“Virelli: It’s about the kids”

Posted on November 1, 2014 by seektruth

An excellent column appeared on the editorial page of the Kane County Chronicle, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014: “Virelli: It’s about the kids” (online publication date 10/31/14). Please take the time to read it. It gives examples of how this father will use the referendum to teach his children lessons of financial responsibility, sound judgement, and delayed gratification. He ends it with by explaining how a “no” vote “doesn’t mean that you dislike children”, but that you value responsibility and “you are telling Batavia’s leaders that you are not going to stand for irresponsible behavior any more.”

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It’s About the Kids’ DEBT

Posted on October 28, 2014 by seektruth

If this referendum passes, a student entering Batavia high school next year as a senior will be able to play football on the artificial turf fields installed summer 2015. That same student could graduate from college, move back to Batavia as a homeowner, start a family, and still be paying off this debt UNTIL AGE 36.

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Artificial Turf Lawsuits

Posted on October 18, 2014 by seektruth

An article in Forbes, 9/28/14, “How Taxpayers Get Fooled On The Cost Of An Artificial Turf Field”, is recommended reading. It is a cautionary tale of the extraordinarily high cost of artificial turf when replacement costs are factored in, broken warranty promises by FieldTurf (a top supplier of artificial turf), and costly, drawn-out lawsuits. To sum it up: Buyer beware.

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Batavia School District Spin

Posted on October 17, 2014 by seektruth

The Batavia School District has put out an informational video through BATV on the $15 million referendum. If you view it critically, you will find some interesting details (or lack thereof).

Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Dave Andrews starts by claiming the $75 million referendum passed in 2007 for the Batavia Fine Arts Center “as well as other academic space” have resulted in a loss of 2 practice fields. What he carefully omits is that “gi-normous” fieldhouse that he waves his hand over. Continue reading →

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Kane County Chronicle Won’t Back Referendum

Posted on October 17, 2014 by seektruth

The Kane County Chronicle published an editorial Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, “Our View:  D-101 referendum difficult to back”. They cite too high a price tag, skepticism that it can be done without raising taxes, and the disorganized way it was put together, with a referendum on the ballot before a project list was created.

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SB16 Threatens State Funding to Batavia Schools

Posted on October 12, 2014 by seektruth

The Batavia School District stands to lose about $4 million in state funding, phased in over 4 years, if Senate Bill 16 (SB16) passes the IL House. SB16 would redistribute the state taxes that go toward education according to a new formula that heavily favors districts with more low income residents and Chicago schools (there’s a provision carved out specifically for them to factor in teacher pensions to their benefit). For Batavia, that would amount to a 79% cut in state funding, leaving the district with just $1.05 million from state sources, while increasing the district’s reliance on property taxes. The $4 million shortfall will have to be made up, with other districts in a similar situation talking of possible cuts to teachers and programs, and/or property tax hikes. This bill does not address unfunded mandates, leaving school districts holding the bag while taking away what little they had provided to begin with.

SB16 already passed the Senate and will likely be called for vote in the House in November, after the elections, in the lame duck session. Keep this in mind as you prepare to vote on the $15 million Batavia school district referendum that would have further negative impact on taxpayers if passed.

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Artificial Turf Controversies Make News

Posted on October 10, 2014 by seektruth

The Batavia School District’s latest $15 million project list includes 2 artificial turf fields, for a combined total of $6 million for just the turf and stormwater drainage modifications. Replacing the artificial turf will cost an additional $1 million every 8-10 yrs ($500,000 per field), according to the latest estimates by Asst. Supt. of Finance, Kris Monn. That number has already grown from the $400,000/field estimate given to Marmion several years ago (one of the reasons they opted to resod with natural grass).

Aside from the hefty price tag, as reported here previously, there are controversies surrounding artificial turf. From temperatures that can reach as high as 199 degrees on a hot, sunny day, to nasty abrasions (“turf burns”) and increased knee injuries, to worries about cancer caused by the chemicals in the crumb rubber infill, artificial turf is, to many, a cause for concern. Just recently, 2 items made the news: Continue reading →

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“Vote NO to More Debt”

Posted on October 9, 2014 by seektruth

Batavians for Responsible Government has begun their education campaign on the Batavia School District’s $15 million referendum. Yard signs are now popping up around town.

The focus on debt was chosen because whichever way the school district may spin it, issuing bonds creates debt that has to be paid back with interest. Whether those bonds are paid directly through taxes to a separate account, as with general obligation bonds, or indirectly through taxes to the school district’s Operations and Maintenance Fund, which are then diverted to pay back alternate revenue bonds, bonds = debt, and taxes are used to pay it. There are no magic money trees on school district property. Continue reading →

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New $15 Million Possibilities

Posted on October 4, 2014 by seektruth

On Sep. 23, 2014, the Batavia School Board approved a new option for the athletic fields portion of the $15 million referendum. The preferred option, Option 2, includes a 2nd artificial turf field. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Dr. Kris Monn said that was the option Administration was recommending. The $4.7 million price tag for that second field, he admitted, is too high to absorb in the budget. So, the strategy now is to pay for the really expensive athletic field projects out of the $15 million bond referendum and pay for the smaller chunks later out of the budget (all of which come from taxes). No one has mentioned the replacement cost of artificial turf at over $400,000 per field every 8-10 years. Conservatively, they should be budgeting to save $100,000/yr for replacement of this option’s 2 fields. Not one word has been said about this.

It was even noted that the public may not like Option 2 because it leaves out projects with direct public appeal, like new bleachers, an 8th track lane, etc. The board members themselves complained the bleachers were aged and crowded, but they voted on Option 2 anyway. Continue reading →

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Details of $15 Million Possibilities

Posted on August 20, 2014 by seektruth

The Batavia school district has released a sample project list the $15 million bond referendum could fund. While their District E-news says, “The current plan is to divide the $15 million between capital improvements at several schools (end-of-life assets, such as boilers, roofs, lighting systems, parking lots, windows, etc.) and a portion of the athletic fields at Batavia High School,” don’t be fooled. The “portion” of the athletic fields includes everything in the $13.4+ million Athletic Fields Redevelopment Plan but the monument signs and the 2nd artificial turf field (compare the list with the documents from the 6/25/13 Board meeting, p. 115 of 193). It also means cutting down the trees in the arboretum. Continue reading →

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