Pantagraph.com | News | Unit 5 gathering information, projecting cost of referendum

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Colliseum. " wrote on Oct 24, 2007 6:51 PM:

" Please unit 5 use the Colliseum as a school during the day. Unit five could rent the Colliseum and we would avoid taxes and supporting one of our own. Two birds with 1 stone! "

Ex-Teacher wrote on Oct 24, 2007 3:19 PM:

" I do not live in 5k house. I do not drive SUV. I do work. 50% of my taxes already go to unit 5. School district says talk to town. Town says talk to school district. Merging is not the answer. Diversity is not the answer. Not highering pedophils and terible administrators is a step in the right direction. Hiding behind tenure and diversity is the problem. At least part of it. WAKE UP and see things for what they are. A transient community. Small town trying to grow too big too fast. Stop sweating the small stuff and get a grip on the real problem. Administation. "

Hey wrote on Oct 24, 2007 2:51 PM:

" I think there may be a vacant school in normal...is that now the Unit's office? I think I have been to a meeting or two there. Very nice school..heat works air conditioning works...they have lights...oh and get this they have caulk boards in every class room. Desk are still there. Don't let Unit 5 scare you..all they want is fresh new schools at our expense. Re-district the current population. Spread the growth to the schools with low enrollment and bam problem solved. Now with all this savings...do what every other person in this USA does...save your money and build your schools. Everyone needs to remember this is two tax increases. One for the operating expense and one for building of the new schools. Whey will this not work because the people in the big houses do not want to see their children bussed to a lower populated school. Why?? Afraid they will come into contact with some lower income children. Get real...I say no "

Josh wrote on Oct 24, 2007 2:13 PM:

" Everyone out there, this referendum is badly needed. Would you like your children to be taught in portable classrooms at each grade level, with 40 students for every teacher? That's the way things are going right now. The buildings are overcrowded, with Northpoint already having to use portables. Every junior high uses portables. Have any of you looked at the most recent enrollment numbers? You should, before going off on knee-jerk reactions like have already been posted on this story. To Please Be Alarmed, there are not just emotional reasons against a merger, there are facts. Do you know how much it would cost to merge both districts? Do you know how different the curriculums are, and the costs associated with combining them? Do you know that D87 will not consider a merger? All of these facts are available, if you would only speak to the staff at both districts, or attend a board meeting once in a while. "

To Just Wondering wrote on Oct 24, 2007 2:06 PM:

" Good catch. I'm sure there will be a wide representation of people holding differing viewpoints at that meeting. Yeah, right. "

Metrics, Please: wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:57 PM:

" I would be very curious to see what it costs to educate a child per year. I think the trend of this single metric would be interesting. If we take all expenditures for a given year (capital and expense) and divide by the number of students educated for the year (use full-time equivelants like businesses do) and you will have the number. Do you think it is below, matches or exceeds inflation? If it exceeds the average wage increase of workers during the same time period, you have discovered a significant part of problem. "

Just wondering wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:53 PM:

" According to paragraph four about the Thursday night workshop, how come only invited guests are allowed to participate in listening to the costs of the proposed new buildings? Doesn't this affect every taxpayer who is going to be asked to ante up more money? What is it that the average joe taxpayer can't hear before the referendum? "

To: Unit 5 Parent wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:50 PM:

" It is obvious this is an emotional issue for you - as it is for many of us. Unfortunately, not everyone lives in a $500,000 house, drives a big SUV or eats out every night; though it may appear that way to some. Further investigation into economic trends relative to housing, employment and personal debt levels, for instance, may provide some unemotional rationale with which to view our current situation. Governments do not have any money, they have only the people's money. Unit 5 must adjust its business strategies in light of reality. What I want, what I hope for, what I pray for may not always materialize. I often have to adjust my "wants" to match the current reality of things. "

To Unit #5 Parent wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:13 PM:

" Nobody is saying that they won't support the children and their education but why do higher taxes have to be the only way to do it? I'm sure the people that have $500M houses and drive big SUV's don't care about contributing more in taxes but what about those that can't afford no more. How about Unit 5 learn how to operate on a budget and stop using the future growth of the community to justify raising taxes every other year. For you to accuse anyone of not supporting children's education just because they don't want to pay more in taxes is just pure stupidity on your part! "

to Unit #5 Parent wrote on Oct 24, 2007 12:58 PM:

" Not all of us in Bloomington-Normal have huge SUVs and $500k houses... that's who this tax increase is going to hurt, the little non-State Farm employee. "

Memo from the Supt wrote on Oct 24, 2007 12:35 PM:

" Memo: Gary Niehaus to all Unit 5 teachers: Prepare to crank-up the propaganda machine. All teachers are expected to contribute to blogs and opinion pages to whoop-up the war drums for some new schools. Let's get those parents tears flowing with tales of unspeakable horrors because of a lack of tax money. When we get done, those stupid taxpayers will be crying for a tax increase....We're good and we know it!!! "

To: Billy Bob wrote on Oct 24, 2007 12:26 PM:

" You are truly lost. Unit 5 is in Normal, genius, not Bloomington. Please keep posting for everyone's entertainment. "

to : "to call all bashers" wrote on Oct 24, 2007 12:15 PM:

" Phasing out "tenured" teachers will not make a drop in the bucket. Do you how much teachers DONT make. Instead it would save alot more money to phase out some of the administrators. Many of the "temporary" fees that were suppose to help Unit 5 over it financial hump 5 years ago, have become permanent, and they are still asking for more money. Instead of hiring out of town contractors to do jobs that can be done within the district, it is time to seriously look at merging with District 87. In the last 15 years, since I have really paid attention to Unit 5 and their spending, they have been totally fiscally irresponsible. I will vote NO to any referendum until they are better able to handle their finances. And I went to school with 40 students per teacher and did fine. "

to Concerned wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:44 AM:

" Lot fees are entirely fair. You don't want to move to a brand new $500k house because of the lot fee, then don't! An educated population is good for society, the country, and the economy, thus everyone contributes to that goal, kids or not. "

To: Calling all Bashers wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:43 AM:

" lets start decimating the workforce. phase out the older "tenured" teachers in any way possible. Get some new blood teaching (lower salaries and new ideas). This will help overall costs and also assist ISU in turning out new el ed teachers. Further, any way possible, get rid of the teacher's union. I know that is a small unrealistic approach, but it would be the best step in the needed direction. "

Unit #5 Parent wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:35 AM:

" Bloomington-Normal has to be one of the most affluent communities in the country per capita. If $500m homes can continually be built, monster SUVs continually be driven around town and restaurants in town always being filled to capacity each night, why can't the community back supporting children? We're quick to support children from sexual predators but not so quick when it comes to shaping the leaders of tomorrow, from an educational standpoint. Be prepared for portable classrooms or class sizes of 40 students per teacher. "

Wrong Tax wrote on Oct 24, 2007 10:05 AM:

" A couple of points: First, I cannot imagine that Unit 5 will return any tax to the property owners such as with the EAV. When ANY bond referendum has been retired, have you ever seen those tax dollars returned to the property owners? My other point - now is a good time to consider if Property Tax is the correct way to fund schools. Seems a resonably prudent person would perfer more "cause and effect" forms of financing. Arguing that a person with 5 or 6 children cannot afford to educate their children is an argument for the parents of the 5 or 6 children. That is a more a discussion of parental obligation. If we agree that parents cannot afford to fund the education for their children, then the discussion should switch appropriately to that of "welfare" assistance. We too often don't call things what they really are. "

Please Be Alarmed wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:57 AM:

" Unit 5 has continued to appear successful because of the expanding housing developments in its serving areas. In reality, it has always relied on NEW tax dollars from NEW construction to meet the CURRENT budget requirements. As long as more expensive homes (and thus higher tax revenue to Unit 5) were being built at increased levels annually, Unit 5 had increased income streams. Bottom line is that Unit 5 needs to look seriously at how it is managing the enterprise. NOW is the time for serious consideration of District 87 and Unit 5 - there are really only EMOTIONAL reasons to NOT do so. Unit 5 continues to pass referendum after referendum AND upon retirement of those bonds, DOES NOT pass along a tax reduction to the taxpayer. I regret that I will not be able to support further referenda and must share this sentiment with my colleagues and friends. Unit 5 needs to be VERY SERIOUS about how it manages the business of education or the business will fail all of us. "

Jules wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:35 AM:

" Please do not raise our taxes. If you're called for the survey, please say you don't support it. Most people simply cannot afford an increase; they can barely afford increasing gas and utility prices. Save a lot of money and cut administration officials. "

One Word ! wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:29 AM:

" NO "

askfhsdk wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:25 AM:

" I can only hope that they call my house for their survey, especially to "guage my feelings about the district." "

Concerned wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:16 AM:

" to "to Calling All Bashers". This is not fair at all, we really need to pay tuition of some sorts instead of property taxes. Why should I who has 2 children and can afford to raise them, subsidize someone having 5-7 kids and only paying their fair share for only 2 of them? How about someone with 10 kids moving into a 50-year old house, how do you get the impact fee from them? To charge someone an impact fee who has no children and may never have children, is very unfair. "

questions to unit 5 wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:09 AM:

" why can't we raise fees not taxes? If everyone paid $20 more in fees wouldn't that help a great deal? I think I paid $75 for fees for grade school this year - I would pay $100 if it didn't mean an extra $400 in taxes next year - what is the big deal? All the people who are not paying unit 5 taxes should put forth for their school district! how much are you paying this out of town architect? He is getting mileage and meal reimbursments for his trips down here and we have already heard their proposal to pay them for their work BEFORE we even pass a referendum. WAKE UP UNIT 5!! "

Re: to calling all bashers wrote on Oct 24, 2007 9:05 AM:

" The answer is not finding new revenue. It's finding ways to cut costs. "

to Calling All Bashers wrote on Oct 24, 2007 8:59 AM:

" Lot fees. Make the new apartment complexes and the new huge $250,000-$500,000 pay a lot fee into a school fund. This fund would mature and provide funding for the new schools. Very legal and fair. There's no reason to tax my family in our modest home so some rich brat can have cheaper property taxes. Besides, if you're already paying $500k for a home, what's another $40k in a lot fee? "

Taxpayer wrote on Oct 24, 2007 8:57 AM:

" In the mean time, this maxed out taxpayer is projecting the cost of moving out of McLean county. "

To:Calling All Bashers wrote on Oct 24, 2007 8:23 AM:

" It's not up to taxpayers to come up with details on how to reduce costs...that is why we have board members making six figure salaries! If the taxpayers are going to start making these decisions, then fire all the board members and lets at least save their salary. The rest of us live within a budget on a fixed income, it's time Unit 5 do the same. Maybe you have the money to pay more in taxes but the rest of us don't! "

Concerned wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:17 AM:

" $66 to $132 is only for the tax warants bond. The actual construction bonds will add almost $400 to to tax bill of the $200,000 home owner. Come on Pantagraph, I understand being a cheerleader for the town, but tell the whole story. The earlier the facts come out, the better we will be to deal with them. "

westsider wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:01 AM:

" make the people who live in all the apartment complexes pay the same as i do in taxes .where do you think all the kids are coming from.any piece of land in this town has to have 500 apartments built on it thanks to the city and county for letting the greedy developers plant them in single family small areas that can't even handle the traffic.get rid of half of the school buses that are costing the unit 5 taxpayers.and lets not forget all the next of kin administrators that are robbing us blind. "

no way wrote on Oct 24, 2007 6:26 AM:

" i surely hope and pray this does not pass. my pay can't keep up with all these taxes. already pay $2000 a year now to unit 5 "

Calling All Bashers wrote on Oct 24, 2007 5:56 AM:

" Will all the Unit 5 bashers please explain in detail how you would reduce the costs to provide infrastructure and operate Unit 5 instead of just complaining? Please make sure your suggestions are logical and legal. "

NO, No, NO! wrote on Oct 24, 2007 2:10 AM:

" Just Say NO to Unit Five! "

BILLY BOB wrote on Oct 24, 2007 1:05 AM:

" Thanks to the Judy Dome and the gross negligence of the city manager and council I will already have a property tax increase. Sorry kids I cant's vote you any more money right now. Judy and Tom spent your education dollars on a Colliseum. "

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