In the News
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (December 23, 2009)
State board places District 113A in financial difficulty
District 113A School Board member Janet Hughes attended the presentation in Springfield, and addressed the state’s Board of Education as a taxpayer.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (December 8, 2009)
Editorial: D-113A should consider cutting salaries
Local voters will be asked in February if Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A may increase its tax rate to address a $2 million budget deficit. That’s a hard sell, particularly given the challenging economy. Voters have turned down the three previous attempts to raise the rate higher than what’s allowed under the Illinois Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (October 30, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
D113A should make sure public records are public.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE (October 20, 2009)
Your government in secret: Public officials blocked out too.
New law takes aim at elected boards that shield records from own members.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (September 24, 2009)
Tension remains high on School Board meeting.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (September 2, 2009)
Editorial: New assessment program seems worth the money.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (August 25, 2009)
Superintendent Passes on Salary Increase.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (August 19, 2009)
School Board OKs New Assessment Testing Program.
“It sounds like a wonderful asset that would be helpful to the teachers, but I’m concerned about the cost in light of our situation,” Hughes said. “I find it hard to justify spending almost $70,000 considering our financial deficit.” Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (July 22, 2009)
Editorial: District 113A Must Start Living Within Its Means.
THE ISSUE: Lemont-Bromberek faces a projected $2.8 million budget deficit.
OUR VIEW: Board members must get in the habit of not committing to spend more money than projections say they can afford. Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (July 1, 2009)
Schools: Consolidation Not Viable Option for Districts 210, 113A.
A Lemont resident’s suggestion that the village consolidate its two school districts is not feasible, school officials said. Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (June 25, 2009)
Committee Lays Out Rumors to be Researched
Members of a school committee designed to address some of the election campaign trail rumors will focus on five specific topics. Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (June 19, 2009)
Committee to Announce Rumor Mill Targets
Members of a school committee will begin chipping away at some of the election campaign trail rumors still lingering around the district at the next Board of Education meeting scheduled Wednesday night, June 24 at 7 pm. Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (June 3, 2009)
Your View: Did rumors about board members impact your view of School District 113A during this year’s election?
Comment: “Truths about the School District 113A , not rumors, impacted my view and…” Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (June 3, 2009)
Parent requests drug sniffing canines for Old Quarry
“When it comes to keeping kids off drugs, Lemont parent Al Malley does not think preventive measures can start too soon.” Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (May 28, 2009)
Committee to Research Campaign Trail Rumor Mill
Hughes argued against the committee. “I question why so much time and energy is being spent on this when we have a major fiscal crisis currently facing the School Board and the administration,” she said. Read more here…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 30, 2009)
New members of 113A School Board finally certified as winners.
After more than three weeks of waiting, Lemont resident Janet Hughes can officially declare herself a member of the Lemont-Bromberek Combined District 113A School Board.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 22, 2009)
Absentee ballots put Hughes ahead by six votes.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
2009 Candidates Profiles
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Writer thanks candidates for inspiration to vote
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Taxpayers are not welcome at School Board meetings
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Quartet of candidates will make a positive difference.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
District 113A School Board needs ‘change on all levels’
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (April 3, 2009)
Check out our ad in today’s paper here! Full ad here.
SOUTHTOWN STAR (March 31, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Change needed for SD113A in Lemont
I have been at board meetings when community members addressed the board with helpful ideas, suggestions or needed information. There wasn’t so much as a thank you. I believe we need change on all levels…
IMPORTANT FORUM!
Featuring all Lemont candidates on the April 7 ballot.
Read more here at Triblocal…
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (March 20, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Resident tired of status-quo from District 113A Board.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (March 20, 2009)
Letters to the Editor
Reader thanks paper for school election coverage.
LEMONT REPORTER-MET (February 27, 2009)
Voters to decide four open School District seats
“We’re pleased with the outcome — no doubt about it. One of the reasons we’re running is to have our voices heard. We’re glad we took the initiative to do the right thing.” Read full story here…
SOUTHTOWN STAR (February 24, 2009)
Judge: School board ballot can be printed
A federal judge ruled in favor of Janet Hughes, Tim Goodwin, Karen Siston and Al Malley, all of whom are running in April against four incumbents for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A school board. Read full story here…
Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible. —Anonymous
Lemont-Bromberek CSD 113A is governed by a seven-member Board of Education. Each member is an elected official who serves a four-year term of office or is appointed when a vacant seat occurs. School board elections are held in the spring of each odd calendar year.
The purpose of the board is to set and monitor the school district budget, review and amend district policies, and hire the district superintendent.
I am appalled at the way the current school district handled the
ballot situation ! It is typical of this group to border on election corruption to stay in power. My vote is for change !
The current board had been financially irresponsible, unsupportive to our teachers with oversized classrooms and unwilling to take them time to be passionately involved with the future of our students. As a mother and a teacher for another school district, I am shocked and disappointed in the way things have been running in school district 113A.
I am excited to see Hughes, Goodwin, Siston and Malley have made the ballot; your committment and qualifications have my vote.
The current financial situation is of great concern. Our technology level seems to be substandard compared to other neighboring districts. How will our children build the skills needed to be academically competitive with their peers???
We need a school board that will be fiscally wise and responsibile for our future.
RV…Thanks for your comments and support of our campaign.
We were pleased with the outcome of the ballot situation.
We look forward to having the opportunity to bring fiscal responsiblity to District 113A.
Thank you, Diane Waynick and Tina Guide, for your great letters to the editor that were published in the Lemont-Reporter Met today. We appreciate your support!
Ugh…NEWSPAPER ERROR! The Triblocal Lemont edition printed the 2009 Election Guide Survey in Thursday’s newspaper, March 26, 2009.
The editor states: “Janet Hughes did not respond to this survey. Hughes, Karen Siston, Tim Goodwin, and Al Malley are running as a slate.”
Please note my survey was submitted on March 9, 2009. I have the email that proves it. Karen Siston and Al Malley also submitted their surveys on March 9. However, mine was NOT included in this Local Election Guide on March 26, 2009.
I am currently seeking a correction/retraction statement from Triblocal.com and will keep you posted on the outcome.
Janet, I know you submitted your profile! I am hopeful Triblocal will correct their oversight and publish the missing bios.
Thank you for running for the school board and trying to make a difference in our school system. Your genuine caring for our district is evident in your positive campaign. Thank you for the necessary information provided to make an educated choice in the voting poll. The blog is highly organized and filled with important information. It is obvious that Hughes, Goodwin, Siston, and Malley have the necessary background and educational experience to make excellent decisions for the future and direction of our school district. These candidates appear to be willing to work dilgently to improve the lives of the Lemont school community. They have clearly defined goals and future visions for improvement for a quality education for our students. These individuals will be a positive asset to the school board.
There is a strong desire for change and transparency in government. That includes school boards.
The current Lemont School District 113A board hired a firm for public relations. What did that cost taxpayers? Why do they need it?
There were four seats to be filled in the April election, yet they only posted three. It was necessary to go to court to force them to do what they were legally bound to do.
I have been at board meetings when community members addressed the board with helpful ideas, suggestions or needed information. There wasn’t so much as a thank you. The impression was they wouldn’t even think about any of what was presented. During presentations, board members fiddle with papers, talk to each other, stare at the ceiling, etc. The school board is elected to represent the community.
I believe we need change on all levels. Vote in your local election.
Thank you, Sheri and Nora, for your great comments and recognizing the importance of local elections. Change is definitely needed in SD113A. Let’s hope voters go to the polls on Tuesday and vote for it.
Hughes, Goodwin, Siston, and Malley want to make a difference. We care about our schools and the children. We will represent the community well.
Can they have their cake and eat it, too……?????
One of our challengers says:
“The district has been running great…keep the people in place that have been doing that.” (KD, Incumbent)
His running mates say:
“We’re looking at the ancillary expenses we have now…And eventually we will have to look at programs or going to the community for a referendum to increase the tax base.” (DL, Incumbent)
“This is not a revelation that was recently revealed…As one of the incumbents, I’ve been diligently working to manage the deficit on a yearly basis.” (LW, Incumbent)
The fact that we have been running a deficit for some time is true.
What is different? Hughes, Siston, Goodwin, and Malley brought it to the forefront. The board always stepped around the “deficit” word. They say they want to fix it by raising property taxes and cutting services. Does this make our school system better?
So what did they do to manage the deficit?
• Hired a PR firm for $90,000. Their specialty??? Preparing school districts for referendums.
• Pushed through a 24% funding increase on your property taxes last December. Probably will do it again this year, too!
• Increased our class sizes- One teacher for 29 five-year-old children.
• Had our school financial health downgraded to “early warning.”
We are being taxed out of our homes. We have new homes that can’t be sold, and we have empty homes because the owners could no longer afford to live in them. Did they buy too much house? Some did. Others never expected to see 24% funding increases and watch their property taxes skyrocket. Now they want go for a referendum to go higher than another 24% and to cut services, too!
It’s time to hold your elected officials accountable. Vote for transparency, fiscal responsibility, and accountability.
Don’t vote the extremes. Vote center and straight…3,4,5, and 6.
Hughes, Goodwin, Siston and Malley for Lemont-Bromberek School Board.
Thanks for all the great comments and feedback! Check out our post at Triblocal here:
http://www.triblocal.com/Lemont/List_View/Details_story/view.html?action=detail&type=stories&sub_id=58423