Monday, February 8, 2010

Peru Public School District 124

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State of Illinois owes Peru Public Schools $132,994.27

Dear Parents, Community Members and Taxpayers,

Peru Public Schools is very fortunate to be in a relatively healthy financial position. In large part, this is because our district is supported by a strong local tax base, long-term planning and sound fiscal management. Several factors beyond our control can change this, and the administration and Board of Education will monitor our financial situation closely as one of those factors has already commenced.

As of January 20, the State of Illinois is behind in its payments to Peru Public Schools a total of $132,994.27. This is money that is owed to the school district for reimbursement for mandated expenses already incurred by the district last year. This includes reimbursement for mandated items such as regular and special transportation, special education costs, and the reading improvement grant. To be fair, we recently received approximately $134,986 to bring this number down from well over a quarter of a million dollars last week; however, this was money due to Peru Public Schools in the early fall. The state's fiscal crisis is likely to negatively impact us much more as we move into the second half of the fiscal year, and this situation actually impacts some school districts in our area far more than ours.

To put this in perspective, if we were forced to recoup every missed dollar of state funding from our local taxpayers in Peru, we would have to increase our tax rate over five cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation for every $100,000 the state comes up short. This would cost the owner of a $150,000 home in our school district about $22.50 per year. That may not sound like a lot to some, but how about a shortfall of $1 million? That would cost that same home owner $225 per year! On the expense side, losing $100,000 is the equivalent of over two teachers earning an average level of compensation.

While local tax increases or cutting staff is not under consideration at this time, it does help put things in perspective. Just like any household or business, when revenues fall short, expenses eventually have to be reduced to make ends meet. We are not asking the legislature and governor to give us more money, or to increase any tax; rather, we simply want the money to which our students, school district and local taxpayers are entitled.

We will continue to provide information on the state's progress in paying the money that is required by law to be paid to our school district. If you have any questions or if you would like additional information, please feel free to call me at (815) 223-0486. Thank you for your support of our children and our schools.

Mark R. Cross, Superintendent

Public Act 96-0131 makes cell phone use in school zones, texting while driving illegal

Public Act 96-0131, which went into effect January 1, 2010, prohibits any driver, regardless of age, from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone or construction zone. Exceptions include using a phone in voice-activated mode, emergency use, use by construction workers engaged in highway construction or maintenance, and law enforcement personnel or emergency vehicle operators performing official duties.

Public Act 96-0130, also effective January 1, 2010, makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle anywhere while using an electronic communication device to compose, send or read text messages, instant messages, and e-mail on a cell phone or use the Internet. Personal digital assistants and portable or mobile computers are also banned.

These laws are a part of an effort to reduce the tragic consequences of distracted driving. Additional information can be found at www.dot.state.il.us/safety.html.