The Board has not even hinted how bad our taxes will get by 2016, when $20 Million a year in principal starts to be paid back. We know the timeline of our debt obligations. We know how much our operating budget will increase year over year, And we know what our current revenues are. So why won't you (the Board) put the numbers out there in a 10 year plan for all to see?

I think the board need to understand, this isn't a small issue that only the TAXfacts folks care about. I'm no activist but I can read and put 2+2 together.
It sure smells like fraud to me.

Who came up with the inflated enrollment numbers distributed to the public prior to the 2007 referendum? How did those numbers end up on informational flyers and the School District's website?
Simple questions that deserve an answer. This board doesn't want to assess blame nor do they have any solutions to solve the $305 million debt. It appears the majority of the bonds are now non-callable so any refinance plan is history. Any solution will involve higher rates and possible penalties.
Since the board and administration states that there are too many variables to provide a 5 year projection of property taxes, I developed my own formula. My taxes will increase 25% by 2018 and then level off for several years. That is based on a 2% increase in operating expenses and repayment of debt for buildings already in use. By 2018, our enrollment might drop by 400 students. If you are paying $16,000 in taxes today (which I'm not), can you afford $20,000 in 2018? Didn't think so.
Now since your taxes will increase about 25% as a direct result of the 2007 referendum, lets go back and ask the questions again:
Who came up with the inflated enrollment numbers distributed to the public prior to the 2007 referendum? How did those numbers end up on informational flyers and the School District's website?
This board was elected to serve the best interest of the taxpayers, answers to our question are in OUR best interest. We are only asking you to do what you were elected to do.

Accountability issues aside, and I do believe the public deserves an explanation for why those figures were used, we need some creative thinking about how to address the debt issue. If we do have excess capacity in the schools, is there any way to use that capacity as a means of producing income? For instance, can we use some classrooms in the evening as part of an extension campus for Waubonsee? Can we provide after hours meeting facilities at schools? Can any portion of that excess capacity be used for training facilities?

Terry, I love to read your good thinking and someday I hope many of us can work together on solutions of how to utilize the extra space in five schools that are at 60% capacity. But first, this issue should not be swept under the rug. If you have attended any meetings this year, the board does not encourage hard questions and input from citizens. The board is at the top of the Organization Chart though and the buck stops there. They have a responsibility to verify referendum enrollment data. I’m sure there is a document where someone signed off on it. How can a 7-member board as well as Superintendent of Schools say they don’t know how the numbers were inflated and they didn’t notice the discrepancy until a watchdog group captured it?

It would be in the board's best interest to find out what happened. Four members were not on the board when this transpired? It’s possible that the numbers were deliberately jacked up by people who have since resigned. Someone had a strong enough interest in winning this referendum to resort to deception.The paper trail that documents the deception is factual. I don’t have the answers and don’t have the power to conduct an investigation, but there are seven board members who do. Thank you Rich Nagel for factual reporting!

Click on the image at http://genevataxfacts.org/ to see the entire story that was presented. It will take 5 minutes to understand why property taxes increased this year and will for many years.

At a certain point we're all going to have to admit the Board and the administration will not tell us what really happened with those skewed numbers. Acceptable? Absolutely not. What is the recourse? VOTE THEM OUT in the next election. In the mean time, we all need to address the immediate fiscal problems we face. We need to shut down at least one elementary school and shift students and staff around--and get rid of some redundant administrators. We need to cut costs to make up for the financial tsunami that's bearing down on us with the ridiculous debt ball that's coming. Get rid of 4th street and use Coultrap for the administration center. Mothball the elementary school at Millcreek South. None of this will be easy, but it's time for the hard decisions that will be necessary to avoid HUGE tax increases in the coming years. Not going to be easy or popular, but it's time. We want quality education--but we don't need extra buildings that are draining us.

Great to see people standing up to the Board and demanding accountability , just hope it continues after the real estate tax bill shock wears off.

I understand you are all for cutting costs, but I don't think you understand what mothballing a school really means. You cut operating costs, but you do not cut teachers. You'd lose a few administrators at best all at a negative cost to our children. Western Ave School is a long standing tradition in Geneva. It is one of the few schools in the heart of town in a still vibrant neighborhood. Those of us that live in the area will not stand for bussing our children 45 minutes away each way to Fayban or to Williamsburg just because they're there. The class sizes are consistent with the number of teacher's we have and they will continue to be the same going forward. The gym, music and art teachers are shared, among others. Impact studies need to be done before you just go closing up schools. We were at Western before Fabyan was built and that number of students in a building is insane. Why do we need to have mega schools? The MINOR cost savings you would have by closing an elementary school isn't worth sacrificing the education of our children. Also, without a school within a reasonable distance of our home, I'll be petitioning for a property tax cut based on a reduction of services in our neighborhood. Multiply that and you'll see no savings at all. Get creative with cost cuts without sacrificing the kids who can handle it the least.

Mothball a school? Yes! We need a comprehensive study that will determine where the students are and the viability of the closest school. Do a cost-benefit analysis like any efficient business does and make appropriate cuts. Yes, close or sell a school building. Yes, get rid of unnecessary staff and and equipment. We might take a short term loss but save money in the long run. Let's be straight forward here-- we cannot run a school district on emotion. We are talking about millions of dollars here and the short and long term impact on lives. We have to stop the "feel good" "throw money at any problem" kind of mentality and do what is both educationally and fiscally sound. Yes, we can have both! Like that school in the neighborhood? Many people were bused to school (me included) and somehow we survived and even thrived! Folks, we need to get out the red pencils and find cost savings. We need to unite on the common goal of providing the best education for the money we have and stop the insanity of expecting more $ to do the same job.

And by the way, it's not 45 minutes from any house in Eaglebrook or Allendale to the Fabyan school. Also, what do you consider a large class? 25? Been there--done that. Most of us grew up with 25 in our classes. We somehow managed to learn our R's and go on to live successful lives. We have become spoiled by the "gotta have it all" mentality.

John R
Not forth coming about our ideas, you don't even use your real full name nor identify yourself in public. Come on John, don't try and play nice now when you were all negative two weeks ago. First, while I know Angela Kane, she isn't an "active" member of GenevaTaxFACTS but she certainly understands we face serious problems within the next 4 years. I consider anyone who wants to become educated on how all taxing bodies work to be a supporter of GenevaTaxFACTS. Our goal from August of 2008 has been to try and understand how taxing bodies work, the focus has been on the school district because they are upwards of 70% of our property tax bill. We differ from the school board in that each "active" tax member speaks their own mind. We do not necessarily agree on every point but we do agree on the main point that this community can not continue to see our school taxes raised every year. What should be done to save money? Ask the school board about the ideas I have already submitted to them in helping to buy down the debt and control spending. They don't want to listen to "outsiders" because they already have all the answers. Within the last month, a expert in the technology field who owns a successful business, stood at the podium and offered his help in saving money on needless technology purchases that the district staff has recommended and purchased. He was told that current staff understands what the district needs are and his (free) advice wasn't needed.

That is one example of refusing to accept help from the community and there are others.
People want to paint GenevaTaxFACTS as a bunch of kooks who want to slash and burn the educational system. Just look at the website we have developed, look at the in-depth analysis we have done, look at the research we have done to prove our points about overspending. Look at the educational backgrounds and professional experience of those who have been active with the group over the last 4 years. GenevaTaxFACTS is a group of highly educated concerned community members who understand that this school district, as well as others, are headed down a path that we can not afford. Check out the companies that have contributed to the PAC Geneva Citizens for Excellent Schools to pass referendums. Don't you find it strange that most are vendors of the school district who have obtained millions and millions of dollars worth of contracts with the school district? They aren't even Geneva citizens. Is it right that those who gain financially are also contributing thousands of dollars to get those referendum passed. Look at the contributions on the state board of elections website, it is all there in black and white. Just maybe people shouldn't fear GenevaTaxFACTS, they should fear the current and past boards that have made poor decisions. When did it become OK for the school board to ignore questions from the community? That is what they are doing with the 2007 enrollment projections.

Sorry for the long posts but we are dealing with a subject that is important to every homeowner in the Geneva School District. Residents need to look at the information presented on www.genevataxfacts.org with an open mind. You already know that school taxes are rising at an unbearable rate. Our website shows you why that is happening. The time for complaining among your neighbors is over, everyone needs to take an active role in what happens over the next 4 years. If you don't like the way we present our information, look beyond that to the information itself. Then think how you would feel addressing the same board for more than four years, explaining to them what needs to be done and why, yet watch them do little or nothing. Sometimes our frustration shows.
Here is something to ask the board: What did the $80 million dollar bond referendum that was approved in 2007 really cost the taxpayers of Geneva? Listen to their answer and then read the actual bond issue at http://www.genevataxfacts.org/attachments/article/9/2007%20Bond%20Issue.pdf Go to page 11. Yep, that $80 million bond cost much more than advertised and look at who issued the bonds ... William Blair & Company. Pretty sweet deal for William Blair & Company.
Send an e-mail to info@genevataxfacts.org with any questions you have or if you just want to talk. Someone from our group will get back to you. Things can change but you must be willing to stand up and demand that change. We can't do it alone.

FACTS= Forever A Conspiracy Theory...

John R, you are clueless about how long small children need to sit on the bus to get from any school outside of their neighborhood to get home. 45 minutes is a fairly accurate estimate and that is in EACH direction. When the Fabyan students were bussed to Western, that was a small estimate of how long they sat on that bus before they got home. You need to go back and look at the cost savings vs the long term issues this would cause when elementary students get on the busses at 7:15 just to make it to school by 8 and gon't get home until after 3. Even mothballing a school costs. The equipment u
Isn't adequate at one school to handle that large of a student body so in reality you are still cutting a small amount vs the quality of education for these young kids. Your talk is dangerous. There are other options, but you are taking the simplest thought route.

Why don't the Geneva Citizens for Excellent Schools people ever speak up? It would be nice to hear how happy they are about the tax situation.

Please note that Bob and I have the courage to use our full names. If people who post here are so adamant about their positions please use your REAL name so there is full transparency. Also, if we don't start SOMEWHERE ( eg: a complete cost-benefit analysis) then what do we do? Again, we cannot run a school district on emotion! Let's grow up and deal with reality here. We need to cut expenses. We have many fine teachers who are working very hard to provide an excellent product (yes, education is a product). We have fine administrators who are doing their best to keep expenses down. But we have too many buildings and an extremely large tax burden on the public because we made errors in the past. So let's decide to be adults here, suck it up and stop acting like ninnies and make the hard decisions we need to make. How many classrooms do we have? What is their capacity? What is the cost to maintain each building? What is the cost to educate each student at each building? What is the energy cost per building? Also, we need to stop treating our kids like they can't handle any difficulty or adversity (poor babies might have to be on a bus for a few minutes more). That's the same mentality that has led to the elimination of valedictorians and participation medals rather than winners.
By the way--Lemont Cranston is the name of a fictional radio character. Jump to reality buddy!

I'm sorry, John R, I meant that last posted comment for Angela . 25 students doesn't bother me as my son's class has been that before. Most of the classes at this school are if not very close to that size. Are you under the assumption there are 18 kids per class here?!? Not at all the case. We walk 15 minutes to school. Great exercise and very good for the kids. Sitting on a bus an and hour to an hour and a half per day provides ZERO benefit to you g children. I am not frivolous NOR am I throwing money at a problem. I value my child's time and their education. You have clearly not been in the elementary school
Environment, NOR have you seen what it is like both ways. You are clearly not thinking big enough. I like Terry's idea to rent out school space. Think more like that vs just closing down something that would be a huge deficit for our children for a small impact.

Also curious about what money making proposition you're going to exchange Western for? It is locked by residential, and no developer will look at it for residential
Use without a walkable school nearby. Think bigger , not small.

That's Lamont, not Lemont. Like Boor, not bore.

Stacey--Kudos to you for actually walking your kids to school. As all of us parents know, that time with your kids is valuable. While I applaud that I think we all have to think MACRO--and not MICRO about these issues. We need to look at the BIG PICTURE HERE. What does it cost to keep each of these buildings open? How many kids are in Allendale or Eaglebrook or the surrounding areas that funnel students to Western Avenue? Just because we've used a building for years doesn't mean that it's economically sound to keep it in service. Not directing this at YOUR SCHOOL--I'm looking at ALL the schools. I'm sorry to be redundant, but let's take the emotion out of this and decide what is the most sound and fiscally responsible thing to do while we maintain or improve our educational standards. Reminds me of something I once heard: "We've been doing it like this for years. How dare you suggest we change it?" My response, "Respectfully, maybe we've been doing it wrong, or times and/or conditions have changed." We need to rethink how things are done because we're not the "unlimited resources" community any more (if we ever were). Debt is coming at us because we behaved badly, because the economy tanked, because we spent ourselves into a stupor without regard for future residents. Hmm, sounds like our federal and state government, huh?
And Lamont--get some testicular fortitude and use your real name. Everyone who cares about these issues should have the courage to use their real names.

And about that Western Avenue location--that's valuable real estate. At some time it would be the perfect location for condos (like the condos north on Western at the RR tracks). Other uses? Absolutely. The problem now is the economy is in the tank. And yes, you can save money if you mothball a building. Shut 'er down -- whatever building. Your energy costs go WAY down. You don't have the cost of the extra administrator(s) and clerical assistants. You don't have the ongoing maintenance issues (other than keeping the building viable). Yes, you do save money. Each of the locations of our buildings is valuable real estate. 4th Street could be converted to condos by a developer and if we got creative we could come up with incentives to interested parties. If it takes a partnership with a consultant--well, so be it. If the eventual result is profit we are ahead of the game. Government does not need so many buildings or to do as much as it does. Government is not the solution to every problem. If we refuse to partner with private enterprise we will drown in debt. Other entities have delved into the public/private opportunities with great success. If it's done correctly it can be very profitable. Anyone remember the old DuPage Courthouse in downtown Wheaton? Great condos there. Take a look sometime.

Did you read anywhere in my postings ANYTHING about slash and burn? Did I at any time advocate harming our quality of education? Come on--that tactic won't work. I do not speak for TaxFacts. I'm speaking as an individual taxpayer--and as someone who is kind of familiar with education. Do you think people will move here if we DON'T address our debt burden? Do you think Geneva will be appealing to prospective residents if our RE taxes are disproportional to similar communities? And if you haven't seen any proposed solutions you're just not reading all the material that's been put out there by people like me who are concerned about the debt tsunami that's bearing down on us. Please, stop the emotional diatribe. Let's stop being Hysterical Hannas and look at the balance sheet and do the cost-benefit analyses to KEEP our quality of education. BTW, if you're not satisfied then take a step back and come up with some better ideas yourself on how to deal with the issues people like me are addressing in a clear and open manner. Any time anyone talks about taking a sharp pencil to the budget the typical response is "What about the children?" Emotional blackmail will not work. We have real issues and they need to be addressed.

It isn't "emotional blackmail" to ask what your group intends to do about the education of the children - that is the stated purpose of District 304. You cannot make cuts without looking at the other side of the balance sheet. What do you propose? The things I have seen on your site primarily deal with school closings and staff cuts. Well fine, but how does that change the other side? You must be concerned with both, as they go hand in hand. Simple accounting, one side of the balance sheet to the other, What's your answer? I have read the documents, I have seen the debates. TAX FACTS seems to be good at decrying the "unsustainable" side of the equation - which, in principle, I agree with, by the way - but has not really addressed what really happens on the other side. If you are looking for true communtiy and parental support, you are going to have to answer these questions in a logical and thoughtful manner. The fact that you state above that you don't think it would take 45 minutes for a child to be bussed from Eaglebrook to Fabyan shows me tthat you very clearly understand the financial side, but perhaps not so much the impact it would have on students. You must balance the interest of both. That's not hysterical, and the fact you think it is is quite frankly a strawman in your argument. Changes need to be made. But by focusing in only on bottom line financials, you forget the greater interests of the community you are admirably trying to serve.

...Any time anyone talks about taking a sharp pencil to the budget the typical response is "What about the children?" Emotional blackmail will not work. We have real issues and they need to be addressed... I have to agree with Noel on this one. It is irresponsible to talk about cutting educational costs without considering the effects it might have on the educational experience of students. It would be similar to talking about slashing health care costs without considering the impact it would have on the health of patients.

The mere fact that SOMEONE is "decrying the unsustainable" debt and financial situation we are in is in itself an incredibly good thing. Again, I DO NOT SPEAK FOR TaxFacts, but I do invite you to review their information on their website. And as a parent of a now adult child I do understand the impact busing has on kids. Somehow she managed to survive and go on to academic success in spite of that odious bus ride every day! I do appreciate the interests of both the students and the balance sheet. But let's be realistic here--if we wallow in a sea of debt (which we will) and have the massive tax hikes in coming years (which without fairly comprehensive financial changes we will see)--we will significantly damage everyone's "greater interests." Kids will survive if they have to get on a bus (which our school district has decided to replace every 2 years so they're plenty nice vehicles) and drive across town. Gee, don't kids in our district get on a bus and get driven to our centrally located high school/middle schools from even the farthest points in our school district? Are they being damaged beyond repair because they have to spend time on that bus? And if you don't want your kid on a bus then drive little Jenny or Johnny--rather than spend that time walking your kid to the local school. DEBT is our enemy here - and failing to address that will irreparably harm us. First we have to admit the problem. We've been drunk on spending--now is the time to sober up.

I don't recall saying that bus riding was damaging kids beyond repair. I used that as an example of how I feel you might not be 100% in touch with what impact changes advocated by TAX Facts might have. While we both agree that debt is the problem, and we must find a solution, as you have pointed out, hysterics from *either side will not solve the problem. TAX FACTS, with their single minded focus on debt to the exclusion of anything else is missing the forest for the trees just as much as those who were "drunk on spending" before were. We tend to swing from one extreme to another in this country, none of which is productive, most of which *is hysterical knee jerk reaction, and frankly, it doesn't solve the problem. Isn't it better to solve the issue in a way that both sides of the balance sheet can be satisfied with? That's all I'm saying. How much further are we down the road of resolving debt after TAX FACTS' numerous confrontations with the board? Nowhere.

Well folks--everyone who is so concerned about the "educational experience" and doesn't believe that those of us out here who are proposing some review of spending and actually addressing our debt problems care about kids: Why don't you just kick in some more money to alleviate the evil damage on the "educational experience" us people will OBVIOUSLY cause? Just like the federal debt--you can send a check to the school district as a contribution toward the debt. I'm sure they'd appreciate it and laud you as a hero of the community! Amend your will--donate all of your estate to the debt obligations!

Straw man argument. No one has said that TF is evil. You are deliberately ignoring the point many of us are making - that you have to consider facts beyond the debt in this issue. Both educational experience AND the debt must be solved. You stated that your children are grown and successful, for that I commend you. You cannot lose sight of the fact that those of us with children in D304 schools are looking for the opportunity to provide that for our children as well. I contribute my time and my money to my local school, as do many others. This doesn't solve the two fundamental problems as I see it:
1. The debt and out service on that debt will increase.
2. We still need to provide quality education in the district to retain and attract taxpayers.

Noel, I believe in solutions. The kids didn't get us into this, adults did. We are at one extreme and we have an organization pushing to the other extreme without looking at alternatives. Push through staff cuts and school closings. I am not the only parent that has discussed moving their child to another town if start your slash and burn tactics. I didn't buy into sending my child to school with 30 kids in their classroom, 800 kids per school with minimal teachers and resources, not to mention that they sit inactive doing who knows what on the bus an hour plus to an hour a half a day.

Condos? We can't sell condos downtown, why do you think they are such a valuable commodity? No one wants them. Developers won't develop them because there's not a market. We have empty land all over town to be built on and NO ONE is building.

Why isn't Tax facts looking for a benefactor for the schools?!? That would be an answer!

In addition, here's a solution right off the bat, which you mentioned earlier. Why do we buy new busses every two years? I know on the D304 website they say that this lessens maintenance costs, but I personally think we should look into how much we could save by extending it to 3 or even 5 years. I suspect we'd be amazed how much we could free up to service the debt, without closing a school or cutting staff.

The reason we are now faced with these horrific options is because school officials in 2007 disregarded the expert opinion of an educator — Professor John D. Kasarda. Is it not tragic that an esteemed academician’s independent and nationally recognized work was summarily dismissed by Geneva’s education advocates, and replaced with contrived data sprinkled with demographic fairy dust. Is it not shameful that the “multiplier” was purported to be the work of Dr. Kasarda when it was clearly proven to be not factual. Mr. Grosso should know there is no need for a “full blown investigation.” Dr. Kasarda is already on the record to several sources that he did not “verify” the school district’s fantasy numbers. All the other information surrounding this matter is in the public domain. The school district gambled and went all in, and the taxpayers lost. Whoever runs for the next school board elections should be required to pass the Kasarda Test. That is where you must read page 30 here http://www.genevataxfacts.org/images/pdfs/Enrollment-5-12-12.pdf and answer the question. “Given the data projections developed by a leading authority using a robust demographic model, what is the prudent course for CUSD 304 to follow and to communicate to voters?”
Series A — The Minimum Track (purple lines)
Series B — The Expected Track (green lines)
Series C — The Maximum “highly unlikely” Track (blue lines)
Series D — Just the make the crap up (red line)

I totally agree, Stacy. We need to find solutions.

A. I don't recall anyone from TaxFacts advocating "close schools and fire staff" as a total solution to the problem. Please don't just make up stuff.
B. if the school district wants a benefactor to bail them out of this mess THEY should look for one. In the big picture we don't need a new chalk board or whatever else the Foundation buys. We have people on staff who work at finding grants (taxpayer money). Why not commission them to find donors? OR have a fundraiser for debt! Sell cookies, have a dinner, a fun run-whatever!
C. Love the schools? Then write a check to alleviate the debt! Donate and take a tax write-off if you want. Have any rich friends or know any corporations in our district? Work on them!
No matter how many ideas that anyone from TaxFacts (which I am not) comes up with they will be castigated and demonized as damaging the "educational experience" that is touted. Geez, DEBT DEBT DEBT. Maybe the kids in our schools didn't create it but no matter how you slice it, they will be damaged by the results of failing to take action to handle it. We need to stop the silliness and wake up to the reality we face as a school district, state and country. We are drowning in debt and this ongoing blame game is failing to recognize the big issue that is killing us.

And condos--yes, the real estate market is in the tank. That's true. But the rental market is booming. If you build it they will come. Shodeen's units in Millcreek are doing well. Nice rental property is tough to come by. But don't shoot the messenger here--I'm throwing out ideas at least. That's a lot more than the blame game and criticism garbage flying around. Have any other ideas? Let's hear them! At least I have the intestinal fortitude to suggest something!

Stacy--what town will you choose and how will you pay the tuition? If you live out of district you must pay tuition. Or private school? No voucher for you because we don't do that here! So gonna sell your house? Are you insulting teachers by saying they are not capable of teaching a class of 30? And don't they have class size clauses in their contract?

Angela, no problems paying private school tuition if we need to, we can sell our house and take a loss. We've looked at Evanston, Hinsdale and even discussed just the hop, skip and a jump to St Charles. I know what my son's class of 24 is like. He has one of the best elementary teachers in the district. He is smart, independent and in the AE program. However, even a class of 24 has issues with kids who have behavior and learning problems and while he gets extra attention because of AE, he doesn't get the extra push he needs because she's too busy dealing with 4 or 5 other children who need help in various other ways. His teacher does a remarkable jon with what she has to work with, but add even three or four more children to the mix with equal problems and it just isn't worth it. I love Geneva. Its a great town with what is now a pretty good school system. It wouldn't take much to make sure it becomes less appealing to those looking to move here. Had I been aware of any of these issues when we moved here 8 years ago, I would have pushed harder for one of the cities I mentioned previously. However, I wanted our son to have a small town experience while living among a big city environment. Cities with great walkability scores are becoming the trend. Geneva will become much less appealing (unless you live on the edges of town) if people's children have no hope of walking to school.

As for rentals, that's a gamble that would be a tough sell in existing neighborhood. Families won't move in, there's no school. Singles won't be interested as you're no longer in a vibrant neighborhood. I still see no appeal for a developer to take on that risk. If rentals are so demanded, why aren't they building on existing open land plots?

Innovation is public education is very difficult. The Illinois School Code mandates an enormous number of programmatic costs from facilities to curriculum. The teacher's contract is also detailed and sets some parameters that cannot be easily altered. School boards that want to innovate find themselves handcuffed. Frankly, the bricks and mortar questions become the default issues since addressing the classroom number is infinitely easier than addressing what actually happens in the classrooms. We never have a referendum on how to allocate resources to special education programs versus gifted programs or how to best focus on the value added to the life of each child individually. In the past the bricks and mortar issues comprised 10-15% of the budget (capital expenditure plus debt) while these issues occupied at least 50% of the dialogue between the community and the school leadership. Now, for a while at least, the percent of the revenue needed for facilities will be closer to 25%. We cannot undo the mistake that we, the voters, made by overbuilding. But now we must seize the opportunity to focus on what happens in the classrooms to see if we can improve the product while controlling costs. Candidates should come forward with plans to accomplish this so the next election can be a referendum on both ideas and dollars.

Dr. Kasardas 2011 report suggests a 7% decline in enrollment at the elementary level over the next 4 years. Why would be need to keep the same number of employees with that large of a decline in enrollment?

I would suggest that in the current economy every school district in our state will have financial issues--Evanston, Hinsdale, St. Charles--wherever. So Stacy--move, but I think some realtor might tell you all kinds of things to get a sale. As for my husband and I--we love it here. I want to stay and fight, to fix the the problems and make our schools more accountable--educationally and fiscally. Yes, if we have less students we need to reallocate resources and move students around if necessary and even close buildings if we need to. I want to be able to afford to stay. If taxes go up as much as some say they might to stave off the debt bomb (and as both of us will be on retirement income) I don't think we'll be able to afford to hold out. We won't be the only ones leaving--people will flee and home values will suffer badly. Nobody wants that so let's suck it up, act like responsible grownups and figure out how to make the changes we need to make. We all need to stop whining. If not--will the last one out of Geneva please turn out the lights!

Rentals ARE the hot thing. Read the real estate sections of the Chicago Tribune about rentals and vacancy rates. Conversions are doing well. When people can't buy they rent--and foreclosures are still going strong. People still will need some place to live and if rents are reasonable (that's the key) they will rent. Buildings like 4th Street make quaint historic conversions.

We must identify the underlying core fundamentals of this issue. We have a School District that paid a consultant $15,000 to establish the enrollment parameters for the referendum. Now why would you WASTE $15,000 of the taxpayers money to pay for his expertise and not utilized it. GREED. This School District has a spending addiction and until they get out of denial of their behavior we cannot address solutions. Furthermore, the School District already had an established debt percentage of approximately 13.8% prior to the proposed referendum. Once again, why would you spend any money when you already have a debt history? No lending institution would even consider lending you a loan as you are a considerable amount of HIGH RISK. But the School District did not INFORM the taxpayers of this debt during the referendum process. Because any entity who has an addiction will never admit to it!! At the Monday meeting, Mary Stith, present School Board member and former Board member (during the enrollment era) stated she does not know where the enrollment numbers came from...then why would you vote on going to a referendum when you don't know where the numbers came from? My point is this School Board and District needs to acknowledge their responsibility in their waste and greed behaviors before a remedy intervention can be addressed. I do not see how this has any impact on impeding the quality of the educational process and thus jeopardizing the children.

Here's an idea, lets have a community wide open public meeting where we can objectively go through what, how and why we spend so much every year. The public can ask any questions they want without fear of being painted ant-education. The board members are welcome to come to the meeting but the community runs the show not the school board. No holes barred, good hard, honest facts and then let the community decide. You set the meeting up and I'll be there, anytime, any place.

This was posted 7 hours ago, yet no one has taken me up on the offer. Or commented on the idea. Do some posting here really want to find a solution or do they just want to hide behind made up names and blame others for not doing enough. Come on Noel & Stacy, set a time and place for a community wide meeting, lets hear what your plans are for a solution to the issues.

Once the School Board and District gets beyond their arrogance and admits to their wasteful spending greedy addiction the town of Geneva and its residents will never have proactive solutions. This is why they need to resign as they cannot admit to their failures and fraud.
Mr. McQuillan, I agree a Town Hall meeting could get matters rolling....thank you. Folks it is all of our futures which is at stake here. Our town is now a huge financial liability to stay and to go because with a high property tax based home no buyer will be interested when they can go elsewhere and get the same benefits at a lower cost. And if we don't intervene now the foreclosure rate will continue to climb. So please follow some common sense here and let's get to work.

Name the time and place. I'll be there.

Absolutism will never solve the problem. No one group has all the answers. Until we realize that it is going to take input from *both "sides" - and I say that tongue in cheek because in reality the only "side" is the betterment and fiscal solvency of our schools - this problem will never be solved.

It is really important to keep a positive attitude and an open mind Mr. Rooks. This takes alot of tact and professionalism. This now has become such a catastrophic situation that there is no real easy solutions but we must persevere through its complications in order to solute its resolve. So please let's unite with the spirit of the community and lessen our fears of failure. We all must stand together and hear each voice in its validation to mediate resolutions or do nothing but watch the town perish in its own fiscal decay.....

Bob,

We are in agreement :)

It's high time for all concerned parties to meet face to face to discuss solutions.

I'll check with the Geneva library on Monday regarding space. They have at least one large space and I assume it can be checked out.

Trying to hash this stuf out on the Geneva patch and during comment sections at board meetings is not working.

John

A solution comes from thorough discussion of extreme and minimal measures to solve a problem and find some middle ground. I wonder if any extremes have been identified and allowed creativity to guide a plan. The irony is, this CUSD had a five year plan for growth and spending that failed without any provisions. Where is the 5 year plan for for the cards we have been dealt. Is it a reactionary plan?

can someone please explain to me why my kid's math/science teacher makes less money than her PE teacher? i don't understand why someone who teaches gym class is paid that much money. can you imagine going to work in sweatpants and making 80-90K per year? i remember what some of my PE teachers taught me....NOTHING. wouldn't any changes here reduce costs significantly?

Remember the old saying - those who can, do. Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach, teach gym.