The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor,
To The Committee Of 10-Carthage, Dallas City, La Harpe, Nauvoo-Colusa
The Board of Education of La Harpe Community Unit School District No. 335 would like to express to you our appreciation for the exemplary work that you performed for our district and school community as a member of the Committee of 10.
You brought much to the convergence reorganization effort over the past year.
You were presented with the very daunting task of putting together a first-of-its-kind school district reorganization petition for the voters of our community.
This task was further complicated by the time-frame constraints that accompanied the project, with an April 5, 2005, target date for the referendum.
From the initial organizational committee meeting, to the final days leading up to Election Day, you worked diligently to accomplish the goal of bringing about the creation of a new converged high school district.
Many hours of information gathering, meetings, discussion of various issues, learning more and more about curriculum, school finance, school construction, transportation, extracurricular activities and the politics of public school education were expended by you in the effort to bring about district reorganization.
With the convergence question not passing in all four districts, many may believe that the effort has failed.
We believe, however, that you have been very successful in bringing all four districts closer to a point in time when meaningful district reorganization in our area of the State of Illinois will occur.
Without your dedicated service to our school communities and vision of a new system that was presented to the public, we would be much further from providing the very best possible educational opportunities for our students.
This is not to say that our school districts are not making every effort to provide all they can for their communities with the resources available to them, but as you have shown us there is much more that needs to be done and can be accomplished if we begin to work collectively.
We admire your sacrifice of time from family, your efforts, personal expense, public commitment to our position, dedication to the greater school community...also, for the education that you have provided to all of us through your work both individually and as a member of the Committee of 10 for the school districts of Carthage, Dallas City, La Harpe, and Nauvoo-Colusa.
Most sincerely,
Daniel L. Horton, Pres.
Board of Education,
La Harpe CUSD No. 335
Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, April 13, we joined nearly 1,000 educators in Springfield to let our state government know that we have problems in education that we need help solving.
On April 5, voters in communities across the state rejected efforts to raise property taxes to provide more money to local schools.
Meanwhile, the Education Funding Advisory Board (EFAB), a state advisory board, determined that a minimum per-pupil funding level of $6,405 is needed in order to provide a quality education.
The current per-pupil funding level in Illinois is $4,964. This shows we are far behind in the bare minimum we should be providing to ensure every child has a decent education.
Even Gov. Blagojevich's recent proposal to expand gaming to fund education would fall about $1,200 per-pupil short of EFAB's new funding recommendation.
Lacking adequate state support, schools increasingly have turned to local property taxpayers to shoulder the ever-growing burden.
Yet, as has been the case in recent elections, property taxpayers have made it clear that they can no longer bear the brunt of school funding, rejecting 68 percent, over two-thirds, of the 69 school-related tax referenda up for vote last week.
Schools across the state will be forced to cut staff, programs, extracurricular activities, and even the school day.
It is going to take everyone, working together, to find a way to fairly fund Illinois School Districts.
Thankfully, we have people representing us in Springfield that are willing to ask difficult questions and to consider long-term solutions.
We appreciate Representative Rich Myers and Senator John Sullivan for taking time out of their busy schedules and braving the crowds outside of the chambers to speak with us about your concerns.
We felt that they truly listened to us and understood and shared our worries.
While the future of education in Illinois is anything but certain, one thing we can be sure of is that we are well-represented in Springfield.
Sincerely,
Jack McKinnon, La Harpe Teacher
Sara Kerfoot, La Harpe Teacher
Dear Editor,
Since the convergence vote for Carthage, Dallas City, La Harpe, and Nauvoo-Colusa failed, the La Harpe community knows another reorganization plan for the La Harpe School District has to take place.
However, the 481 voters from the La Harpe community voted yes on April 5 for the convergence should be commended for voting this way. These people realize the La Harpe School District must make a change to continue to provide quality education to this community's students.
At the April 11th La Harpe Board of Education meeting, three members from the West Prairie School Board of Education were in attendance.
Each of these three board members individually said that their board is extending an invitation to keep the current sports cooperative and begin discussing a reorganization plan with the La Harpe Board.
The La Harpe Board replied to this invitation, but said that the board may be discussing a sports cooperative and reorganization plan with other districts as well. My question is, which school district in this area is more fitting than West Prairie to discuss this with?
Dallas City signed another two year contract to send their high school students to the Nauvoo-Colusa High School since the convergence vote failed.
This contract would be voided if the Dallas City Community voted favorably to reorganize with another school district in the spring of 2006. However, in my opinion, reorganizing with only the Dallas City School District would not create a long-term financial or continuation of quality education solution.
In addition, a sports cooperative with Dallas City would not be an option without reorganization since Dallas City high school students attend Nauvoo-Colusa.
The La Harpe superintendent also stated that he had been contacted by the Carthage School District administration (not the Carthage School District Board of Education) to possibly begin discussing another reorganization plan with La Harpe.
A member of the La Harpe community said to the board that the three West Prairie Board members attending the La Harpe meeting and offering this invitation to continue the sports cooperative and begin discussions for a reorganization plan should stand for something.
(No members of the Carthage Board of Education were in attendance at this meeting). I agree with what this La Harpe Community member said concerning West Prairie.
I don't think all members of the La Harpe Community realize the sports cooperative agreement with West Prairie and La Harpe will need to be renewed in May of 2005 for another 2 years OR the sports cooperative is over after May 2005.
Even though not all of the sports cooperatives with West Prairie expire in May, I was told by a school employee that La Harpe renews all of them at the same time.
The superintendent said that other sports cooperatives with other districts may be pursued because he felt it would make the most sense to pursue a sports cooperative with whichever district La Harpe was pursuing a reorganization with. It makes the most sense to me to renew this sports cooperative with West Prairie since the relationships have been established between La Harpe and West Prairie, and West Prairie has extended their invitation to discuss reorganization besides renewing the sports cooperative.
Furthermore, it seems ludicrous to discuss a sports cooperative and reorganization with Carthage for several reasons. First, La Harpe is running out of time concerning a sports cooperative. Like I stated before, the current sports cooperative with West Prairie expires in May 2005 unless it is renewed. Should the students of La Harpe High School be expected to have their sports programs as they know it uprooted and left hanging?
Secondly, I know and agree that education should be the main concern driving a reorganization plan.
However, does La Harpe really think a majority of Carthage community members want to have a sports cooperative or reorganize with La Harpe since this would affect their sports programs?
If football enrollment increases for Carthage, this places Carthage in a more difficult play-off bracket for this sport.
As important as the football tradition is to Carthage, does La Harpe really think the majority of Carthage community members want to "change" their football tradition even though the "change" would benefit education over football?
The La Harpe board also stated that they think they need to do another survey to see what type of reorganization and with which school the La Harpe community wants to reorganize with.
This information has already been given on a previous survey that was done not that long ago. Convergence was listed as the primary reorganization preference; consolidation was the secondary preference.
West Prairie was the second school preference for reorganization.
I would think another survey would be a waste of time, money, and effort. Another reorganization plan needs to be put into effect as soon as possible which benefits the La Harpe students' education and extracurricular activities.
Since a committee of ten needs to be formed for a new reorganization plan and community members may want to attend committee of ten informational meetings, does La Harpe honestly think there is time for another survey?
This would only delay presenting an alternative reorganization plan and information to the community.
The La Harpe Booster Club needs to be commended for offering to pay the junior high head coaches for next years so that junior high sports can continue.
However, if the school board accepts this proposal, I would urge the La Harpe School Board of Education to not expect the Booster Club to continue doing this if a reorganization vote passes in the spring of 2006. The Booster Club should only have to do this for one year.
Finally, the La Harpe Board of Education decided against putting too many of the elementary grade levels into one section for each grade.
Obviously, they must have a plan for putting one grade level into one section since I have received my final reduction in force. I do feel for that teacher that has to teach one section and the students next year in that section. Possibly these students won't have to be in one section for the 2007-2008 school year if a future reorganization has a favorable vote. I don't know. However, I want to encourage the La Harpe community not to take the board's decision lightly concerning the elementary sections. Even though the La Harpe School Board made a final decision to reduce the current faculty by two teachers, this does not mean your school district is not in financial trouble any longer. It is still there, and I would like to encourage you to listen to future reorganization plans with an open mind. Since I attended the La Harpe School District from Kindergarten through the 12th grade I know many people in this community. I have taught or have been in contact with some of my previous classmates' children. These previous classmates of mine have chosen to raise their families here and have their children attend a quality school with small class sizes. These children and all of the children of the La Harpe community deserve a quality education, small class sizes, and an abundance of extra-curricular activities to continue. This can't continue without some form of reorganizing soon.
The following people have read this letter, agree with it, and have agreed to have their names listed. The names are as follows: Cathy Jones, Laurie Myers, Melissa Sturlic, Sherry Beals, Kathy Kendall, Rita Siegworth, Cindy Pollock, Jodelle Eddington, Jack McKinnon, Elizabeth Abbott, and Ellen Fark.
Sarah Kerfoot
Special Education Teacher
La Harpe