CARE Objects to D112's 'Doomsday' Strategy: Letter

The following letter was written and submitted by members of the Citizens Against the 112 Referendum (CARE) group.

Less than two months prior to the March 15 referendum--during a period when the Board is legally barred from political speech--D112 has hit upon a bully strategy for promoting its $198 million referendum to build a single 1900+ student middle school.

Despite two straight years of budget surpluses and previous statements from board members that major cuts would not be necessary in the short term, D112 has recently contrived an ultimatum: if you don’t vote for our plan to build the one of the largest middle-schools in Illinois, we will punish you by closing your schools and defunding your special programs now.

That’s right, the Board votes in early February on a “Doomsday Plan” in case of a failed referendum. This plan threatens closure of Lincoln, Ravinia, Elm Place and Green Bay schools in autumn 2017, cuts to art and music programs and increases in class sizes to 26-30 students (the current average is 18, the referendum outcome is 25).

D112 is very worried that their referendum will fail -- and for good reason. The $198 million amount--with an additional $150+ million in interest payments--is the largest tax increase in Highland Park history. And it’s controversial.

The plan’s many flaws, financial and educational, are as obvious as the bully’s bad behavior. That’s why we’ve seen a groundswell of opposition to this plan, from former mayors and council members to former SCFFAC members and so many other informed citizens who have considered the plan on its merits and found that is doesn’t solve our problems.

Instead, D112 wants you to think that a complex problem has only one solution. This is political theater meets theater-of-the-absurd.

Have you ever encountered a problem of this scale that has only one solution?

The public has called for a more modest referendum that respects the community’s clearly stated preferences. And D112 has refused to provide this. Again and again.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time they’ve played the bully. Last November, the Park District rejected D112’s failed ultimatum for West Ridge Park. The Park District didn’t cave to threats, and neither should voters.

We need a better plan--one that respects our community and our values--and one that doesn’t require the tactics of a schoolyard bully. If D112 can’t provide that plan, we need a Board of Education that will.