Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Barrington Hills Trying to Escape from District 300…Again
Residents of McHenry and Kane County who live in Barrington Hills are again trying to escape from Carpentersville District 300, according to Elgin’s Daily Courier-News and the Chicago Tribune.
The chances are akin to those of having snow in May. It does happen (May 5, 1966, a day I campaigned for County Treasurer in Marengo), but not often.
Just as Chicago and the rest of Illinois want to milk McHenry County, District 300 loves the fact that Barrington Hills’ homes pay more taxes than it takes to education their 23 out of 59 children who attend District 300 schools. (The rest—over 60%!--go to private schools.)
A similar area (or maybe the same) tried to get out of District 300 in the past and failed.
To win, the petitioners would have to convince the Kane County Regional Board of School Trustees and, maybe, the Lake County Board, as well. That’s because District 300’s headquarters is located in Kane County and Barrington School District 220 would be affected and its headquarters is located in Lake County.
Although probably a majority of the land is located in McHenry County, its board has no say.
Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Clem Mejia says that a decision could take a year or more. He remembers 5 or 6 other attempts at de-annexation in the 20 years he has been in office.
District 300 was put together in the late 1940’s by someone with the vision of Attila, the Hun. When consolidation started, it went as far as possible in every direction, ending up with parts of Cook, McHenry, Kane and DeKalb Counties.
The result was a school district where the various parts have as little in common with each other as the Hun’s 433-453 empire.
Barrington Hills has the highest average income of any town in McHenry County (although not much of it is in McHenry County).
And, as far as schools go, money is the name of the game.
The Barrington Hills residents have logic on their side, of course. They argue that they are part of the Barrington community and their kids should be able to attend school with their neighbors.
Unfortunately, logic has little to do with school finance.
Otherwise, District 300's Cary students would attend Cary schools and it Fox River Grove students would attend Fox River Grove schools.
The chances are akin to those of having snow in May. It does happen (May 5, 1966, a day I campaigned for County Treasurer in Marengo), but not often.
Just as Chicago and the rest of Illinois want to milk McHenry County, District 300 loves the fact that Barrington Hills’ homes pay more taxes than it takes to education their 23 out of 59 children who attend District 300 schools. (The rest—over 60%!--go to private schools.)
A similar area (or maybe the same) tried to get out of District 300 in the past and failed.
To win, the petitioners would have to convince the Kane County Regional Board of School Trustees and, maybe, the Lake County Board, as well. That’s because District 300’s headquarters is located in Kane County and Barrington School District 220 would be affected and its headquarters is located in Lake County.
Although probably a majority of the land is located in McHenry County, its board has no say.
Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Clem Mejia says that a decision could take a year or more. He remembers 5 or 6 other attempts at de-annexation in the 20 years he has been in office.
District 300 was put together in the late 1940’s by someone with the vision of Attila, the Hun. When consolidation started, it went as far as possible in every direction, ending up with parts of Cook, McHenry, Kane and DeKalb Counties.
The result was a school district where the various parts have as little in common with each other as the Hun’s 433-453 empire.
Barrington Hills has the highest average income of any town in McHenry County (although not much of it is in McHenry County).
And, as far as schools go, money is the name of the game.
The Barrington Hills residents have logic on their side, of course. They argue that they are part of the Barrington community and their kids should be able to attend school with their neighbors.
Unfortunately, logic has little to do with school finance.
Otherwise, District 300's Cary students would attend Cary schools and it Fox River Grove students would attend Fox River Grove schools.
