Earlier this month, I released information concerning a proposal I presented to the Tazewell County Board concerning the cost and savings possible if the county board discontinued the monthly printed county board packets for every member and embraced an electronic media option.
Several of the newspapers in the county covered the issue and I received a large amount of feedback, interestingly enough equally divided between A) negative responses, B) positive support, C) questions and suggestions.
There are six school buildings in Morton District 709 and Lettie Brown elementary is the newest — built in 1977. Those buildings have all been maintained throughout the years. It is time to make improvements and plan for the future. That future includes providing daily physical education classes to all students in the school district. It also means the students that need private and small group instruction do not receive it in the hallways.
To the members of the District 709 School Board,
I was unable to send this directly to you, as your contact information doesn’t appear to be on the district’s website.
Late in the year in 2009 there was an assessment complaint hearing in Pekin before the Tazewell County Board of Review (BOR). Walmart was appealing the assessment on the new store in Morton. They were not appealing the new store in Washington. They felt that the Morton store was overassessed and they wanted a reduction.
In his letter in the March 9, edition of the Morton Times-News, Craig Barley infers that this referendum has nothing to do with plans for Jefferson School et al. One only has to refer to the Morton School Board minutes of May 18, 2010, to see that it has everything to do with Jefferson school.
To the registered voters in Morton Unit District 709:
My husband and I moved to Morton in 1967. Our children received their education in the Morton school system, which was excellent then and has continued to provide the highest quality education for all students.
Morton School District 709 is attempting to pass a $12.5 million tax referendum, the primary purpose of which is to construct gymnasiums at three Morton grade schools.
The referendum question is:
Shall the Board of Education of Morton Community Unit School District No. 709, Tazewell County, Ill., build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip the Lettie Brown Elementary School, Ward Grundy Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School buildings and improve the sites thereof and issue bonds of said school district to the amount of $12,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
The basic needs of all elementary schools in Morton are not being taken into consideration in the upcoming Morton schools referendum question April 5. Lincoln School, Grundy School and Lettie Brown School are all targeted to receive work that will keep them viable for the next 20 years while the urgent needs of Jefferson School have been totally ignored in the referendum.
I would like to share a few of my concerns about the upcoming District 709 school referendum that will be on the ballot April 5. It has been stated continually by the board and administration that the issue of closing Jefferson school is not a part of this referendum. I say that is partially true. I would direct you to the district 709 board minutes of May 18, 2010. Under the long-term facilities plan, Dr. Roger Kilpatrick’s recommendation is that Jefferson school will be closed with the construction of a new junior high or high school. Yes this will not happen for six or more years, but it is in the long-term plans.
School District 709 is asking for $12.5 million for renovations to upgrade Morton’s elementary schools. A home with a $150,000 assessed valuation would incur a $225 increase in real estate taxes.
Very soon the Morton village trustees will be discussing reinstating the seal coat or chip seal treatment of Morton’s residential streets. I believe it may come up for discussion at the Dec. 20 meeting.
I do not know anyone who likes higher taxes. If taxes are to be raised, it should be for a very good purpose, such as maintaining village services, building a new pool complex, improving our schools or improving our community through stronger and new businesses. The proposed business district will help all of our businesses, thus making Morton a more attractive place to shop and conduct business. It seems the proposed implementation of a business district in Morton has caused quite a bit of discussion. This letter is to clarify some of the misconceptions we are hearing about the district and to explain why we are in full support of this effort.
