Education: August 2007 Archives

BY DAVE PARRO

After two failed referendums, the East Aurora School District might try a new approach in February. Instead of asking voters to approve an increase in the operating rate, the district would seek to issue $32 million in bonds.

Schools usually only borrow money for construction projects, but East Aurora would use the cash to plug the budget. The resulting property-tax increase would be less than half of what the district was seeking in April.

The most important question, however, is whether voters have overwhelmingly rejected referendums on the East Side because of the amount, or because they simply don't want to give the district ANY more of their money.

BY MIKE CETERA

UPDATE: AUG. 22

The state still hasn't approved a capital projects bill, which could help Fox Valley schools pay for renovation projects or construction of new buildings. Yet that's not the worst news.

Schools throughout the state -- including some close to home -- are owed money they were promised five years ago. House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, last week sent a letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich demanding he release the funds.

"It is clear that you are choosing to not exercise your authority to process the contracts and release the money to the school districts," Cross wrote.

-- UPDATE BELOW