The Journal Star Editorial Board thinks District 150 deserves more support from the City. They think the proposal on tonight’s agenda to “share inflationary revenue growth from those properties in the [Eagle View] TIF that don’t participate in the redevelopment program” is too stingy.
They start off by saying, “The Peoria City Council should have no trouble approving an agreement with District 150 tonight that, for the first time locally, would allow the city’s largest school system to share in the proceeds from a tax increment financing district before its term is over.” First time, eh? Apparently the JSEB is unaware of or has forgotten about the $236,000 the school district receives annually from the Southtown TIF.
“That said, it’s little more than a toe in the water of the city-school cooperation that is so desperately needed if Peoria is to be an attractive place for young families,” they continue. By “cooperation,” they mean “giving money to District 150.” Never mind that the city already gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to the school system every year. Never mind that District 150 is its own taxing body — it takes the lion’s share of our property taxes every year. Never mind that, after figuring in all sources of revenue, the City of Peoria’s budget is only about $10 million more than District 150’s to start with (~$160 million vs. $150 million, respectively).
That’s not enough for the JSEB, or District 150.
If anyone at City Hall wonders why Peoria’s overall population is at best flat, and why its status in Illinois is declining even with all the new subdivisions sprouting on its northwest side in a different school district, Peoria’s core public school system is a big reason, followed closely by violent crime.
They’ve got that right. But naturally the JSEB blames the school district’s failure on the City and their TIF districts. Has the Journal Star Editorial Board ever considered the possibility that District 150 might be in the mess it is because of their own mismanagement? That maybe paying for four superintendents to do the job of one is a wee bit of a waste? That spending almost a million dollars on property they can’t use might be contributing a tad to their woes? That low testing scores and their inability to make adequate yearly progress is negatively affecting their funding more than the City of Peoria’s tax increment financing districts?
Yet some local voices are still urging the city to sever any relationship with District 150. It’s mystifying, because all involved would only be punishing themselves.
Heh. We’re being punished either way; why not save the money?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m all for true cooperation — but cooperation works both ways. The School Board (and evidently the JSEB, too) seems to believe that a “give and take” relationship with the city means that the city gives and the school board takes. It doesn’t work that way. I don’t think it’s asking too much for the school board to work with the city on, say, siting of an East Bluff school. Or, say, focusing on improving their test scores so they stop driving people out of the city.
More money is not the answer for District 150. Better management is. And sadly, the City has no control over that.
Right on target, C.J.
Perhaps the citizens of Peoria might be better served if the two taxing bodies were combined and could share some services. It happened in Chicago, and more recently, in Washington D.C., why not here? Perhaps then the PJSEB would be satisfied – the City of Peoria would accomplish “the city-school cooperation that is so desperately needed if Peoria is to be an attractive place for young families” and likely end almost a decade of red ink.
CJ, PrairieCelt, anyone else: What is the historical information regarding D150 winning the battle and losing the war when I think Richwoods was annexed into the city? What happened/deal made that made D150 landlocked? Isn’t that another reason for Peoria’s woes?
Karrie, if I understand your question correctly, you are asking how part of the northern part of the City of Peoria is part of the Dunlap School District? I recall being told that when John Parkhurst was in the General Assembly he negotiated that deal. In exchange for what, I don’t know, but it would be very difficult to change that situation now.
If the older sections of the City were in good shape, and the school district wasn’t teetering on the brink of disaster academically and financially, then more young families would be inclined to stay. Word is that the preliminary results have been released for ISAT/school report cards – am very interested to see that data. Somehow, if there is any increase at all in 150’s performance, it will be negligable.
We should all hope the Heart of Peoria Commission continues in operation and the plan for the revitalization of the city’s neighborhoods catches on. Then if the city would take over the district, appoint an independent governing commission and good manager, perhaps 150 could turn the corner. We all know it won’t happen under this BOE and Hinton’s leadership – this will be his fourth year at the helm. Sadly, his results were only too predictable.
D150 has a history of calling for cooperation when THEY want something. They need to be much more responsive to the Public who elected them, drop the “we know best” attitude and start beging proactive in helping to turn things around.
Conrad: Unfortunately D150 thinks the emperor has new clothes and changing their paradigm would take ……? Not sure with the current mix of board members and administration if turning things around is even possible.
Karrie, it isn’t possible with Hinton and this BOE. They do seem to suffer from xenophobia, and that prevents their acceptance of any proactive suggestions, concepts, strategies or assistance from anyone outside their cloistered environment.
The only way to change their paradigm is for an outside entity (either the state or city) to takeover the district, get rid of the current BOE members and administration, and start from scratch.
It would bad a bad idea to let the State take over our schools, and just as bad to let the city do so. We need to get some board members on there who have had experience in the district on the battlefield, and top administrators who will not spend over $800,000 in acquring properties before receiving public approval or input. If they were in private industry they would be lookng for new jobs. I hope they learned a lesson which may be used inthe future. district 150 is for ALL the children, not just a few.
RomanII, your suggestion is the best possible scenario, but Peoria voter’s just had the opportunity to elect two new BOE members with the skill and experience to turn things around. Did they do it? NO – the voters elected more of the same “rubber-stamp anything Hinton wants” clones. If independent, quality candidates are not elected by the voters, what are the viable options?
CJ, as usual, is right on target. The notion that we can spend ourselves to a good school system is nonsense. More money without real reform means more mismanagement and waste. Good test scores have little to do with money. They have to do with human factors. And that starts at the top (it’s been said that the fish rots from the head, so too with the human institutions).