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Letter to the editor
Updated: August 27, 2012 6:01AM
Inadequate yearly
progress at D-84
I recently read the article in the Franklin Park Herald-Journal about outgoing District 84 Superintendent David Nemec, who at the ripe old age of 55 has decided to cash in on his $100K plus annual pension and relatively free health insurance.
Given normal mortality rates, over the next 20-25 years the State of Illinois or, more likely, us, the local taxpayers, will be on the hook for the $2 million-$2.5 million plus dollars Nemec will pocket while enjoying his fishing sojourns in northern Wisconsin. Yep, that’s how the system works: Our taxes go up; his millions are tax free at the state level. At 5 percent, that’s another $125K in his wallet and out of ours.
It’s too bad that Nemec didn’t touch on the lack of progress the district made during his tenure. He obviously didn’t want to highlight that the district under his tutelage failed in the recent Academic Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind. According to the Illinois Board of Education website, the district received three significant “No” answers to 1) Is this District making Adequate Yearly Progress? 2) Is this District making AYP in Reading? 3) Is this District making AYP in mathematics? No wonder he complained about the mandates. He talks about a lack of funding. The facts are this: funding at District 84 increased $5.5 million, an increase of 35 percent, over a six-year period ended in 2010. Don’t take my word: Look at your property tax bill.
It seems his only accomplishment in 12 years was adding Spanish classes at Hestor Junior High. Odd, when nearly 65 percent of all students’ in the district are of Hispanic descent and presumably, come from Spanish-speaking homes.
I think it is time that the local school boards hold their highly compensated administrators to higher standards and accountability. From my perspective, the local boards are simply enablers of the status quo: accepting (less than) mediocrity, while continuing to soak the taxpayer with increased tax levies year after year after year.
Sorry kids, it seems you are being left behind as well as being stuck with the future tab.
Barry Brandell
Franklin Park
