Education Matters

D-15 Panel Answers Questions About State of Our Schools

Five down and just one more informational Navigate15 meeting to go.

Where was everyone?  There were nearly 150 people in attendance at the first Community Consolidated School District 15 Navigate15 meeting held last November. Back then more than a third of the twenty-three groups claimed they wanted to know more about facility planning in the district.   Monday’s session Facilities: Our Schools was planned to address their concerns. The informative presentation reviewed the past and projected building needs for the district and discussed possible options for the future.   Something different was incorporated into this session. A panel of experts took questions from the audience–and actually provided some immediate answers.   Unfortunately hardly anyone showed up to participate in this engaging two-way …

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Jennifer Mondy

5:17 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011

The Truth - Can you indicate which Spotlight on the Board notes show a Finance Committee document being voted upon? You are correct that a portion of the Pleasant Hill roof failed in September 2008. However a vote for a total roof replacement was not taken until May 5, 2009 and it was unanimously approved by the Board. http://www.spotlightontheboard.org   more ›

Letters To The Editor

D-15 Challengers Deserve Support

Letter writer supports challengers in District 15 school board race.

On Tuesday April 5, the residents and taxpayers of Community Consolidated School District 15 will be selecting fellow community members to the Board of Education. Three of the candidates currently are incumbents and have not demonstrated their worthiness for re-election. Two of the candidates Gerald Chapman and Jim Ekeberg along with fellow board members Richard Bokor and Peggy Babcock are directly responsible for financial problems that face the district. You see, they approved contractual obligations with District employees knowing that these obligations would result in deficit-laden budgets as far as the eye can see. This school year that budget is almost $4 million out of balance and by school year 2015-16 the annual deficit will …

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Elections

D-15 Candidates Tackle Issues

Palatine sent questionnaires to the six candidates competing for three seats on the Community Consolidated School District 15 school board.

Six candidates are vying for three open seats on the Community Consolidated School District 15 board in the April 5 election. Palatine Patch asked each candidate to answer questions related to their candidacy. Gerald Chapman Biography: Questions 1) What steps should District 15 take to balance its budget? It is the superintendent's responsibility to provide the school board with options and recommendations to reduce expenditures. That process is underway. Once those options and recommendations have been received and considered, then the school board will make final decisions. It is important to me that the reductions which have long-term impact be given highest priority so that the district can maintain long-term financial stability. 2) …

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Education Matters

School Board Candidates and Union Money

Should school board candidates accept money from a union for their campaign? It has been a common question at candidate forums in Palatine and the answer has been a resounding "No."

Should school board candidates accept campaign contributions from unions? Every local school board candidate asked that question at recent candidate forums has emphatically announced that they will not accept donations of any kind from a union. It is one subject – whether running for Community Consolidated School District 15 or Township High School District 211 – in which they all agree. In fact at last week’s Palatine Township GOP/TOPPER sponsored candidate forum, incumbent District 15 board president Gerald Chapman went further to address the issue.  He explained that he told the district’s unions two years ago - when he was not running for re-election - that it wasn’t their responsibility to get involved in supporting candidates.  …

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Education Matters

Voter Turnout Key in School Board Elections

District 15 and District 211 school board candidate forums planned for April 5 elections.

What is the typical voter turnout for local school board elections?  Answer: 25 percent. What percentage of your property tax bill goes to local schools?  Answer: More than 60 percent. According to The Center for Public Education, local school boards make decisions that determine how a community’s children are educated and how its tax dollars are spent. Voting for school board members is a simple but powerful way to support student success and strengthen a community.  They advocate that every child enrolled in the district is a reason to vote. The overall quality of the schools, both now and in the future, rests with decisions made by the Board of Education. The best and brightest should be in charge.  Why should the minority of residents …

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D-15 Legal Bill Raises Questions

Former District 15 board member Mark Bloom resigned on Jan. 14. The resignation led to the appointment of Dave Seiffert to the school board.

A billing invoice from District 15's attorney has raised questions about the timing of former board member Mark Bloom's resignation. Bills from District 15's law firm show that a series of consultations occured between Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 regarding the legal issues surrounding a potential resignation by a board member. Bloom resigned from the board a month later on Jan. 14. The timing of Bloom's resignation is significant because it determined how his seat would be filled. If Bloom had resigned by Jan. 7 there would have been a special election to fill the seat. Instead the school board was able to appoint someone to finish the two years left on his term. "I think there was obviously an attempt to talk to the attorney a month before Mr. …

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Louise

6:29 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011

Celtic – You are so off base. To anyone watching what has gone on with the school board over the last 4 years it is clear Sue Quinn has the best interests of the students and community at heart. She advocates for improving student achievement on so many fronts, insists upon decisions made openly and thoughtfully, fosters discussions among the board members (it is too bad most will not participate…   more ›

Seiffert Appointed to D-15 School Board

The Community Consolidated District 15 school board appointed Palatine resident Dave Seiffert to fill a vacant seat.

The District 15 school board appointed David Seiffert to fill a seat left vacant by Mark Bloom's resignation earlier this month. Bloom had two years remaining on his term and resigned from the board because of scheduling conflicts with work. Seiffert already was a candidate for the school board in the upcoming April election. Seiffert was appointed by a 4 to 2 vote, with two of the yes votes coming from board members he is facing in the April election. Despite being appointed to the school board, Seiffert will remain on the April ballot. "I hope to secure a four-year seat," Seiffert said, adding that he plans to campaign hard. Seiffert said he was committed to the children and the school district. He said he had made a commitment to run …

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D-15 Seeks Residents to Fill School Board Vacancy

Candidate Information Packets available online Thursday, Jan. 20.

Community Consolidated School District 15 determined at a meeting Jan. 19 how it will fill the school board seat left vacant by the resignation of board vice president Mark Bloom. Bloom resigned last Friday citing scheduling conflicts between his work and school board responsibilities. The school board will appoint someone to fill the remainder of Bloom's four-year term which runs to April 2013. Residents interested in applying for the position must be at least 18 years old, have lived in the district for at least one year, and be registered to vote.   Candidate applications will be forwarded to the remaining six board members for review as they are received by the district. Applications can be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered. …

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Literacygirl

1:29 pm on Sunday, January 30, 2011

Why does "The Patch" allow Jennifer Mondy to continue her tirade against District 15? It only makes "The Patch" look like an unreputable source for news.   more ›

Six Candidates for D-15 School Board

There will be six candidates vying for three seats this April for the Community Consolidated School District 15 board.

Six candidates will compete for three spots on the Community Consolidated School District 15 board in the April election. The final day to file was Monday and two candidates waited until the final day to drop their election petitions off at the district office. The field features two incumbent school board members – board president Gerald Chapman and James Ekeberg. The four challengers are Scott Herr, Manjula Sriram, Dave Seiffert and Gerard Iannuzzelli. Incumbent Sue Quinn chose not to seek reelection. Chapman has the most experience in education. Before becoming a school board member for District 15 in 2007, Chapman worked for Township High School District 211 for 36 years, including 11 as superintendent. "Education has been my career …

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Vicki Wilson

2:17 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The only way to rebuild trust in the community is to work openly and honestly, the way Sue Quinn has tried to steer the board since she was elected. But being in the minority on the board, she can only do so much. The citizens of this district expect transparency and accountability, which is not the way Gerald Chapman has been working since he was elected. Dr. Chapman rules the majority of the …   more ›

D-15 nominating petitions available

The terms of three school board seats will be up in April 2011.

Interested in becoming a Community Consolidated School District 15 board member? Nominating petitions for the April 2011 election now are available. Three seats on the seven-member school board will be up in the spring election. The terms of school board president Gerald Chapman, James Ekeberg and Sue Quinn will be up. Forms are available at the Joseph M. Kiszka Educational Service Center, 580 N. 1st Bank Drive, Palatine and online at www.ccsd15.net. Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 50 voters who live within District 15. The petitions must be turned in at the district office between Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. The terms are for four years. For more information contact school board secretary June Becker at 847-963-3208.

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