School District 300 pushes for 2 referenda

March 17, 2006 (WLS) -- A far northwest suburban school district is threatening sharp cuts unless voters pass two referenda next Tuesday.

Community unit school district 300 covers 15 communities, including Algonquin, Carpentersville and Hampshire. Explosive growth in that area has increased the district's school population 39-percent the past 7 years.

Organized chaos reigns when the bell sounds between classes at Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

"It's so tight that students literally have to turn sideways in order to get through the hallways," said Jacobs High School Principal Michael Bregy.

The biology class is being conducted in a classroom built to accommodate 24 students. Thirty-eight occupy it now. The 28-year-old building has several additions, but classes still average 35 to 37 students, which is the highest in Illinois.

Jacobs is in District 300 where officials hope voters will pass two referendums that would add four schools -- a high school and three elementary schools-- and improve the district's 23 other schools.

"There will definitely be dire consequences for all of our students in our communities because our school board is committed not to go into debt or spend money they do not have," said District 300 Superintendent Kenneth Arndt.

Arndt says $5 million in cuts will include 25-percent cuts in high school courses, the lay off of 78 employees, and elimination of extracurricular activities.

"For freshmen who would be coming in to Jacobs or any other high school that suffer these cuts we would not have enough extra-curricular standpoint behind our college applications in order to get to such a school as U of I," said Jacobs High Sophomore Matt Bishop.

There is opposition to the referendums led by Carpentersville businessman Jack Roeser. Among his complaints-- teachers' pay.

"The reason they are in bind is they've let salaries for the teachers and administrators get out of control. The union has dominated this. the n-e-a, the i-e-a have dominated this thing," said Roeser.

"We as other school districts have to maintain and attract quality teachers so therefore our wages need to be competitive and they are average or below average for the Fox Valley," said Arndt.

You can see the ABC7 report by clicking on the video icon above.  You will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to view this video. You can get it FREE by clicking here. NOTE: Video clips will only be available for 5-days from the date they were created. ALSO: Video clips will play in a separate window on Mac OS X machines, you may also see a video help screen.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•