Letter to the Editor: Change Needed on Barrington 220 School Board

We need a change in our Barrington 220 school board.  As residents, parents, and taxpayers, I’d like to know that our input is valued.  It doesn’t appear to be.

Requesting community input, our Barrington 220 Board of Education conducted a survey in 2012.  The questions related to issues the community would most prefer regarding several topics. 

The results- 57% of staff and parents requested the implementation of an all day kindergarten program.  Down the list, was realigning the school calendar to allow the high school students to take first semester finals before Christmas break instead if in mid-January. 40% chose this issue as most important.

Results are here-http://www.barrington220.org/domain/2367

The district created a panel called i220, The purpose, to serve as an advisory role to the Board of Education, to address the priority as requested by the BofE.

The staff and parents spoke up, gave a priority, and the BofE ignored the results.  Why conduct a survey to garner community input only to discard it? 

I sent an email to our board and superintendent asking why the majority was ignored.  Our board president , Brian Battle, promptly responded by saying "feel free to call me and discuss". I asked for a written explanation.  Finally, after 3 attempts, I got one.   

"The first topic assigned to the community was voted on by Board based on a number of factors including availability of data and legislative actions as well as community discussions and surveys."  

I'm calling Shenanigans.  They obviously don't care what the community wants.  This is one of a few examples I have experienced in the last year where our board seeks community input, then goes in a different direction.  No transparency. 

Do not vote for the incumbents. Those who are on the incumbent slate will only provide more of the same.  Our two incumbents, 1 current board member, and former member Sauer all ran unopposed as the only 4 candidates in the last term.  No vote was needed.  Don't accept business as usual.  Request transparency in our district's direction, and financial accountability.  

Geier and Keaton promote these values. Last election, 1 vote decided who won and who lost.  This time, 2 votes is better than 4. 

Mike Galvan

Barrington