Investing in our youngest future Huskies

drmr from Oak Park  

Posted: February 27th, 2013 8:15 PM

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/head_start_report.pdf Read the executive summary and you will see why the high school should NOT give one cent to CEC.These programs have no lasting effect and District 200 money should not be allocated for pre-schoolers.A %1000 increase in the next three years?Insane.Especially for a proven failure.Board members,please read the report or its' conclusions before making a mistake.The scientific evidence is not as convincing as the CEC or Obama say.

OPRF Achievement  

Posted: February 15th, 2013 9:24 PM

Yes, investing in kid when they are young, pays dividends. The issue - who invests. The federal government of local families and people who are willing to make a difference. While this collobrative program sounds nice - the problem is the structure and funding. Bottom line, kids need to learn to READ. If this occurs early -- they WILL succeed. If not, they will suffer and be a burden to society for a lifetime. For more about Reading see http://carsonscholars.org/reading-rooms/about-our-re

former D97 parent  

Posted: February 15th, 2013 7:22 PM

The role of the family in a child's education is critical - especially in D97. Our experience in D97 was a great arts program. There also were a few years in which it was apparent the kids learned from the teacher. But for the most part, our kids didn't learn a lot in school. Mostly they got to color, paste and paint about the things they had learned at home. Of course parents are important. But teachers have the kids for 6 hrs a day. They should also have an impact.

OPRF Supporter  

Posted: February 14th, 2013 11:26 PM

One important element in the article people have glossed over. It says "As the first graph from Nobel economist James Heckman shows, investing in our children, age birth to 5, is the most efficient use of our tax dollars and yields a lifetime of potential benefits" Really, do we have ANY metrics for ANY of this? 0-5, where is the family? Without that investment, there will ALWAYS be a GAP, no matter what is spent. Just like in life, people want to redistribute other people's money - for wha

Jim from Oak Park  

Posted: February 14th, 2013 11:21 PM

River Forest Community Center got involved with OPRF's child care, so Dick Chapell could keep his job. It is a well known fact the guy dipped ino the jar to try and secure some funding to keep him a float. The Community center is located in RF but does not serve RF. This program being talked about is just that - a grab by a few - and dress it up. If it looks like a pig and tastes like a pig....it is a pig no matter what you call it.

Tom from River Forest  

Posted: February 14th, 2013 3:39 PM

It is disingenuous at best to argue that River Forest benefits from the Community Center's participation in this program. While it may be located in RF and might be overly subsidized by the RF Township, very few of the Community Center's clients come from RF. It is plain that any contribution to this from Dist. 200 will come at the expense of RF taxpayers.

Still confused-less alone from Oak Park, Illinois  

Posted: February 14th, 2013 2:41 PM

From today's WSJ: "Most ...academic studies have also found early educational intervention "fade out" and that these programs rarely achieve what they promise. Russ Whitehurst of the Brookings Institution wrote Wednesday that the available studies supporting universal pre-K were "thin empirical gruel." ECC is looking to serve their own egos and intentions--with confiscated funds--and no accountability to the payers.

resident  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 8:54 PM

Supporting preschool education and playing Santa to the Collaboration are not the same thing. I don't see how the Collaboration's consumption of our tax dollars is going to translate into benefits for kids. 1.5 million - let see the item by item budget for specific programs, including the number of kids who will be served by each budget item and how outcomes will be measured.

Working parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 5:16 PM

This Collaboration advertisement is insulting to intelligent people. Taxpayer funded training of preschool teachers and "support" for preschool administrators is going to reduce crime? Really? Children are doomed to a life of crime if they don't go to preschool? Please.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 4:40 PM

Hey guys, I know that PP is clueless, but have heart cause the numbers are on our side. I urge you to stop OP from irrational spending. Go to the Envision OP and tell them to stop the vision and pay what they owe. Remember you are arguing with one clueless person here and we still have the numbers. There are still more seniors than parents with children. It's time to reduce our tax load.

Done from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:48 PM

PP - "Mr. Middle I'll firmly advocate that your neighbor who is a senior should be helped to stay in their home if they wish." And who is supposed to help with that? I'm at the point where I can't borrow any more from my 401K for the property taxes in this town and I hope to not have to put my next tax payment on a credit card by winning the lottery or getting a second job. Not everyone in this town has a six figure paycheck. And we need to accept this fact.

BTDT  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:45 PM

And the teachers were happy to march on the State Capitol picketing for higher taxes. They didn't mention they would be exempt from those same taxes when they retired. Your advocation for an outside organization that is not offering early childhood education makes me think you have private interests (income, family income, heck rent on HQ) that you want OP to fund. Why didn't the state find it worthy?

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:45 PM

@ Preschool...Well we do not live in a democracy. We live in a representative democracy. A few decide for many. At a local level we do not enjoy the checks and balances of our other G structures which is too bad. Because of this OP has been ruled by single-issue passions. The D90 referendum should point that your "overwhelming" majority is slipping. It will be interesting; but at some point reason will return.

Reality  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:44 PM

Preschool Parent: Please stop your condescending tone and quit refering to those of us that are less than enthusiastic about this plan as whiners! Your opinion would then sound more credible. We've been around the blocks a bit longer than you I think, and it's nothing to do about whining. It's everything to do with calling for sound decisions to be made based upon facts and responsible use of tax dollars. This is not a justified use of D200 $!

rj  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:41 PM

PP - Your liberal ignorance is showing. We live in a Constitutional Republic not a democracy. A democracy is mob rule which is exactly how liberal Oak Park likes to govern. That's why we need drastic change here.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:39 PM

Middle, we'll have to agree to disagree about who is being selfish. I say helping with the education of very young children is a matter of character. We'll call it a draw. lol

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:35 PM

I see where you're going with that, Reality. Own. And happy to pay up for everything we have here.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:35 PM

@ Preschool. Here is what you missed. In the last 10 years property taxes have doubled on my neighbor...it took the first 25 years she was here for that to happen. Something has dramatically changed by our current largess that is forcing her out. She has money and a pension but earned the right to stay here. The extra $6000 to her could help pay her grandsons college; she has earned that right. Yet we must infringe on her to pay more...SELFISH!!!

Reality   

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:30 PM

I'm just curious Pre-Parent. Do you rent or own?

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:26 PM

rj The beautiful thing about community is that we're a democracy and it is up to the residents of Oak Park to decide. I would wager a guess that the overwhelming majority of OP voters would agree that Early Childhood Education is worth funding. And thank goodness it's not up to you whiners!

Let Them Eat Cake  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:19 PM

"Should a Senior who has lived here 35 years be forced to leave or find an 'unincorporated' area?" Preschool Parent: "yes...lol". Speaks volumes indeed. Glad you called her on it Middle. PP you are in no position to lecture anyone on selfishness. Unfortunately she seems all too typical of so many recent OP arrivals who talk in the same breath about "diversity" and tell those who can't "pull their weight" to leave the community.

rj  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 3:17 PM

PP - We're a community - we're not supposed to be a collective under gulag rule, It sure looks like you've had your fair share of liberal indoctrination but we've more than pitched in for all on your progressive wish list. Not that you care but we can't afford more - pull up your little girl petticoat or big boy pants and adjust. Pay for it yourself - all of us have. Grow up- children shouldn't be having children.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 2:58 PM

rj, a community simply doesn't work like that. Or, maybe, a better way of saying it is that we aren't that kind of community. We offer a full range of services from HIV testing to one of the best libraries in the nation. It's not selfish or heartless to expect everyone to pitch in for the benefit of others. That's what government is for. Nanny state? Maybe. But not a bad thing if it is.

rj  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 2:41 PM

PP - Maybe you need to evalute your individual needs & not expect everyone else to adjust. All this is - is even earlier liberal indoctrination. Maybe the 'state' should just take them at birth and be done with it. How did we ever manage before this nanny state mentality? Thirty five years ago there were less heartless and selfish people like you. No one expects taxes to remain the same but you liberals are taking us to a point of no return.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 2:29 PM

2 issues there, Middle. We need to be better about programs that can help people get adjustments and aid in paying their property taxes if they really cannot. BUT, I also don't see why someone shouldn't pay their CURRENT share of property taxes even if it wasn't what they expected 35 years ago. You don't get to "lock in" your home value or tax rate by moving in. They should be given a chance to have their individual situation evaluated though.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 2:10 PM

@Preschool. Please think for a moment. Someone who has paid 35 years of taxes and paid off their house in full has a tax bill that is larger than any one year of their mortgage payments. How can you help..see to it that taxes are less. Pay for the service you want directly. Why force that decision on to a past girl scout leader, working mom and PTO member? Our taxes just cast aside their contributions. There is no free lunch and the PTax situation in OP is at a tipping point.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 1:48 PM

Mr. Middle I'll firmly advocate that your neighbor who is a senior should be helped to stay in their home if they wish. But that doesn't mean we can't have Early Childhood Education, too. It's not "either/or." It should be AND. They are separate issues. Which isn't to say that maybe Oak Park changed around them though. It's not the same world as 35 years ago. You can't expect a place to stay the same.

Uncommon Sense  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 1:47 PM

Liberalism coming home to roost... seems even our great People's Republic of Oak Park is learning you can't keep taxing people to fund pet projects. I just had someone tell me they weren't buying a house in Oak Park because the taxes are too high relative to their other choices.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 1:42 PM

Speedway, some of that is quality life issues though. We live in a city with a very high cost of living. San Fran, Boston, Denver all beat us for quality of life. And no American city can match Vancouver or some of the other Canadian cities as far as N. America rankings go. Atlanta, Dallas, and DC beat Chicago for infrastructure rankings. We live in sort of a mediocre suburb of a mediocre city. At least Chicago beats NYC...they're 2 spots behind us overall.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 1:36 PM

@Preschool...It speaks volumes about you that a senior, like my neighbor, who has been here 35 years now has their home up for sale due to the increase in taxes she cannot afford is OK? Really or are you just so self-centered you cannot see other issues around you?

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 1:05 PM

Has anyone noticed when looking at properties for sale in OP that the taxes are no longer included in their descriptions of the property. Also, Chicago Tribun puts out weekly insert and one section compares what similar priced housing costs in four different areas. Taxes are included. The results are astounding. OPer's pay enormous taxes.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:57 PM

I read in the WJ that River Forest does not want to fund this project with Oak Park because they do not feel it benefits their population. Since OPRFHS is jointly funded by RF this could definitely take HS funds off the table. Good news is that I also heard Obama bring up early childhd. ed and perhaps by making a national focus as it should be, the funding will be there and even more people will benefit.

BTDT  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:57 PM

Speedway. I get the same sense. If some one can cavalierly talk about getting the best services no matter what the cost, it makes me feel they don't share the cost. Or perhaps their share is not the 12,000k a year average. The fact is young families with young kids will seek home ownership elsewhere just because of the rising taxes. . And we need homeowners - they pay the lion share of all OP costs.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:55 PM

Mr. Middle. The answer to all your questions is "yes." Now quit whining. lol

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:53 PM

Speedway, River Forest doesn't have nearly the level of services Oak Park does either. There are also plenty of places that pay less in taxes and have better/more services than OP. BTDT, our family stays here despite the lack of an indoor pool, decent bike paths, crappy roads, and constant bickering about everything. But, hey, we're a 10 min walk from a train and there's a playground down the street. It's a trade off for everybody.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:48 PM

@ Preschool...Is a 68% increase in HS taxes OK given a 2 year funding surplus? Is it OK to just have wealthy people in OP that can not afford it? Should a Senior who has lived here 35 years be forced to leave or find an "unincorporated" area? Should OPRF pay for any possible future student's preschool from anywhere in the world? Should we ask a HS board who are suppose to be experts on HS now make funding decisions on early childhood education? This issue belongs at D90 and OPTwn.

BTDT  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:45 PM

PP. Looks like we all moved here despite the lack of the colloboration group. And it is just that a group that wants government funding and is portraying itself as a govenment entitiy. They want a contract and they are lobbying for it in the paper. You are too. I read the outline, including the part about "capping" their requested amount of taxes yearly. They are coming to OP because state pulled may of their grants.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:39 PM

Please realize as a taxpayer, I should not be obligated to pay for an elite private school education and call it a community service. If you feel that taxes are not an issue for you, you are blessed. Some day you will see what I am saying.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:31 PM

Please show me another town in Illinois that pays what we do in taxes. Hinsdale doesn't, River Forest doesn't either. Their housing is more expensive but their taxes are much lower. Do they have good schools, undoubtably, but Hinsdale doesn't pay their teachers as much. Check it out.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:30 PM

I see nothing wrong with wanting all our services and infrastructure to be the best. (It's not, but should be.) Living in a community like this one comes with responsibilities and tax bills. If they get to be too high, we can always move to some unincorporated place where there are a minimum of services and a minimum of taxes to go with it. Stay or go, local govt still has to provide all these things to those of us who are here...yes, at a cost.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:23 PM

To PP, stay ahead or be the best. Mr. Finnegan, board pres. for OPRFHS wants OPRFHS to be the best in the country. Lofty goal. I want OPRFHS to be the best it can be without increasing it's budget. I want peope to be able to afford OP and be able to stay in OP. OPRFHS has increased its tax base 68% in the last 10 years. If this continues will you be able to afford to keep your child in OP.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:09 PM

For me, Speedway, the best way to look at it is what sort of full-service community resources does Oak Park need to offer to keep up with other towns? Everything is an essential service to someone.We have to keep up and even stay ahead.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:05 PM

responsibility to where the child is currently at. If this program is necessary then we should see a reduction in our taxes at the HS and an increase somewhere else. We cannot keep on just saying every district is responsible for everything; where does it end? What are the limits? Should the HS pay for roads? Police? The system of multiple G bodies has been created over a long time and IL has the most G bodies of any State. Combine all education D to one and there is your solution

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 12:04 PM

cont. going to something that extreme. Yes, they settled for less but still this is an expense that benefits only some of our residents. Then I start to hear from people that they are leaving OP because their kids are finished with school. What happens to our community then when the senior members are leaving. This does not support a united OP. This is deeply concerning to me. There must be a balance.

Mr. Middle  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 11:58 AM

There is an adage in working with groups of people that when you make everyone responsible, no one person is responsible. Excuses become the norm. This is why a HS should be responsible for teaching students IN HS. Imagine a family moving here from Kansas and the child is behind. Should have OPRF given money to Kansas? We have had two neighbors that recently left the area when their kids where under 6. People move all the time and our financial model of local control requires specific

Speedway  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 11:57 AM

cont. a similar streetscape on Lake St. I think the gymnastics building on Lake St. is another extreme expense. It benefits some children. The program is great, there is a lot of interest, but could the program be improved without the expense of being a building, destroying it and then rebuilding it to the tune of multi-million dollars. School playgrounds important yes, but when the PTO of one school wants a 2.5 mil nature walk, outdoor classroom space, I must admit I balked at my tax dolla

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 11:52 AM

To PP, I cannot believe you are equating preschool ed. services to the community and comparing it with police and ambulance services. The former helps some children, the latter is there for everyone. OP is always trying to be better. Which is good. But when better excelerates to wanting to be the best and taxpayers are not given a choice on how much money it spends, I think it is wrong. I think the street of dreams on So. Marion was a huge waste of money. Yet, others believe we should creat

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 11:41 AM

Unfortunately, I'm the type of parent who teaches my kids to share well with others, not be greedy, and not be selfish. And, yes, I question the type of person who sees Early Childhood Education and has anything but "yes please!" to say about it. It's like hating rainbows, puppies, and orphans. It speaks embarrassing volumes about lack of character. Sorry if I offended, but I refuse to sit by while people whine about small children. Let's pick on the disabled & the Amish next! Good grief.

Unfortunately  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 11:13 AM

Definition of "whiner," per "Preschool Parent" - any one who does not agree with her opinion. For instance, if you question ANY part of the $1M+ plan from this private group of parents - you are whining. Also, if they were requesting $10M+ and you balked - you'd, per "PP," be a "whiner"! I'm guessing that "PP" must be a wonderful parent and thinks that giving her children everything they want is a virtue. I know those type of parents very, very well.

Dylan Bellisle from Forest Park, Illinois  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 10:57 AM

OPRF Achievement Gap, Wait...So District 200 should not invest, but the Township, Village, Churches and Police Department should? The Police Department is as far away from Education as you could get in terms of Public departments in Oak Park.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 9:54 AM

That's fine if they disagree. But people don't get to cut fire service because their house doesn't catch on fire. Or, we can't say, let's not have EMTs and just get people to eat better so there are fewer heart attacks then fewer ambulance runs. I'd hope we offer seniors a wide range of services, too. It's not like we should choose between having police and having parks.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 9:39 AM

Sometimes I think we need to keep things in perspective. As a preschool parent this new initiative would seem to benefit you and your child a lot. To a senior who is on a fixed income and questions whether they can remain in their homes that they have lived in probably longer than you have been alive they may not agree. i think there is a lot of middle ground if we are willing to give and take a little.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 9:01 AM

The whining is relative, Speedway. There is a difference between the "always against everything" crowd and your reasonable questioning. There are some people, however, who will never be happy with this program. Ever. Despite the need for it. The President even gave early childhood a shoutout in the SOTU last night. It's important. Very important. Some people aren't that forward thinking though.

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 8:34 AM

Dear PP if you are referencing me as a "whiner" than I am offended. My stand in OP is that everyone is important, the young, the middle, and the old. I have concerns that all our citizens are not well represented and because of this are suffering. The idea that taxes can keep going up is not sustainable. We do need to evaluate what is important. I however, did not imply that early childhood educ. was unimportant. But are there other things in our local gov. budgets that can be reduced.

Preschool Parent  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 8:08 AM

Great explanation of why this program is so desperately needed and a great use of taxpayer money. Though I doubt it will silence the whiners. Meanwhile, keep doing great work for the community!

Speedway from Oak Park  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 7:36 AM

I think this is probably a good program but how does it differ from federally sponsored programs like head start? Why is it better? Also feel OPers are paying way to much in taxes compared with other "elite" communities. Adding additional taxes for early childhd. endeavors just keeps the taxes increasing. Feel the need to reduce our budgets and choose between what is the most important items to this community and phase out what is least imp. But by all means stick to a budget.

Data Please  

Posted: February 13th, 2013 5:14 AM

I am curious to see the data on the "gap kids"mobility rate. Are we investing in kids who will never make it to the high school because they move out of D200 or move into D200 after early childhood years? Before we throw money at a problem we should have all the data.

OPRF Achievement Gap  

Posted: February 12th, 2013 11:02 PM

OPRF should NOT invest Any tax payer funds in this. This is something that needs to be led and funded by D90, township and OP village. Stop pandering by calling this young Huskies. Secondly, this program, unless they are able to quickly develop HARD measures, metrics and KPIs is Doomed! Anything like this - which has some sound ideas, is nothing but a Waste of money without measures on the Needed Outcomes! Also, it MUST include the houses of worship in the details. Also, get the PD involve