condo building on Glendale Avenue.

Car condos will be part of a mixed-use development in Barrington’s “Golden Triangle.” | Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com

Deputy Village Manager Marie Hansen outlined developments on the horizon. They include The Nest, a state-of-the-art child care facility opening this year at 310 E. James St., as well as eight luxury rowhomes at 150 Washington St. Also, a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins drive-through will be relocating and opening at 306 W. Northwest Highway.

Read more here.

Related: “Barrington approves TIF for the ‘Golden Triangle’,” “Barrington moves closer to TIF for ‘Golden Triangle’,” “MotorCave Suites: For-sale personal auto museum showrooms and entertainment Spaces for Chicago area collectors,” “Barrington village manager gets 12.5% pay hike,” “Barrington-area leaders tout growth at annual economic summit,” “Barrington pins high hopes on Golden Triangle development,” “Luxury apartments, restaurants. What Barrington might do with its ‘Golden Triangle’,” “Apartments, storage for high-end cars proposed for downtown Barrington”

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Illinois students gain in English, lag in math, graduating more, truant less

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, District 220 referendum, Education, School Districts, Topics Of Interest on October 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

By Kevin Bessler The Center Square

An overview of the state of students in Illinois schools has been released, and officials are saying the highlight is the proficiency rate for English language arts for middle schoolers.

The Illinois State Board of Education published the 2024 Illinois Report Card Tuesday. The report showed Illinois students in grades 3-8 charting the highest-ever proficiency rate in English language arts, with officials attributing the gains to the statewide focus on improving literacy. Students in grades 3-8 achieved a proficiency rate of 40.9%, the highest ever since students began taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in 2019.

“Illinois has seen tremendous, nation-leading recovery in English language arts, thanks to the talented teachers, principals, and superintendents in schools across the state who have worked diligently to implement shifts in their literacy practices,” said state Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders.

Illinois’ high school graduation rate reached an all-time, 14-year high at 87.7%. Steady gains for Black students over the past six years have driven the increases in the graduation rate. The rate of ninth graders on track to graduate has also risen steadily and exceeds the pre-pandemic rate.

Participation in Career and Technical Education and in advanced coursework continued to rise in 2024, also contributing to statewide gains in the graduation rate. Illinois students participating in CTE have higher graduation rates than their peers.

The report card shows that English language arts and math recovery in high school continue to lag. Proficiency rates in high school have trended down since 2019, and slightly smaller percentages of high school students met or exceeded grade-level standards last year, compared to the year before.

Read more here.

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Early voting available through Monday

Posted in Cook, County, District 220 referendum, Elections, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Politics, Springfield, Taxes on October 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Early voting locations are through Monday for the November 5, 2024 General Elections. Click on your county to find the most convenient location to cast your vote:

For general ballot information, visit the Cook County, Lake County, McHenry County or Kane County clerk’s office sites.

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Considerations before voting on District 220’s $64M Referendum

Posted in Associated Press, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Chicago Tribune, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, News Media, OP/Ed, Organizations, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Surveys, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)?, Wirepoints on October 29, 2024| 1 Comment »

Two months ago, a headline in the Daily Herald read, “District 220 seeks $64 million tax hike for new auditorium, curriculum improvements.” The photo and caption appear above.

Straightforward, right?  Apparently not.

That’s clearly not the primary marketing message District 220 wanted to convey now.  In fact, a recent post by 220 lead with:

“A successful referendum in November will provide the district with an opportunity to further enhance safety and security at all Barrington 220 schools.”

There was no mention of an auditorium or curriculum improvement whatsoever.

Plus, a recent post on X mirrored that message:

Obviously, the highly paid 220 spin consultants have shifted their messages (featuring cheerleaders no less) to appeal to voters by diverting their attention, and we have issues with that.

However, we won’t go there.  Instead, aside from a few editorials and edited District 220 posts, The Observer would like to present the following objective headlines/stories since the last 220 election to refresh your memories…

“Our Atrium: the heart of nowhere” – Posted by The Barrington Hills Observer October 19, 2024, published by THE ROUNDUP, February 23, 2024

“What message are you spinning to taxpayers 220?” – The Barrington Hills Observer, October 17, 2024

“Politics for sale: Big money floods Illinois campaigns with few rules and little enforcement” – Chicago Tribune September 1, 2024

“District 220 seeks $64 million tax hike for new auditorium, curriculum improvements” – Daily Herald August 24, 2024

“How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing.” – Illinois Policy Institute July 22, 2024

“The big myth that needs debunking: Illinois needs more money for education – Wirepoints Special Report” – May 25, 2024

(Click on graphic to enlarge)

“New 2023 School Report Cards reveal to parents Illinois’ dismal student outcomes“ – Wirepoints May 21, 2024

“Illinois has MORE educators, LESS students than ever, yet officials complain about a ‘teacher shortage’” – Wirepoints May 15, 2024

“One big reason it’s hard to track Illinois’ educational failures. Officials keep changing the standardized tests.” Wirepoints March 25, 2024

“Study: Illinois’ spending per student is one of highest in the country” – The Center Square February 28, 2024

“Why are Americans becoming more stupid? Our entire education system needs a revolution” – UnHeard February 26, 2024

“District 220 Board to form Referendum Advisory Committee in 2024“ District 220 update December 21, 2023

“District 220 Board approves estimated 2023 tax levy (6.3%)” – District 220 update on November 27, 2023

“220 Board plans to form referendum advisory committee to gain fine, visual & performing arts feedback” – District 220 update November 8, 2023

“Barrington School District teachers to get raise, more time for leave and parent-teacher conferences withnew union pact” – Pioneer Press November 6, 2023

“5 facts they don’t want you to know about Illinois’ 2023 student test results” – Wirepoints October 31, 2023

“North suburban homeowners seeing biggest property tax increase in 30 years, treasurer’s analysis finds” – Chicago Tribune October 30, 2023

“District 220 enrollment numbers continue to decline” – District 220 update October 18, 2023

“District 220 to offer ‘free’ full-day kindergarten” District 220 October 18, 2023

“ACT test scores for US students drop to new 30-year low” Associated Press October 11, 2023

“District 220 Board begins review of possibilities for new fine, visual & performing arts spaces at BHS (3 options)” District 220 update October 4, 2023

“Low 3rd-grade literacy is warning for future learning, earning potential” – Illinois Policy Institute October 2, 2023

“How Illinois public school measures fail to add up” – Illinois Policy Institute September 27, 2023

“New Illinois law ‘closes’ loophole to prevent sexual grooming of students” – The Center Square August 8, 2023

“New Illinois law allows ten (10) paid days off from teaching for union work” – Illinois Policy Institute June 16, 2023

“Over 4 of 5 Illinois law makers get money from Teachers Unions” – Illinois Policy Institute June 14, 2023

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

“Pritzker signs law stripping libraries that ban books from state funding” – The Center Square June 12, 2023

“Illinois has more graduates but with lower scores, fewer heading to college” Illinois Policy Institute June 1, 2023

“District 220’s private equity campaign” – The Barrington Hills Observer May 9, 2023

“New Board of Education sworn into office” – District 220 update May 4, 2023

“‘We have a lot of healing to do’: Incumbents hanging on in contentious Barrington 220 race” – Daily Herald April 6, 2023

Considering all of this, we have one question for voters: “What components in CUSD 220’s $64M Referendum actually addresses getting student’s education and scores back on track?”

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