2003 Year in Review

Making the Right Decision

The cynical outlook from the worn figure might easily be applied or even partially accepted by any number of people in our area community. I wonder if the registered voters are feeling as if they’re standing under that bird.

Whether any of us like it or not, the voters have witnessed the financial deterioration of their state due in no small part to the misconduct of elected officials charged to manage their tax dollars. All the voters asked for originally was to please take their individual vote, place it along side many others and keep our state in a sound financial condition so that it could prosper and grow. How ironic that as this is written (March 6, 2003) the front page of the Chicago Tribune leads with the news $700,000 given to a defunct race track in the last few days of former Governor Ryan’s term in office. Interesting that is almost the same amount our Morrison Community Unit District No. 6 is requesting the voters to approve at the April 1 election in annual property taxes.

Morrison voters turned out in large numbers for the 2000 Presidential election and for the last 2 years they have been listening to more and more discussion about Medicare and Social Security financial problems. Morrison has a significant and important voter block keenly aware of any changes affecting these programs. Within 10 years the baby boomers will be joining the group of over 65 in huge numbers and even they are hesitant of accepting higher taxes particularly in the presence of an unstable job market and rising health care costs for their families.

The voters in MCUD No. 6 not only has these issues in mind they are also aware of a severe financial problem affecting their schools and so many others statewide. What more can they do?

First of all, the collective thought must be in our community to forget about help from the state. Our Superintendent has warned the state might not be able to pay even the final check (year 2003) to our district because no money is available. A long term solution must be found to fund our schools in a more reasonable and dependable manner but that will not happen in the next few years. Additionally, the community must begin realizing that the school system really is an asset and treat it as such. Conversely, the school system must begin realizing the community is the support system for its existence. An education system that is inclusive of both the schools and the community can only be beneficial to each and every student.

Equally important in this entire equation are the teachers whom we entrust our children’s education. We are concurrently running on this site a series entitled "A Day in the Life of…" (you can find it at www.schoolbell.thecity1.com) and TheCity1.com chronicled and photographed four teachers in MCUD No. 6 on a single day. We believe many Morrison residents are unaware or have forgotten just how busy a teacher’s day can be and this series might be of interest to those people. Our teachers need to demonstrate in some manner, a message to the voters in MCUD No. 6 their willingness to do whatever is right in support of a "yes" vote on April 1. The effect of a "no" vote in the final tally could result in more quality teachers being released.

Realization that only we can control our future financial condition of our school system, must be intergrated with broader roles of the business community and local government. When the voter believes his or her vote can make a difference and has assurances their hard earned tax dollars will be spent wisely and for their children’s benefit and their grandchildren’s benefit then and only then will they vote "yes" on the referendum question. TheCity1.com believes the elected members of the School Board have worked long and hard with the School administrators and teachers finding answers to some of the problems. No one of the solutions have been easy and all have been painful. I believe a "yes" vote on April 1 is the right thing to do but it comes with a stipulation.

To the schools: Give us above average graduates, maintain a sound fiscal policy, and reach out to the Community.

To the community: Regard your school system as an important asset and support it.

Bob Vaughn, Publisher
TheCity1.com

by Bob Vaughn, theCity1.com
March 7, 2003