I have mixed feelings about the recent windfalls of state money Peoria has been told its getting. In the news recently have been announcements that we’re getting $10 million to upgrade Washington Street and $17 million to renovate Peoria High School and build an addition onto Lincoln Middle School.
On the one hand, the money is going for a good cause, and we can certainly use it. On the other hand, the State of Illinois is in a financial crisis, and this additional spending is not helping to alleviate it.
It has led to an interesting question that I didn’t expect to hear while we’re still reeling from the recent recession: what should we do with all the money? Of course, the Warehouse District money is pretty cut and dried. But the District 150 money is another story. I got this comment recently from school board member Jim Stowell:
CJ – can I please ask if you could open the question of how we should best develop PHS and the surrounding feeder system/neighborhoods – what collaborations we should explore, etc. Thx! In light of the recent funding grant, there exists tremendous opportunity. I am optimistic about the East Bluff residential TIF, but I also have reservations. The Dist. will no doubt be convening meetings, but the discussion needs to begin now. Thanks for providing a forum.
I’d kind of sworn off open threads a while back, but this does sound like it would be an interesting discussion. Other readers have expressed interest in this as well. So, always being happy to oblige my readers, here’s an open thread to discuss Peoria High and the proposed East Village TIF.
I’ll just add that while Mr. Stowell may be “optimistic about the East Bluff residential TIF,” that doesn’t appear to be the official opinion of District 150. The District’s interim comptroller Dr. David Kinney has been attending recent City Council meetings, and when I asked him why, he said it was in case an opportunity came to speak about the proposed TIF. He’s not what you’d call a fan of the idea. On its face, he says it’s a recipe for disaster. The preferred outcome is that it would encourage families to move back into the East Bluff. If it’s successful in doing so, it will require more services from District 150 to educate the increasing number of children, but provide no additional tax revenue to support them. Thus, it would put even more of a strain on District 150’s already stretched finances.
The proposed East Village TIF area is currently being studied for eligibility (this is perfunctory, as no proposed TIF has ever been found ineligible), with the consultant’s report scheduled to come before the council November 9.
“recipe for disaster”
Not fot the TIF driver OSF…
Cash and more cash for there “profit” side.
Interesting that there has been NO peep as to the proposed tif study.
November 9th is fast upon us( bet it gets pushed back).I live smack dab in the middle of the proposed TIF and have registered with the city and still no word as to a meeting. #150 does not have the weight to throw like OSF.
I liked your story on the TIF’s and what changes need to be made at the state.
Just to clarify, the $10mil for Washington Street is federal funding, not state funding. While the feds (obviously) don’t have a much better financial stance than the State does currently, this is federal transportation money being spent for an important local roadway that the City has been targeting for redevelopment for years.
I was just down in the Averyville/Abington Street area yesterday and it seems that there is a perfectly good, EMPTY building sitting right across a football field from Lincoln Middle School. Do they REALLY need an addition or just someone who is better at re-org?
Quick, before I change my mind, will the School Board please write me a check for $10,000 and I will write an opinion and consult with the Board as to what is the best direction.
Hey, if the City hires these “consultants” and they are wrong 99% of the time, it’s worth a shot isn’t it?
Did I read the Dr. Kinney comment correctly–that District 150 doesn’t want an increase in enrollment? Of course, that is probably true–closing schools has eliminated any hope of ever luring parents back into District 150; there won’t be any room even if people want back into the district. I guess the district will have to keep doing what it’s doing to avoid that miracle from happening. I guess we should be glad that the district bought those houses on prospect–we wouldn’t want families with children to move there.
If they are getting rid of the Economic Development Department, who will oversee this TIF for the City, EDC?
I believe that he was saying that is the best case scenario for the TIF and it is still a money loser for the district.
Sharon — No, I don’t think you read Dr. Kinney’s comments correctly. Adding enrollment is not bad — it’s the withholding of tax increment revenue from the school district that’s bad. They would be getting more kids but no additional tax revenue to support them. That’s Kinney’s concern.
Emerge: Someone at the City oversees TIFs?
No, it’s my basic ignorance about TIFS and tax increment revenue. Now I remember–isn’t that, also, a problem with the housing development on Main Street? Now I understand Dr. Kinney’s concern. Although my comment doesn’t apply to this situation at all, I still believe District 150 has put itself into a position where schools are already overcrowded–so increased enrollment isn’t a possibility because of the closing of so many schools.
O.k., is nobody going to provide suggestions as to PHS curriculum offerings?
The BOE should examine its entire high school offerings and revamp them to offer choice programs (with some qualifications) District-wide.
At PHS an extensive Vocational Ed program should be developed in partnership with local businesses, trade unions and the hospitals. This program should be available to all students within the District with a min. GPA qualifier (2.0) and a reasonable record of attendance.
At RHS the District’s AP offerings should be centralized and the IB program should be expanded. Any students on an honors/AP track or MYP/IB path should be able to attend, providing the student has qualifying GPA, meets certain standardized test criteria, and has a good attendance record. The end result would be the creation of a College Prep Academy, in other words, a school within a school at RHS.
In order for students throughout the District to be better prepared for the IB program, a K-8th magnet school should be created based on the PYP and MYP methodology. This middle school program should begin with Spanish in 1st grade with an option to add a 2nd world language beginning in 6th. Consideration should also be given to implementing the PYP/MYP approach at Kellar, Lindbergh, Charter Oak, and Mark Bills.
There is also the issue of the proposed Charter High School. If RHS College Prep Academy and the PHS Vocational Ed program are available to all eligible students district-wide, I question the need for a Charter High School. Students graduating from Quest Charter Middle School could opt into either program described above depending on their interests and abilities.
CJ – Thanks for facilitating. I, too, have significant reservations about TIF’s, but think that, if this collaborative structure of financing can enable the revitalization of neighborhoods while providing incremental funding to schools, it is worth exploring. How we arrive at revitalized neighborhoods and enhanced funding for schools focusing on a state of the art medical, math, and science curriculum is the discussion that needs to be driven. Spoke with Dr. Kinney tonight and he is in agreement, with similar reservations. What if, for example, that in exchange for lack of funds through development of a TIF, that the Sisters (OSF) agree to financially support the District. They could help us to align our curriculum with the Simulation Learning Center that they are creating. My understanding is that, in light of the Provena Med Ctr ruling on what constitutes charitable giving, that the Sisters are looking at ways of expanding their Mission that has richly blessed our community thus far. Won’t have time tonight or through Weds to check comments or add thoughts, but thanks again for giving it a start. At the heart of my goal is to restore schools and neighborhoods as places family seek out instead of flee from.
Frustrated, much, if not most, of what you say sounds good to me. Dr. Lathan seems to have a genuine desire to work toward vocational offerings. Jim seems to want this medical connection with an emphasis on health related fields, etc. I am not sure about making the offerings so specialized–just not sure exactly what he has in mind though. Anything that enriches the bare bones curriculum of District 150’s offerings would be giant steps forward. I certainly agree that if District 150 starts moving in the right direction, parents will not need a charter high school.
Along with the District partnering with OSF or possibly Methodist it needs to ask CAT to help fund, on a continuing basis, the expansion of the IB/MYP program. CAT needs a globally-minded workforce that is at the very least, bi-lingual. CAT must begin to make a more significant contribution not only to ensure qualified workers in the future for its organization, but in order for Peoria to remain a viable area in which its current employees wish to live. CAT can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch as Peoria implodes and expect no fallout it terms of its ability to attract and retain employees.
Most of those funds are coming from the Feds. Federal Money… with a certain percentage of matching local funds.
Not that it matters much, the federal government is debt too.
Frustrated, is Caterpillar too invested in the charter school to help District 150–just asking?
No, I don’t believe CAT is too invested in the Charter School. I think it was something CAT wanted to see happen and so it saw to it. I believe CAT and other businesses in the community need to feel that sense of urgency in improving the general state of the District.
Reinventing the District will require a tremendous amount of resources and leadership. So much needs to be accomplished — too much to expect Dr. Lathan to do it all on her own. Loaned executives from the community, particularly from Caterpillar, should be provided to assist in research, planning and executing some of the above mentioned initiatives.
I think the research and creation of Charter School went smoothly and IMO it was because there was a team of committed community leaders taking on the task.
Jim
Lets see all of theses taxing bodies would freeze at the current rate.
Tax District
PLEASURE DRIVEWY PKD Tax Rate Tax Amount
CITY OF PEORIA 0.99753 148.33
EAST BLUFF SPEC SERV 0.18 26.77
GREATER METRO AIRPORT AUTH 0.1873 27.85
GREATER PEORIA M T D 0.17367 25.82
I C C J C #514 0.47016 69.91
PEORIA COUNTY 0.80504 119.73
PEORIA LIBRARY 0.38899 57.84
PEORIA TWP 0.1333 19.82
PEORIA USD #150 4.88106 725.81
PLEASURE DRIVEWY PKD 0.71779 106.74
Total 8.9348 1,328.62
Name one that has excess monies and wants to freeze income for a potential 23 years?
Why sould any one get out of the proposed tif and recieve full monies?
What is good for all should be applied equiliy. I for one am not in favor of another TIF.But fair is fair. I think a better solution for #150 would OSF be required to pay taxes. They consume city services but pay nothing. Look at 800 NE. Glen Oak (osf office bld.) not even listed on the county data base. It is part of the Bishop’s house what a tax loophole.
Sounds like Mr. Stowell’s City Council aspirations are shining through.
What I don’t get is how a TIF is going to make people want to move back to the East Bluff? Seems like you need more than giving tax breaks to businesses to revitalize the neighborhood. I would think you would need some program that buys and remodels houses and replaces the run down houses with new ones instead. And then significantly reduces property taxes for the area. Although I’m probably missing something.
Bob–it sure makes sense to me. The neighborhoods as they are right now are not going to attract anyone but landlords and renters.
Looks like the District should take a field trip to Limestone as it makes plans to create new learning opportunities at PHS.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x370072749/Limestone-makes-national-news-with-vocation-program
Terry Knapp has encouraged Dr. Lathan to visit Pekin High–which, also, has very good vocational offerings She does seem to be interested in adding vocational courses–not sure at what school(s) or from where the money will come for needed equipment. The 1980s move to eliminate industrial arts and home ec, etc., was District 150’s most glaring mistake–the district’s students have paid dearly for that loss. At the time, Limestone and Pekin took advantage of the situation and hired some of 150’s ousted teachers for their programs..
Yes Sharon, as a matter of fact, we just approved the purchase of another parcel of land to build yet another house next year(the building trades classes are in the midst of a build right now). We are proud of the many vocational opportunities that we offer the students of PCHS.
I hear there is trouble at Peoria High today. What has the district done to support behavior at PHS due to the merger with WHS? Did the great Ken Hinton and the Board of Ed have a plan in place?
Yes, Peoria has a gang problem, but they also have a money problem. Does society now build schools to accommodate gangs? These two gangs can’t get along, so we need to build two schools instead of one? This is crazy talk. And no wonder there are problems, even the parents they interviewed seemed to support the idea that it isn’t the children’s fault for their bad behavior, it’s the board’s fault for closing a school they could no longer afford to keep open.
Its not about closing a school, its about having a plan in place when you decide to close a school. Hinton and the Board did not listen to the public when they told them there needed to be a plan in place. The board is out touch with what principals and teachers deal with on a daily basis. Which board member was it that didn’t even know there was a gang problem in the schools? Geesh.
It is the Board’s fault that there was a fight? Please.
The thugs involved–and most were just that–will be booted from school.