Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Incumbents Michelle Smith, Rod Westfall return to the board, joined by newly elected Bill Dargan and Bill Slabich Jr.
Two outgoing Plainfield School District 202 Board of Education members bid farewell Tuesday as two brand-new board members were sworn in. With incumbents Rod Westfall and Michelle Smith rejoining the board, new members Bill Slabich Jr. and Bill Dargan officially became part of the school board. They join current members Kevin Kirberg, Greg Nichols and board president Roger Bonuchi. As a brand-new board member, Slabich said his biggest concern is “how we’re going to get the most out of the lack of funds we have and give the best education for the kids,” he said, adding the state funding situation is “the scariest part.” Dargan, who ran for the board in 2011 before being elected last month, said his focus is on the students. “Everything we …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Outgoing board member Mike Kelly, community volunteer Ralph LaFido were recognized at an April 3 ceremony.
Article submitted by District 202: The District 202 Board of Education honored two exceptional leaders for their community service at its April 3 Awards of Excellence ceremony. Ralph “Butch” LaFido, a longtime volunteer with the Plainfield Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry received the Ira Jones Memorial Award for his exemplary service to the Plainfield area. Board of education member Michael Kelly received the Elizabeth “Bess” Eichelberger Distinguished Service Award for his 16 years of leadership in and service to District 202. “Both Mr. LaFido and Mr. Kelly are excellent examples of the spirit of service that creates and holds a community together, and the Board of Education is proud to honor …
Friday, June 1, 2012
A plan to shift the teacher pension burden onto local school districts is dead in the water — at least for now.
Relief was tempered with caution Thursday as District 202 board members reacted to the news that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was scrapping a plan to pass the cost of teachers’ pensions on to local school districts. The plan, part of Senate Bill 1673, was aimed at addressing the state’s $83 billion unfunded pension liability. More than half — $44 billion — of that is from the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). “It does give me hope,” said board member Mike Kelly, who has traveled to Springfield numerous times to lobby for school funding reform. According to Kelly, if Madigan’s plan had become a reality, it would have cost District 202 between $10 million and $15 million per year. That would have meant more job cuts in …
Monday, April 30, 2012
District 202 board member Mike Kelly says the end result of the governor's proposal will be more teacher layoffs and higher local property taxes.
- OPINION
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Monday, April 30, 2012
The governor of the state of Illinois seems to think he can balance the state’s checkbook on the backs of Illinois students. In moving more transportation costs to local school districts, it means ILLINOIS jobs will be lost. Plainfield School District 202 has already cut nearly 400 jobs over the last four years. There are lots of people in Illinois who think we need pension reform. I agree that we need to work with a pension plan that we can afford. However, in my 15 years as a volunteer school board member, not one parent has come to me and asked for the cheapest education. Each parent has asked me for the best education and the greatest opportunity for their children in their local schools. In each of the almost 400 jobs we cut over the …
Face in the Crowd
5:04 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
If you didn't already know, Downtown Plainfield is a TIF district which means that the tax revenue generated within the district does not go to fund public services, but rather is put back into the pockets of business and developers. The state of IL did not collect over a billion dollars last year due to TIF districts and other tax loopholes that favor (big) business. more ›