CRAFT

We have had a request to share some of the e-mails and letters that we have received from CRAFT supporters. Once you read the first letter you will understand why we did not use peoples names. This is only a sampling of what we receive. The second reason for publishing these letters is to assure people who are afraid to support CRAFT or oppose a referendum that your name will be held in confidence.

Best Regards,

Cathy Peschke

I live in D300 where administration is currently beating the drums for a March 06 referendum - two questions, one for brick and mortar, the other an education fund. When asked if our fees would be reduced should this referendum pass, we get no response. We've seen in the past that once those fees are up, they won't bring them down. Ray Lauk from D103 mentioned that a good way to get a referendum passed is to raise the fees. But I don't know of any school district that has brought their fees down after having passed a referendum.

District 300 Resident

What is being done to prevent the kinds of gratuitous compensation packages that are and have been offered to many of the top administrators within the educational arena. Recent articles revealed that John Conyers was given raises over his last 4 years of service that took his compensation from

$162,000 to over $353,000 in 2003 thereby entitling him to a lifetime pension of $183,000 plus assorted other benefits. Why his pension alone is greater than the salary paid to the Governor. Perhaps the concerned taxpayers are looking in the wrong places for wasted dollars.

My direct efforts to confront the School Board was met with strong resistance to discuss the matter as it was "a private matter between the Board and Dr. Conyers". Who's looking out for whom.

My efforts (letters and phone calls) to get Rep Suzie Bassi and Sen Wendell Jones went unanswered so they don't seem to care either. Are we all doomed to simply accept the fact that the insiders are the "system" and we "outsiders can't do anything to stop them......

Northbrook Parent

Northbrook Parent, it maybe an uphill battle but CRAFT will keep fighting the system. Do not be surprised if the system implodes if it is not reformed.

There is an attitude among the teachers that they "deserve it". Well....doesn't everyone in our communities "deserve" good wages and benefits? Since when are they set out in a special category than the ones who actually compensate them?

And....the accountability to educate the children is no longer there. I do not believe that most employers would tolerate an employees lack of accountability to their customer for any length of time. It is just getting out of hand and it is up to the people, like yourselves, to find out the information and then to communicate it to the communities.

Keep up the great efforts.

Wisconsin Resident

For obvious reasons, I have not included my name on this letter. To speak out openly against the school referendums and various topics concerning the town issues, and in particular, Dist #50, is social suicide in Harvard!

But, rest assured, I will be (and have been) heard at the polls. I’m sure I’m not the only Harvard resident who feels the same. In such a small town, speaking your piece can make you and your family social outcasts. I commend you and others who have the guts to be heard! Keep up the good work.

Anonymous Parent

I have a child in the school district. The last time I spoke out publicly (in the paper) against the school district referendum, the teachers had the tar and feathers ready for him. He suffered due to may non-support for their agenda. I will not publicly speak out again because my child suffered last time. I have an unlisted telephone. The supporters had access to school enrollment records and used that list to call me wanting my support. My kids all played sports. If parents want sports make the parents pay. I would.

Anonymous Parent

I agree improve the product coming out of the schools prior to asking for more money. If they want it so bad let the district 50 employees pay for it with their large salaries. Or take a salary cut and donate the surplus then they'll have the money needed every year.

Harvard Taxpayer

Glad to see someone else is concerned regarding our insane property tax bills. I would like to get involved with your effort. What can I do to help? I'll be happy to distribute flyers, help with any information technology needs you may have, or whatever. I'm not certain how to run as a candidate for school board, but I would consider that as well, if asked. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. I will be voting NO!

Harvard Taxpayer

I want to thank you for the work that you are doing to crush these referendums. I have lived in Harvard for about 8 1/2 years. We have 4 children. The threat of them canceling sports and other programs if the referendum is not passed is despicable, I am sure that can find other ways to make cuts. My husband and I are definitely voting no this time around. Keep up the good work and thanks for being so brave and outspoken on this serious matter!

Harvard Parent

I have been saying for a very long time that we the people need to vote down every school referendum that comes up. I think people forget that a teachers contract is for 180 days. I work at a school so I have first hand knowledge of what goes on.

Anonymous School Employee

We are heartsick at what we are currently paying in taxes to live in Harvard. My taxes increased by more than a thousand dollars last year.

What worries us even more is that with the taxes rising as fast as they are, if we were to even try and sell our house (which we have no intention of doing any time soon) we are afraid the cost of the taxes would be a deterrent to any potential buyer. Only a week ago did I read in the paper about the Village Board voting to put another referendum before us. I just wanted to cry. We have five children. Obviously, we would like to see improvement within our school system, however, we can't afford to pay ever increasing taxes. My husband and I would like to know what we can do to protect ourselves, to better inform ourselves, etc.

Thanks for your good work of getting information out there to the public.

Harvard Parents

Thanks for the information and your time last night. The presentation was awesome.

Please let me know if ever you need me to do something.

Cary Parent

Great website. Brilliant presentation yesterday evening at the Cary Library. You two are BAD NEWS for the tax-increasers of Illinois. I'm going to encourage people to visit your site to see how to do it right.

Carpentersville Resident

I LOVED the referendum calculator. I am a homeowner in Canton Union School District 66.

We are facing a referendum next week that would raise property taxes 55 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Our area is very economically depressed and has been for about 20 years. We have no major industries except the schools and hospital and many people travel to nearby Peoria for work. Our median home value is around $60,000 and median income is about $32,000, I believe. The folks around here just can't afford more taxes, but they are being shamed into voting "yes" for the children's sake. It's sickening. The truth is our teachers plan to re-open negotiations next month as long as the referendum passes. Do you really think those property tax dollars are going to the kids? Nope, me either.

I wish I would have found your website sooner! Many of us feel like we are fighting an uphill battle and are struggling with the one-sided local newspaper which is promoting a pro-referendum stance -- to the point of intentionally printing misinformation! Our small group feels the district spending is out of control (the supt's salary has increased 50% over the past four years and 102 out of 202 teachers took home more than $51K last year!) and that the pro-referendum group is using scare tactics to pass the referendum on our children's backs. Editorial letters in the newspaper have said those of us against the referendum should just say what we really mean...we don't like kids!

It's ridiculous. Unfortunately, our group organized very late in the game -- only about 2 weeks ago. We are trying to contact as many people as we can and run a more covert operation! I really applaud your website. It's great to have research to cite. People certainly can't argue with facts -- unless, of course, it's our newspaper and they will take issue with anything we say even if they are flat out wrong!

Thanks again for your information! It's greatly appreciated!

Canton Union District 66 Resident

Greetings from Hot Springs, Arkansas. I know all too well what you are facing in Northern Illinois. Your property taxes are way out of control.

Thank goodness for a group like yours. Keep up the good work!

CRAFT supporter from Arkansas

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