D220 Board Talks Calendar Changes, Tax Levy

• Modify the calendar so the first semester concludes before the winter vacation, with high school final exams before the break.

• Establish a consistent annual start date no earlier than Aug. 20 (no later than Aug. 22 when Aug. 20 falls on a weekend), with a minimum of two-plus weeks in August prior to the start of school for the end of summer vacations.

• Establish a consistent end date to the first semester on Dec. 22 (no earlier than Dec. 20 when Dec. 22 falls on a weekend).

• Not including weekends, build in a consistent 11 weekdays of winter vacation for students; 10 weekdays of winter vacation for staff.

• Continuing with tradition, spring vacation will always be the last full week of March preceded by a parent-teacher conference date.

• Allow no more than 10 student attendance days difference between the first and second semesters.

• Remove the Columbus Day holiday and shift two in-service days (one before the beginning of the school year and one at the beginning of second semester) to adjust the imbalance.

Board members in agreement Tuesday included president Brian Battle, Christopher Geier, Penny Kazmier and Joseph Ruffalo. Sandra Bradford was absent. Board members Wendy Farley and Richard Burkhart said they did not support the recommendations.

"If I were voting today, I would not accept (the recommendations)," said Farley, who acknowledged the Input 220 council did a great deal of work, but she did not believe the benefits outweighed all the changes that would need to be enacted to get there.

Burkhart took issue with making Columbus Day a student attendance day. "We are losing the ability to celebrate our culture," he said.

The board discussed keeping Columbus Day a school holiday and making the day before Thanksgiving a student attendance day, which was ultimately deemed a poor idea as many families rely on that day to prepare for the holiday and rampant absenteeism would be expected.

The proposed calendar changes will be presented to the district's policy and calendar committees before being returned to the board for final approval, which may not happen until January. The goal of the board members in consensus is to make the changes official for next school year.

2013 Tax Levy

The board held a public hearing Tuesday for the 2013 tax levy, which was already approved at the Nov. 5 meeting. The hearing generated comments from two residents.

The proposed corporate and special purpose taxes to be levied for 2013 are about $112 million, a 3 percent increase over 2012.

The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2013 are $125.1 million, a 2.52 percent increase over 2012.

Resident Bob Webb, of the Barrington Enlightened Taxpayers Association, praised the board for scheduling a hearing though it was not required because the proposed increase is less than 5 percent. Webb urged the board plan for future financial uncertainties and criticized teacher salaries.

"When are we going to see the board's plan for dealing with economic issues?" he asked.

Resident Bill Bishop pointed out that while the district continues to grow, the economy continues to be in poor shape, and there is no relief for homeowners, particularly seniors on fixed incomes.

"I believe unless (the board) makes a concerted effort to control costs, the taxpayer backlash will hit you with intensity," he said.

Those efforts are being made, said Kazmier. "We may not have a banner to say it, but we are trying."

Battle added the board is "extremely cognizant" of its responsibility to the D220 community.