At the Cook County Schools-ISD 166 school board meeting held September 3, Superintendent Schwarz informed the school board, staff and community of her intention to not seek a renewal of her contract, which expires on June 30, 2016.
The school board respects Superintendent Schwarz’s decision. This announcement, along with the recent resignation of a principal, gives the school board a unique opportunity to review the administrative structure at Cook County schools. The board will be scrutinizing the size and cost of district administration.
We want to clarify that school administration changes and the operating levy are separate issues. The referendum is about the funding needs of our school. Without community financial support by way of the levy, our school will only be able to provide a basic skeletal education for our students. Is this really what our community wants? Or do we want to be able to provide our students with the opportunities they deserve, such as smaller class sizes in K-2, advanced placement courses, full industrial arts program, electives, and enrichment opportunities, etc.?
Please do not let the “noise” of the staffing changes make you think for one moment that the levy is not important. Without the approval of the operating levy referendum on November 3, the quality of the education and activities that Cook County Schools will be able to offer our youth will be compromised. Over the fiveyear life of the proposed levy, should it fail, we will need to eliminate a total of $900,000 in recurring expenses. Many fixed costs cannot be reduced. Here are some areas that will be affected if the referendum does not pass:
Administration, athletics, electives (advance placement, band, music, language, industrial arts), co-curricular activities (knowledge bowl, exploratory day, elementary field trips, robotics), grounds and maintenance (including participation and maintenance of ACA), technology, student services (counselor, social worker, nurse), increased class sizes and consideration of implementing a 4-day week.
These reductions are not threats. They are the real programs and staff reductions that will need to happen if the levy does not pass. Community support is imperative to the continued success of Cook County Public Schools.
Cook County Public Schools,
ISD 166 School Board
Deb White, District 1
Terry Collins, District 2
Chris Goettl, District 3
Sissy Lunde, District 4
Jeanne Anderson, District 5
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