Darien Pro-Tax Hike Group Recognized

DARIEN, IL – Center Cass School District 66 is recognizing the political committee that campaigned last year for a nearly 20 percent increase to the district's part of property tax bills.

In its recent newsletter, the district devoted two pages to recognizing more than 30 nominees for the Illinois School Board of Education's "Those Who Excel" program.

All the nominees were district employees, except the Save Center Cass School District 66 committee, which the local teachers union largely financed.

In its newsletter, the district described the committee as a "truly incredible and collaborative effort involving hundreds of parents, staff and community members who fought for the future of our district's children to pass the referendum."

The district added, "Their hard work and dedication was beyond."

In last November's election, the tax measure passed with a margin of 29 votes out of nearly 6,000 cast. A year earlier, a slightly larger tax hike failed.

In an email to Patch earlier this month, District 66's superintendent, Andrew Wise, said the state board reviews the nominees and gives a special designation for those it deems "the best of the best" from the applications it receives.

"The information in the newsletter was just a reflection of who was selected from Center Cass," Wise said.

Each of the three schools nominated people for the state honor. From the more than 30, the district's administration selected 10, including the committee, to send to the state.