PASS Responds to District 100 Referenda

Dear Community Representatives and Community Members:

We, the executive board of PASS (Parents Advocating for Students and Staff), would like to request a few minutes of your time to review the following information. It is our intention to equip community members from all townships with the tools to make well-informed decisions when voting in the Nov. 4, 2014 election. Our main focus is the proposition/referendum which could significantly change the way in which school board members are elected as it directly correlates to fair representation for our students and staff of District #100. 

The proposition will be listed on the ballot as follows: Shall the members of the Board of Education of Belvidere Community Unit School District 100 be elected at large and without restriction by area of residence within the District?

The proposition, if passed, has the potential to eradicate school board representation from smaller, outlying townships and the current guaranteed 3 seats would no longer exist. PASS is significantly concerned with this potential change. We feel the views and concerns of community members living outside the City of Belvidere and Belvidere Township may be quite different as they may relate to other impactful issues such as school start/end times; curricular programming; school closures; and building sites/usage. We do not want to lose your input on issues such as these.

The following information is being provided to increase awareness as it pertains to the proposition/referendum:

1. It must receive the majority of votes in EACH township to pass.

2. It is the last question on the ballot.

3. If the proposition passes, ALL of the following will happen: 

a. ALL 7 school board seats will be up for election in April 2015.

b. 3 of the 7 board members elected in April 2015 will serve a 2-year term.

c. ALL 7 board members COULD live within the same neighborhood and/or township.

d. There will be no unopposed campaigns.

e. There will be NO guaranteed board seats for the smaller, less populated townships.

f. Board composition based on statistical representation of the Belvidere population will NO longer be guaranteed.

g. Guaranteed representation for each of the two high schools will cease to exist.

4. If the proposition does not pass, the following will happen:

a. 3 of the 7 school board seats will be up for election in April 2015.

b. 2 of the 3 seats up for election will be representatives outside of Belvidere Township (those two seats are currently filled by Jason Colson and Dan Wilson).

c. 1 of the 3 seats up for election will be a representative from Belvidere Township (that seat is currently filled by President Mike Rathbun).

d. The 3 members elected in April 2015 will serve a 4-year term.

In the previous 2013 election, 2 of the 5 board seats up for election were guaranteed to townships outside of Belvidere Township. The 2 candidates ran unopposed. Those two seats, currently filled by Kelly Diamond and Jason Colson, are the only two seats currently representing BHS and its feeder schools.

In order to obtain the information regarding the upcoming proposition/referendum, the following individuals have been contacted with their stated purpose and/or involvement:

1. Mary Steurer, Boone County Clerk,for number of registered voters.

2. Michael Houselog, District #100 Superintendent,for district rationale for proposition.

3. Regional Office of Education for Winnebago and Boone Counties for information regarding District #100's process for proposition recommendation to the board.

Please see attachments as we have included the compiled information for your review.

We would encourage you to -

1. Review this email and all attached documents.

2. Contact us through email or Facebook with any questions.

3. Get to know PASS at www.facebook.com/parentspass.

4. Share this email with fellow voters and community members.

5. Vote in the Nov. 4th election.

Thank you for your time and attention to this concerning matter. We support the true meaning of Belvidere Community Unit School District and are committed to consistency in township equality for board representation.

Thank you,

Lisa Whitcomb, PASS President

Racheal Morse, PASS Vice-president

Allison Reid-Niemiec, PASS Secretary/Compliance Officer

 

EMAIL bill.pysson@gmail.com and I will send the attachments.