Saturday, June 03, 2006
Huntley School District 158: $2 Million: Now You See It; Then, You Don’t; Now, It’s Back
There are so many parallels to the old television comedy show "Laugh In" at the Huntley School District.
Last June, there was $2 million in Huntley School District’s Site and Construction Fund.
Then, there wasn’t.
The ruling 6-member school board faction who ridiculed minority school board member Larry Snow in a letter to the editor when he revealed the financial discrepancies he had found in the District 300 referendum pitch has just found a $2 million “Now you see; then, you don’t; now, it’s back” shenanigan in Huntley’s books.
Soon, I’ll bet they wish they Snow was still looking at finance stuff in another school district again, instead of District 158's.
“The board decided it had to borrow another $2 million to finance the expansion of the Marlowe Middle School, but it wasn’t necessary,” Snow told McHenry County Blog.
And, this unnecessary borrowing would have remained hidden had not the inquisitive and intrepid 7th member of the school board—very much in the minority—found something “v-e-r-y interesting” on page 55 of the audit.
But, outside auditor Tim Cole didn’t mention a word about it in his board presentation.
“Basically, when we started looking at how much was available to pay for the new school addition,” school board member Snow explained, “we decided we needed to spend $2 million more than the public was told we had.
“Now, I have found that $2 million was sitting in the Site and Construction Fund all along,” Snow explained. “That is money that the neither Board President or administrators disclosed before the Board voted to bond an extra $ 2 Million.
“In short, we borrowed $2 million that we didn't have to.”
Will Laugh-In’s Fickle Finger of Fate point to any of the ruling faction during next spring’s election?
Will the elector’s next line be “Sock It To Me!”?
Or will this ruling faction of the school board keep socking it to the taxpayers?
= = = = =
More on District 158 on Sunday and last Friday.
Last June, there was $2 million in Huntley School District’s Site and Construction Fund.
Then, there wasn’t.
The ruling 6-member school board faction who ridiculed minority school board member Larry Snow in a letter to the editor when he revealed the financial discrepancies he had found in the District 300 referendum pitch has just found a $2 million “Now you see; then, you don’t; now, it’s back” shenanigan in Huntley’s books.
Soon, I’ll bet they wish they Snow was still looking at finance stuff in another school district again, instead of District 158's.
“The board decided it had to borrow another $2 million to finance the expansion of the Marlowe Middle School, but it wasn’t necessary,” Snow told McHenry County Blog. And, this unnecessary borrowing would have remained hidden had not the inquisitive and intrepid 7th member of the school board—very much in the minority—found something “v-e-r-y interesting” on page 55 of the audit.
But, outside auditor Tim Cole didn’t mention a word about it in his board presentation.
“Basically, when we started looking at how much was available to pay for the new school addition,” school board member Snow explained, “we decided we needed to spend $2 million more than the public was told we had.
“Now, I have found that $2 million was sitting in the Site and Construction Fund all along,” Snow explained. “That is money that the neither Board President or administrators disclosed before the Board voted to bond an extra $ 2 Million.
“In short, we borrowed $2 million that we didn't have to.”Will Laugh-In’s Fickle Finger of Fate point to any of the ruling faction during next spring’s election?
Will the elector’s next line be “Sock It To Me!”?
Or will this ruling faction of the school board keep socking it to the taxpayers?
= = = = =
More on District 158 on Sunday and last Friday.
Comments:
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If the situation in D158 wasn't so pathetic it would be hilarious.
As Mark Twain wrote, "In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then He made school boards."
All too often the school board is nothing but a rubber stamp for whatever the superintendent and teachers want. Most school board members are well-meaning people that are just in over their heads when it comes to multi-million dollar budgets, professional labor negotiations, education policies, the constant pressure and complaints over every decision they make.
It is too bad that every district doesn't have a Larry Snow.
As Mark Twain wrote, "In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then He made school boards."
All too often the school board is nothing but a rubber stamp for whatever the superintendent and teachers want. Most school board members are well-meaning people that are just in over their heads when it comes to multi-million dollar budgets, professional labor negotiations, education policies, the constant pressure and complaints over every decision they make.
It is too bad that every district doesn't have a Larry Snow.
Perhaps one day the board majority (past and present), past and current administrators and directors will hear the following?
"Here come da judge. Here come da judge...................."
I would imagine that if an experienced auditor told a private business owner everything 158's auditor said regarding its finances and procedures - every employee that ever touched books would be standing in the unemployment line ....if not worse.
Since we're dwelling in the world of oldies but goodies at the moment - some people might say D158 needs a new theme song/dance like
"Let's all do the Coverrrrrrrrrrup Again!" (to the tune of the Time Warp song perhaps)
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"Here come da judge. Here come da judge...................."
I would imagine that if an experienced auditor told a private business owner everything 158's auditor said regarding its finances and procedures - every employee that ever touched books would be standing in the unemployment line ....if not worse.
Since we're dwelling in the world of oldies but goodies at the moment - some people might say D158 needs a new theme song/dance like
"Let's all do the Coverrrrrrrrrrup Again!" (to the tune of the Time Warp song perhaps)
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