Now what?

It's over.

We lost. They won.

So, how do you feel?

You did your civic duty. You commented on blog sites. You spoke up in public. Some of you, even spoke up at last Monday nights School Board meeting. 

The outcome was not the one you hoped for.  Now what?

Well don't hit the bottle just yet.

Your work is not yet done!  A new battle, one for restoring taxpayer-lead financial control over Maine 207 has just begun.

Remember my friends, no matter what a School Superintendent thinks, it's the School Board that ultimately controls the purse strings.  We have our CURRENT School Board to blame for this mess. 

(Front row, from left: Linda Coyle, Carla Owen, Aurora Austriaco, Teri Collins. Back row, from left: Jin Lee, Paula Besler, Sean Sullivan).

We have Board President, Carla Owen to blame.  We have Building & Grounds Committee Chair, Teri Collins to blame.  We have Finance Committee Chair, Sean Sullivan to blame.  These three Chairs knew about, and irresponsibly endorsed, the Wallace scam.

Although the total Board was the key player, since together they authorized the con and allowed the Wallace gang to withhold $120,000,000 in previously taxed revenue from public sight, it can't be stressed enough, the impact  non-voters had on the election results.  As Trizna so rightly stated on his latest blog post, "...49,669 voters who actually cast ballots..." while "...46,941 slugs who failed to show up."

Plan - B

Our job now, is to place responsible adults in those Board positions to look out for everyone's best interest. Specifically, the taxpayer and student, in that order.

 

 

We won't be looking for Superintendent lap dogs like Owen, Collins and Sullivan. We'll be looking for independent grownups, adults, men and women who understand who works for whom, and know how and when to say NO!
 

• No, when it comes to withholding $120,000,000 from their purpose. 
• No, when it comes to administrator bonus plans. 
• No, when it comes to raising taxes destined to force long time residents & friends to move out, because their total property tax bills are unsustainable. 

Owen, Collins and Sullivan are culpable for:

• misusing $120,000,000 in previously taxed revenue 
• administratoring bonus plans 
• unnecessarily raising your property taxes.  

And need to be held accountable.

That's where you come in. 

There were 18,177 No votes registered.  Only 38.96% of those who cared to show up to vote. 

There are 7 Board members.  Each member serves a 4 year term. 

• Lee, Austriaco, Owen & Coyle were elected in 2017.  Expiration date: 2021. 
• Sullivan, Collins and Besler's memberships expire in 2019.

Now, I've lay out the current situation.  Where we go from here is going to be up to you.  Question is, do you and I sit this one out or start taking preventive action?

So, do you feel up to it?

Of course, it's only my opinion.

Last Call ! - Updated - 11/05/2018

Update

A couple days ago, I thought I'd seen all the reasons I needed to vote NO for this Referendum. When I learned of Wallace's betrayal, his withholding of $120,000,000+ previously taxed dollars (not $45 million) as we were lead to believe, I asked myself, what more could there be?

Unfortunately, there's more. 

For the last couple months, our group has been unsuccessful in trying to find out the funding sources behind the "Yes207 grass routes" Referendum campaign. 

Today, we know. 

Thanks to Robert Trizna's latest "PublicWatchdog" blog post, we've learned there appears to be collusion between some vendors, the Dean Patras run "Yes207" campaign and very likely, D207 Officials.  

There is a 6pm Board Meeting tonight at D207's School District offices located at Dee & Devon, to the south of Maine South High School. The issues presented within the "PublicWatchdog" blog posting will be publically addressed. 

I intend to be there. What about you?  Join us if you can. It's important for as many of you to be there as well. 

At tonight's Board Meeting, we will demand an immediate and public response from Superintendent Wallace and Board President Carla Owen to these accusations. 

One way or the other, we will get to the bottom of this issue. 

Now, more than ever, I urge you to vote NO! 

Original Text

On November 6th, the only thing standing between your families huge 20-year tax increase, is YOU! 

Apparently, some of your neighbors have money to burn. And you, based on the VOTE YES signs displayed on their lawns, aren't paying enough. 

So it's going to be up to YOU to protect yourself.  

And if you don't actively vote NO for the Referendum, even if you don't vote for anything else, the result of your NON-VOTE, is equal to you having voted YES.

Your defeating this insanity is that simple.

Now, there's nothing else I have to offer at this location at this time that will persuade you to vote NO.  

However, there is additional and valuable information elsewhere. Material I think you should read. It's on Bob Trizna's Park Ridge "PublicWatchdog". 

As many of my long time readers know, Bob and I don't always see eye-to-eye. That is not true when it comes to D207's outrageous Referendum scam. 

So please, no matter your own prior disagreements with the Triznameister on other issues, click on "PublicWatchdog" and learn more about D207 from Ed Mueller, a prior D207 Board Member; details of incompetence even I had no idea about. 

Good luck to us all on Tuesday!

   Defeating this unnecessary Referendum is now in your hands!

 

 

Jennifer Johnson's Stunning Exposé

Bravo!

Our local Pioneer Press scribe, Jennifer Johnson, has just published a stunning exposé regarding the public servant incompetence she discovered at Maine High School District 207. 

Well no, NOT REALLY. 

Instead, her readers are treated to a PR piece most likely coauthored by D207's recently hired $150,000 per year PR maven, Brett Clark.  Don't worry, Jennifer's professional reputation is still in tact, since many of her local readers are already aware of her propensity.

I don't intend to spend a lot of time on this subject but I do want to make a point.

Ken Wallace is hell bent on pushing this Referendum through.  He's pulling out all the stops.  For a "cash strapped" local High School District, Ken Wallace's PR effort is staggering. 

Would you have ever imagined D207 Administration & Board spending $500,000 in previously stashed ($45 million) taxpayer money on public relations, over a $195,000,000 referendum?  A Referendum designed as Dr. Wallace says to: 'close the gap between the district's schools and competing high schools...'; while adding new taxes to an already significant tax bill, by $90 per $100,000 per year, for the next 20 years.  And let's not forget the Board awarding our highly paid Superintendent an additional $50k bonus to see that this Referendum passes?

Dr. Wallace, what gap? 

Which school systems are we competing with?  And why?  Why should we give a hoot what they do? 

D207's Create the problem - Upset the Public - Sell the Solution paradigm on display again!

For most Taxpayers in this District, there is no gap to close and no other school districts to compete with.  Only D207 problems to solve, only D207's year-to-year performance gap to resolve, and solving that problem, according to the people I talk to, is the #1 job of D207's Superintendent and Board.  Also, if D207 is not high on the list of Regional academic performers, it's because, in part, academic problem solving has been displaced by talk and financial envy. 

As Dr. Wallace made it clear to me, we are not New Trier and we are NOT NEW TRIER for a variety of reasons. 

Last August, in a series of emails, I challenged Dr. Wallace with the notion that New Trier was a better performing school system.  At the time I called New Trier "The Gold Standard." 

Part of Dr. Wallace's response read:

"Maine East is one of the nation's top diverse high schools, and, respectfully, many much more affluent schools should be studying us.  In terms of what we can take from New Trier: that District spends $5,835.09 more annually per student than District 207 does (37 million annual budget increase to be on par)".

The Maine East (ME) issue being addressed at the beginning of his statement is academic/linguistic in nature.  Many of ME's students are Spanish speakers, and many if not most of them, come from East Maine School District 63 (EMSD63). 

To their credit, EMSD63 has improved their Spanish-Farsi-Urdu-Etc.-to-English-Speaking performance quite a bit since Dr. Clay took over. 

Yet, adequate fluency in English is still an ongoing impediment to improved academic performance at ME and D207; at least according to the parents and teachers I've talked to.

The $195,000,000 Referendum fixes, additions and changes, WILL NOT solve Maine East's underlying academic issues!

By the way, the private challenge I made to Dr. Wallace was:

"If you could do whatever you wanted to do, unencumbered, to being D207 up to New Trier levels, what would you do?"

Wallace's $19,827.14 Disconnect From Reality

Maine High School District 207's Website

Dr. Wallace is proudly displaying his newly projected $19,827.14 average revenue per student number.  

 

To drill home his point, our Superintendent points out that:

 

• Niles 219 students cost taxpayers $30,257 each 
• New Trier HSD 203, $25,662
• Dearfield/Highland Park D113, $25,520 and 
• Libertyville/Vernon Hills CHSD 128, $23,079.

 If only it were true!

The real revenue per student (RPS), based on D207's own revenue history and Business Manager Kalou's 2018-2019 projection as displayed below, does NOT match their latest LOWBALL forecast.

Revenue per student calculation is:

RPS = Total Revenue / Students.

School	Total
Year	Revenue	Students	Rev/Stu
2012-2013	$148,066,991	6733	$21,991
2013-2014	$148,077,337	6525	$22,694
2014-2015	$155,900,665	6394	$24,382
2015-2016	$163,217,465	6307	$25,879
2016-2017	$168,310,738	6374	$26,406
2017-2018	$191,268,091	6250	$30,603
2018-2019	$134,290,266	6329	$21,218

The Wallace Team, told our group, THEIR expected Total Revenue  for 2018-2019 would be $134,290,266.  They also told us their expected student population would be around 6,329. 

The fact that D207's RPS projection was $21,218 vs prior year $30,603 is striking enough, but at least the numbers for the two years were based in historical fact and recent accounting mumbo-jumbo. The "$19,827.14" , as far as we can tell, was plucked out of thin air!

If you averaged out D207's RPS numbers for school years 2015-2016 through 2017-2018, you'd be looking at a RPS figure of $27,600+/-. Second only to Niles 219's $30,257 and more than New Trier's $25,662.  We believe that $27.6k figure is going to be closer to reality once you factor the $50,000,000+/- State of Illinois "pass through" accounting trick back into the mix.

I don't like being lied to or manipulated.  Ken Wallace's "$19,827.14" attempted public insult to our intelligence, is troubling and does not bode well for D207 Students or Taxpayers, no matter the outcome. 

I keep asking myself. Why would Wallace, Owen & Co. publish an easily tested exaggeration when the real projection would have done the trick?

First Rule Of The Con

Feed the greed! 

Click on video to stop!

Since they're giving us nothing for something, Dr. Wallace and Crew think D207 parents greedy, dishonest and easily conned.

Are they right?

D207's Sales Strategy

Create The Problem - Frighten The Public - Sell The Solution,
is a successful political sales strategy designed to manipulate public opinion toward a given outcome the public would never have chosen otherwise. 

1. Create the problem
2. Frighten the public
3. Sell the solution.

Let's look at it another way.  The calculation is: solution = (problem * upset)

Examples:
 
      referendum = (old-neglected-dangerous-campus * concerned/upset public)
  
   $194,000,000 = (neglected asbestos problem * upset student/parent)

  $194,000,000 = (deferred secure entrance problem * upset student/parent)

The last two examples come from the Referendum. 

The asbestos fix alone was estimated in 2012 to only cost $6.3 million.  Why it has taken 20 years (ten under Dr. Wallace) to address the "secure entrance" problem is another story.  Let's just assume an additional $6.0 million to fix. 

These ongoing teacher/student health & safety problems were known in 2012, and needed to be fixed years ago.  And both problems could have been fixed years ago, had the Wallace/Owen Team, not secretly withheld our previously taxed $45 million, for THEIR purposes. 

I think we're being conned!

School Name	Description	Cost
Maine - East	Asbestos - Flooring	$1,988,000
	Asbestos - Ceiling	$998,000
		===========
		$2,986,000
Maine - South	Asbestos - Flooring	$510,000
	Asbestos - Ceiling	$826,000
		===========
		$1,336,000
Maine - West	Asbestos - Flooring	$1,875,000
	Asbestos - Ceiling	$101,000
		===========
		$1,976,000
Total Maine	Asbestos - Flooring	$4,373,000
	Asbestos - Ceiling	$1,925,000
		===========
	Total:	$6,298,00

D207 Pass Through - Flim Flam Accounting

D207's Revenue & Student Projections 

School	Other	Revenue
Year	State Aid	Total	Students	Rev/Stu
2012-2013	$24,020,867	$148,066,991	6733	$21,991
2013-2014	$26,850,824	$148,077,337	6525	$22,694
2014-2015	$30,144,063	$155,900,665	6394	$24,382
2015-2016	$37,111,339	$163,217,465	6307	$25,879
2016-2017	$38,140,044	$168,310,738	6374	$26,406
2017-2018	$58,523,879	$191,268,091	6250	$30,603
2018-2019	$3,518,080	$134,290,266	6329	$21,218
2019-2020	$3,789,164	$138,951,178	6449	$21,546
2020-2021	$3,790,415	$140,955,388	6406	$22,004
2021-2022	$3,791,692	$143,719,245	6434	$22,337
2022-2023	$3,791,692	$146,491,205	6507	$22,513
2023-2024	$3,791,692	$149,261,984	6486	$23,013

Take a look at the 2018-2019 line.  Specifically, look at the "Other State Aid", "Revenue Total" and "Rev/Stu" figures.  Note the significant reduction from prior years. 

How did that happen? 

When asked, Asst. Supt. Kalou told me, prior to 2018-2019 school year, State of Illinois contributed millions of "uncontrolled" dollars toward D207's Budget.  Ms. Kalou now considers those dollars "pass through" and will no longer reflect them in the Budget.  She works for Dr. Wallace.  So when you see this years low-balled Budget, you have Dr. Wallace to thank for it. 

Pass Through Money - Legal Slight of Hand 

"Other State Aid" will continue to flow into D207's coffers, effecting District's Budget and goals.  Because Dr. Wallace wants to display lower revenues & expenses as part of his Referendum sales strategy, his applying HIS "pass through" scheme will now, visually conceal millions of "Other" State of Illinois revenue and you and I will only see a significantly reduced truth.  

This the kind of activity we can expect should Dr. Wallace win HIS Referendum. 

Of course, it's just my opinion!

The Wallace Team looks more like a flim flam squad every day!

Click on video to stop!

Vote NO - November 6, 2018

10 Reasons To Vote No!

D207:

1. wants us to go further into debt; this time for an additional $300,000,000 (estimated after fees and interest) or $90 per $100,000 per year for continued poor academic performance
2. operating revenue for 2017-2018 was $191,268,091 and now they say their 2018-2019 operating revenue will be $134,290,266 based on a accounting trick
3. has been planning this Referendum for years
4. has withheld (without Taxpayer knowledge), up to $45,000,000 in prior taxed "reserves"
5. information as presented on their website is very inaccurate and misleading
6. will have spent close to $500,000 on PR contracts, including, its already hiring of their second PR maven for an additional $150,000+ per year
7. has paid Dr. Wallace a base pay since 2016, $202k; 2017, $209k; 2018, $216k and will further pay 2019, $222k and 2020, $227k respectively
8. is slated to pay Dr. Wallace his third consecutive bonus of $50,000
9. average cost per student (2015-2017) was $27,600 based on total revenue
10. will transfer payments for normal maintenance, purchases and replacement activities from the "General Budget" to the "Referendum Budget", allowing them to utilize tens of millions of dollars in yearly real estate taxes for other unspecified activities (pay raises?).

Referendum:

"Shall the Board of Education of Maine Township High School District Number 207, Cook County, Illinois, improve the sites of, build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip existing buildings, including, without limitation, constructing security improvements, increasing accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, replacing electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, renovating classrooms and labs, improving the Library Media Center and renovating special education spaces, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $195,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?"

including, without limitation

Our attorney's interpret those words to mean:

D207 can spend the money any way they want!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Wallace - Thinks Having No Plan - A Good Plan!

June 14,2018 - Ken Wallace to Ken Butterly - Response to FOIA request to see D207's written "plan".  He had previously responded by email that he didn't have a written "detailed plan".

"...we have an appropriately detailed plan for this stage of the process.  The build changes have been described, modeled and estimated for cost.  It is not standard to go ahead and pay for actual designs at this stage of the building process.  We have followed the process that is standard for school projects like ours."
 
I looked at several other cookie-cutter referendums scheduled for November vote.  No written detailed plans for their voters to review either.

Taxpayers are being asked to fork over hundreds-of-millions-of-previously-taxed-dollars to civil servants who, it appears, are incapable of unwilling to write and display a SIMPLE PLAN that answers, who, what, when, where, how and why our hard earned dollars are to be spent.

If they're that lazy or incompetent they aren't getting any more of my money.  

Based on the hundreds of pages of information I've reviewed to date, the Wallace Team doesn't need the support of this taxpayer/investor or banker, they need a Sugar-Daddy! 



All I need is another $300 Million!

Or maybe they can hire this guy!      At least he's a man with a plan!

 ANYBODY  WANT  TO  BUY  A  BRIDGE ?

 

 

 

D207's Taxing Motto - No Pain No Gain

"No Pain, No Gain" is an exercise motto.  The motto promises a greater reward for working longer and harder and enduring the increasingly painful workout.  "No Pain, No Gain", our future should this Referendum pass.

I was looking over my last Real Estate Tax Bill the other day.  I live in a $360,000 house in Niles and pay $8,000 per/yr. in taxes.  All told, I pay almost $6,000 in education taxes.  Growth rate on this category is around 3% year-to-year.  Started wondering what my education tax growth rate would look like going out to 2028.

Here's what I found.

My Estimated School Taxes On A $360,000 House In Niles Based on 3% Increase Per/Yr.
Year/ District	Oakton	D207	EMSD63	Subtotal	Referendum	Total
2017	$219	$2,384	$3,353	$5,956		$5,956
2018	$225	$2,456	$3,454	$6,135	$400	$6,535
2019	$232	$2,530	$3,558	$6,319	$400	$6,719
2020	$239	$2,605	$3,664	$6,509	$400	$6,909
2021	$246	$2,684	$3,774	$6,704	$400	$7,104
2022	$253	$2,764	$3,888	$6,905	$400	$7,305
2023	$261	$2,847	$4,004	$7,112	$400	$7,512
2024	$269	$2,932	$4,124	$7,326	$400	$7,726
2025	$277	$3,020	$4,248	$7,545	$400	$7,945
2026	$285	$3,111	$4,375	$7,772	$400	$8,172
2027	$294	$3,204	$4,507	$8,005	$400	$8,405
2028	$302	$3,301	$4,642	$8,245	$400	$8,645
	=========	=========	=========	=========	=========	=========
Totals:	$2,882	$31,456	$44,238	$78,397	$4,400	$82,797

   
Remember the last time your homes went down in value?  Do you remember how Cook County automatically lowered your taxes?   Neither do I.  It's going to happen again.

Did you notice how D207 Administrators and Teachers voluntarily gave up their yearly pay raises for the children?  That didn't happen either, and if this Referendum passes, you can expect more of the same.

The Referendum is not about educating anyone, except us. 

The Referendum is about shifting $195,000,000 of the general budget (revenue-flow) to the Referendum (revenue-flow) leaving a large bucket of unallocated cash to spend as Administration/Board wishes. 

For D207 Taxpayers, if passed, this Referendum is going to be a very expensive education, indeed.

The Wallace/Owen proposal is about perpetrating the oldest political scam around: Create the problem - scare the public - sell the solution.

Create The Problem	Withhold $45mm From Maintenance
Scare The Public	Asbestos or Other Fears
Sell The Solution	$195,000,000 Referendum

Now, I'm certainly wouldn't call these guys shysters, however since D207 and its Board created this "No Pain, No Gain" problem, I suggest we give them three choices. 

They can:

• exercise their very expensive minds and fix their self-created problem on their own    
• join a 12-step program for profligate spending educators, and someday, come back to us for more money
• simply find something useful to do somewhere else.

Just my opinion.