PEORIA -- Diane Vespa's blog, PeoriaRocks, has a vital story that every taxpayer in Peoria should read -- about waste and folly and lack of accountability in Peoria School District 150.
She documents it with photos, quotes and the historical record.
What she doesn't say is that there's a remedy. When elected officials ignore what the public wants, cut off their money!
A March 30 Journal Star article reports that District 150 will be borrowing money to operate, since it's out of money.
And why is it broke? It bought properties it can't use, renovated buildings it planned to close while other spaces sit empty, it's building two new schools when renovation of older historic schools would be cheaper, ad nauseum.
Notice this language in the article: The School Board on April 6 will have to decide whether it will seek the cash bonds. If approved, the district will have to move quickly as such a bond sale requires 30-day public notice and leaves the district no wiggle room before it is to run out of money.
But there's a caveat to seeking the bonds. If 10 percent of voters petition the district to take the sale of the cash bonds to referendum, the district would run into a wall, having to wait until November, or plead with a judge to hold a special election, Durflinger added.
I have heard that some people are now looking at this petition option. It could be a bargaining chip to stop future school closings, or could be affirmed on its own. One thing is certain: that referendum would never get voter approval.
No one wants to hurt District 150, but its management is just plain crazy, and those officials should resign in shame. How to get them to do that? Deny them the money.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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