Local: Shut out of the process at D150, parents turn to politicians who at least listen

May 12, 2008
By Billy Dennis

Today’s Word on the Street mentions that parents who are upset at D150’s decision to cut a month’s work of instructional time out of their primary schools are taking their concerns to members of the Peoria City Council. I’ll paraphrase the positions taken by two of the council members quoted in the article. Mayor Ardis: ‘People sure are upset and concerned about this.’ Barbara Van Auken, 2nd District: ‘My constituents sure don’t like it.’ Past Nichting, 5th District: ‘Balancing the budget comes first.’ It needs to be said, however, that many of Nichting’s constituents reside in the Dunlap school district.

So why even bother complaining to the city council? It’s not like our city government — unlike other communities — has any official role in running the schools. Here’s why? For all it’s faults, Peoria City Hall is fairly responsive to the community. I’ve been observed the council as reporter and blogger for many years, and I’ve seen the council change course in the face of public opinion. Not so much with District 150.

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2 Responses to “ Local: Shut out of the process at D150, parents turn to politicians who at least listen ”

  1. diane vespa on May 12, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Well, we are in Nichtings District, and are not in Dunlap Schools. Good to know he thinks the budget is more important than our childrens education.

    That’s the last time I offer him chocolate chips on his icecream at our annual neighborhood ice cream social!

  2. Murrel on May 13, 2008 at 12:31 am

    The School and Park Districts in Peoria will never be responsive to the public’s needs until someone stands up in opposition and actually runs for the board. Every election we have a new chance to change directions but we just reelect the same ole board members. I can think of the issues over the years where these two boards were at odds with the public and cannot remember a single candidate who ran specifically to correct the faulty decisions the old board had made. Diane – will you run? … or recruit someone (or a couple of someones) who will light a bomb under D150?