Opinion
John Rung Publisher
Dan McCaleb Group Editor
Jason Schaumburg Editor
Sunday, April 7, 2013 • Page A11 • Northwest Herald • NWHerald.com 8OUR VIEW
8SKETCH VIEW
Virtual apple a bad reality On the surface, the proposal to create the Illinois Virtual Charter School at Fox River Valley appears as shiny as an apple on a teacher’s desk. The nonprofit that would govern it, Virtual Learning Solutions, and the company that would provide administrative and curriculum, K12 Inc., promise to provide engaging, technology-driven education tailored to each pupil. All teachers would be credentialed and live in Illinois. Students would spend at least six hours daily on coursework and have a learning coach, likely a parent, to keep track of attendance and progress. They are seeking approval from 18 area school districts – including Carpentersvillebased District 300 – to enroll their students. But peel below the glare coming off that apple, and you’ll find what could turn out to be a rotten core. Providing a solid education for its children is the highest priority for any community and cannot be entrusted to just anyone. To say we have concerns about K12 – a for-profit, Virginia-based company with a troubling track record – is an understatement. K12 is under investigation by the Florida Department of Education for reportedly using uncertified teachers and falsifying records to show teachers had taught students when they had not. The NCAA no longer will accept certain credits offered by K12. And a 2012 study by the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado found that only 27.7 percent of K12’s schools met federal education benchmarks in 2010-11, versus 52 percent of public schools. Virtual Learning Solutions and K12 representatives unsatisfactorily answered questions when those 18 districts held public hearings in March on the proposal; instead, late last week they gave a nearly 1,100-page packet to those districts’ superintendents that purported to provide answers. The financing of the proposed charter is of concern too: Up to $8,000 would be siphoned away from local districts for every student who attends the virtual school. School districts are struggling financially because of decreased and late funding from the state. The loss of funding would be easier to accept if that money would go to an online school that holds some promise of student success. But we have no reason to expect that can be accomplished by K12. Why should precious taxpayer money go to a for-profit, out-of-state company that can’t answer in a timely fashion the most basic questions about how it would provide a compelling education for its students? Those 18 districts are set to vote on the proposal this month; District 300 is scheduled to do so Monday. We implore board members to vote against it, even though Virtual Learning Solutions has said it would appeal any denials to the state. Parents should have options as to how their children are educated. Competition for students should lead to improved public schools that don’t want to lose state funding if their population declines. We believe technology must be integrated into all education options, and realize today’s students may learn better online than in a physical classroom. But the inability to ensure student success – combined with the disrespectful attitude and unacceptable lack of transparency Virtual Learning Solutions and K12 demonstrated toward local school districts and the questionable practices of K12 – ensures that we cannot support Illinois Virtual Charter School at Fox River as a valid option.
8ANOTHER VIEW
Rivers still need help American rivers are no longer treated as raw sewage and industrial waste dumping grounds. The Cuyahoga River no longer catches fire. Lake Erie has been resurrected (mostly) from the dead. All thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1972. But, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2008-2009 National Rivers and Stream Assessment, U.S. rivers aren’t out of the woods just yet. The report found that 55 percent of U.S. rivers and streams are in poor condition biologically and only 21 percent are in good health. While the causes of poor river health can be many, the EPA report noted that the biggest culprits are nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus – common ingredients in fertilizers coming from farms, livestock feeding operations, cities and sewers. Surely we can do better. The Clean Water Act brought us a long way, but there’s more to be done. Yes, it costs money to keep our rivers clean and healthy. But it would cost considerably more to let them degrade further. Loveland (Colo.) Daily Reporter-Herald
Editorial Board: John Rung, Dan McCaleb, Jason Schaumburg, Kevin Lyons, Jon Styf, Kate Schott, Stacia Hahn
8IT’S YOUR WRITE Little progress To the Editor: I am a longtime resident of McHenry, and am sure glad that we have a mayoral election on April 9. I can’t believe the number of vacant buildings along Route 120. While the mayor has spent the past 10 years focusing on the Riverwalk, Walmart has moved to Johnsburg, Green Street continues to deteriorate, and we have become known as the town of second-hand stores, tattoo parlors and indoor rifle ranges. Wow, McHenry sure has made a lot of progress in the past 10 years. It is time for a change. Let’s all vote for Steve Cuda on April 9. John J. Hopp McHenry
All-around candidate To the Editor: For the first time in a while, there is a contested race for the McHenry Township assessor. Current assessor Carol Perschke has been there since 1995. She was appointed to that job, having prior corporation experience in finance and customer service. When she was appointed, she was on the township board of trustees. The trustee spot only broadened her skill level because of working with taxpayer dollars on a balanced budget. Her opponent claims the public hasn’t had a choice in these years, but they did. Any time, someone could have come forward with their qualifications and challenged her, but they didn’t because of the fair job that was already being done. Because there’s an opponent, is she automatically the better choice? My vote goes to the best allaround candidate, Carol Perschke. Sue Draffkorn Wonder Lake
Sounds hypocritical To the Editor: Mary Mahady, who is running for McHenry Township assessor, and her supporters claim in letters written to this newspaper that the McHenry Township election should be nonpartisan. If Mary really believes this, then why didn’t she run as an independent candidate? Instead, she chooses to run as a Democrat and to win her chosen party’s nomination in a caucus. This caucus ruled out any other choice for another Democrat to run against Mary in the primary. Yet Mary claims we should have a choice when it comes to voting for this office. Hmm, sounds hypocritical to me. Did Mary also choose to run as
a Democrat to receive support and donations from wealthy party members? I guess we will have to wait and see her campaign finance report for this answer, but I am guessing that this is the case. Mary can’t have it both ways. Zac Maxwell Woodstock
The choice for Cary
How to sound off We welcome original letters on public issues. Letters must include the author’s full name, home address and day and evening telephone numbers. We limit letters to 250 words and one published letter every 30 days. All letters are subject to
To the Editor: Mark Kownick has experience as a village trustee. During his tenure as a trustee, Mark helped shepherd the village through one of the worst economic periods in modern time, making the tough cuts to village staff and expenses while continuing to deliver the same level of services to the residents. Mark guided the village to hire a nationally accredited chief of police and support a multimilliondollar road improvement project with no additional taxes. Mark also supported valuable business incentives to help drive new development in Cary. Mark cares about the community, and he will work tirelessly to serve the best interests of the residents and businesses in the village of Cary. Please join me in supporting Mark Kownick for Cary village president.
will get in voting for Jim Kearns for Grafton Township supervisor. Having lived his life in Huntley, going to our schools, he knows what living in Huntley is about. With Kearns and new trustees, we once again can be proud to say we live in Grafton Township. The things that can be accomplished with Kearns and his slate is beyond our fondest hope. There will be hope for spending our taxes with no hidden agenda for destroying our supervisor. Listening to him speak at the forum for supervisors, he is not full of empty promises just to get elected. If elected, when he takes office, he will do his best to remedy problems that have held us back for too long. Join me in voting for Kearns for supervisor, and his slate of Tammy Lueth, Bob Wagner, Danny Ziller Jr. and Tara Jensen.
Barbara Hill
Loretta Wuich
Cary
New leadership To the Editor: I am very concerned about the future of Petersen Park in McHenry. Now the mayoral campaign is in full swing, I have read with interest and astonishment Metra’s plans to run trains right through the heart of McHenry’s most used park. Hello, commuter trains; goodbye, Fiesta Days and the 4th of July fireworks along the shores of McCullom Lake. When Steve Cuda was mayor, Metra assured us that a new station would be located just north of Bull Valley Road and south of the current station. That is where the largest employers in the city of McHenry were located. Why haven’t the city fathers (and “city mother”) objected to this plan? Follow the money. Who benefits from a brand new station in Johnsburg? We need new leadership behind the mayor’s desk. Vote for Steve Cuda on April 9. John Amandes McHenry
New life for Grafton To the Editor: Honesty, integrity, and sound business sense. This is what you
8THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Huntley
editing for length and clarity at the sole discretion of the editor. Submit letters by: • E-mail: letters@nwherald.com • Mail: Northwest Herald “It’s Your Write” Box 250 Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0250
A fair candidate To the Editor: Finally, we have a fair candidate in Bruce Kaplan running for Cary’s village president. With his business experience of many years, he knows the best way to help our town is to start lowering fees paid by both the companies and citizens in Cary. As a real estate agent, he has worked with much higher ethical standards than any politician. He also sees no reason to increase the tax levy. His opponent thinks differently. He voted two years ago for the huge severance for the fired village manager, and he also voted for increase tax levies during his tenure as a trustee. He also wants a new TIF district, even though the current Cary TIF has failed. TIF districts are a money grab for the village, taking tax dollars away from schools and other districts. A vote for Kaplan is a vote for us citizens. Gary W. Verdung Cary
Complete confidence To the Editor: This letter is written in support of Mary Mahady and her candidacy for McHenry Township assessor. I am not a resident of McHenry Township. I have, however, been a resident of McHenry County for more than 38 years. Over the past 20 years, I’ve known Mahady in her professional capacity, initially as a real estate agent, a member of the McHenry County Board of Review for Tax Appeals, and in her capacity in the Nunda Township Assessor’s Office. My experience has been that she is knowledgeable and competent in the applicable laws pertaining to assessments. In addition, she is astute in evaluating and understanding property values. She also has full knowledge of the operations of the township assessor’s office as well as the McHenry County Assessor’s Office. I have complete confidence in Mary’s ability to serve the taxpayers of the township and McHenry County. I encourage you to vote for her.
Major differences
Edward F. Dean
Bruce Cosman
Crystal Lake
Marengo
To the Editor: On Tuesday, April 9, voters will elect a new Grafton Township highway commissioner. I was a former highway commissioner in Grafton Township. There are major differences between the two candidates. Tim Hoeft is the only candidate with business experience, managing budgets and employees, the ability to operate equipment, as well as the knowledge to specify equipment and understand what is needed to get the job done. Tim has a degree in agricultural business and engineering, which brings added skills to the job of highway commissioner. I have known Hoeft most of his life. He is honest, hardworking, committed and prepared to do the job. I encourage you to take a look at the two candidates and you will see for yourself. There is no question as to who is most qualified to be our next highway commissioner. Vote for Hoeft for township highway commissioner.
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