Looking Forward to Brighter Days in District 15

The proposed $130 million building bond referendum by District 15 has created quite a firestorm in our community. It's not one that we as a group are enjoying; we aren't happy to admit it feels like an us vs. them debate at times....the feeling is unsettling, frustrating and has gotten downright ugly in certain situations. The best is not being brought out in us, and that is something we must all work on-both for and against this referendum.

Critics of the Vote NO movement have said our position is an emotional one....and that is in part, correct. It can cause great emotion when you suddenly learn that something you have could be taken away, or changed, without a chance to learn about it first, or speak against it before decisions are made about it - and rightly so.

This situation creates a feeling of powerlessness, and all of us know feeling powerless isn't an ingredient for positive thoughts or behavior. For those who would feel no other effects from this referendum (beyond the tax increase all of us would experience in one way or another), please put yourself in the shoes of those of us in your community who stand to lose things that we hold dear, for just a moment.

The emotion and passion involved is palpable. It can and has brought out the worst in so many of us (for and against) through debate, arguments and even attacks through social media and in person.

4RD15Kids wants a brighter day in District 15. We want to be included in decisions that affect our kids, and frankly, our greater community. Those who don't have children have stake in this game too, and need to be included in all conversations that relate to the value of their property and their neighborhoods as well. As we walk our neighborhoods to ensure our neighbors and friends without kids know about this referendum, we have been appalled to learn that so many do not. If they aren't attending school board meetings, and miss that article in the paper that day it's in print, and aren't active (or even involved with) social media, they are oblivious, and that is entirely unacceptable.

This leads us to our overwhelming and non-emotional position on this issue. We had no say.

All of us....with kids, without kids, owners, renters, and business owners who rent, or own retail or commercial space in District 15 - should have been made aware of this referendum months ago..

• Residents with children: For some, the schools their children attend would change. For some, their neighborhood school would close. And, their residential property taxes would be increased.
• Residents without children: Their taxes would be increased.
• Residential property owners and renters: Tax increases are the responsibility of property owners, but could absolutely be passed on to renters.
• Business owners who own or rent retail or commercial space: The tax increase for these properties is two-times more than residential property increases. That proposed increase will hit the owner, and/or be passed onto the business owner that rents space.

We all have a stake in this situation. Which is why we all should have been made aware of this referendum months ago, and well in advance of a unanimous vote of approval from the District 15 school board on August 17th, 2016 - less than three months before it goes to a vote. Instead, we learned of this plan on the night of the first day of school, and had no opportunity to speak about it or against it before it was approved. This is simply poor representation that cannot be supported through a yes vote on this referendum.

Other school districts have created open engagement, and community-wide conversations about changes that affect all residents - including referendum questions. One very recent example is Community Consolidated School District 181 in Hinsdale, where online surveys, phone surveys and community input was encouraged and invited before a referendum was placed on the ballot November 8th. Their first try at it failed in the spring of 2016.

Next time: Putting aside the lack of real engagement in our own community for a moment (which is difficult to do), the referendum and plan around it have so many flaws and unanswered questions, that to approve it would be completely irresponsible.

District 15 must go back to the drawing board. #VoteNoD15 #4RD15Kids