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$ . M VICA Plans For Competition Tax Equalization Set New Tentative Multiplier Sue Milbratz posts directional sign lor VICA Skill Olympics practice demonstration at West campus. The Wednesday evening event will bring students from more than ten schools to McHenry, where three areas of skills will be demonstrated in preparation for April competition. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD The Illindis Department of Local Government Affairs has certified a 1976 tentative multiplier of 1.0745 to McHenry county according to John W. Castle, acting director of the department. This multiplier is tentative and is subject to change if the McHenry County Board of Review makes significant changes in local assessment levels. According to the depart­ ment's assessment-sales ratio studies, assessment levels in McHenry county average 29 percent of market value for rural properties^uK! 30 percent for urban properties. The state can only assign a county-wide multipler; any internal non- uniformities cannot be corrected by the state. The purpose of the miltiplier is tq equalize average assessment levels across counties. Assessment unifor­ mity is a legal requirement as inter-county equalization is necessary if the tax burden in taxing districts which overlap county lines is to distributed airly among the taxypayers, and if state aid to schools is to be allocated properly. * Under Public Act 79-703, passed in 1975, all property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third of its market value. A three-year transition period was provided to facilitate the law's implementation. Counties which had assessment levels above the new satutory standard are allowed to adjust individual assessments as necessary. However, in total, they are required to maintain the county total assessed value until in­ flation in market values causes the assessment level to fall to 33 1-3 percent. Therafter the 33 1-3 percent assessment level will be maintained. The multiplier is determined by comparing actual assessment levels determined by the department's annual sales ratio studies with the target level prescribed by law. The law requires that assessment ratios for the three years immediately preceding the assessment year be used in computing the multiplier. The assessment-sales analysis reflects the recent increases in property values Although increases in assessed valuations either through local reassessment or through a higher state multiplier mav be required to maintain the statutory assessment level, such in­ creases do not necessarily cause an increase in tax bills. If taxing districts do not increase their spending, tax rates will go down, and tax bills will not increase. The department is making an all-out effort to reduce the turn­ around time in issuing 1976 multipliers. The tentative multipliers are being computed and certified to the Various counties as soon as possible after the supervisor of assessments has submitted a completed tentative abstract of assessments, and other necessary data to the depart­ ment. County boards of review, in addition to their powers to act on complaints, also are -Squired by law to equalize assessment levels among various geographic areas or property classes within a county. If property in certain townships or if certain types of property are not assessed at the statutory level, the board should assign local multipliers to adjust assessments to the proper levels. Before such multipliers are applied they must be published and the affected property owners must be given a chance to be heard. The letters VICA may be just another government sounding agency to the average person. But to almost 100 juniors and seniors at West campus it is, indeed, an integral part of their school activities. VICA stands for Vocational Industrial Clubs pf America, and the McHenry chapter is hosting an important work- party Wednesday, Feb. 23. A 5:30 dinner in the cafeteria will be followed by a business mfeting in the auditorium and three special demonstrations of skills. In its first year, the McHenry chapter of this national organization will welcome more than 100 students from ten schools in Region 2. Their chief interest will be viewing typical competitive demon­ strations in three areas - Auto Mechanics, 1 Extemporaneous Speech and Cosmetology. Students will attend a con­ vention in Springfield in April known as VICA Skill Olympics. Here, they will compete in the various areas of competition for which they are being prepared Wednesday. Prominent businesses and industry contribute to scholarships that will be provided the winners. Teachers from the various visiting A recent food stamp dispute in a McHenry store gave rise to some thoughts about who, indeed, is really poor. With the nation fast spending itself into bankruptcy, it's highly important to look carefully at all statistics telling us which Americans, and how many, are below the poverty level in income. As a premise, some will always be and always have been below the poverty level. Some will not work regularly, some are irresponsible. About these people we might well ask how much aid they are "entitled to" from other tax­ payers' taxes. Census Bureau figures about U.S. poverty have long been suspect. The Bureau counts only money as income, not food stamps, government medical care and other aids. And the Bureau's figures don't take fully into account the fact that so many wives and children in households work today. There are typical examples all around us in which no economic hardship exists despite statistics.These include those cases in which the traditional breadwinnner is laid off but a wife long before went back to work and one or more children is employed full or part time. The picture becomes com­ plicated by bureaucrats whose goal is bigger spending programs to build their agencies. They make their point by using the shock poverty figures. And some politicans find it to their ad­ vantage to freely spend public money to win votes. This kind of waste and un­ justified outlays of money are what sour many on welfare programs and handicap the really poor, who deserve federal government help. Newspaper want ads indicate that most people who want to work today can find a job. Just talk to some businessmen. Millions just can't find the job they want. Others prefer to draw welfare. Others are truly needy and deserving, but proably not in nearly the great number that some government statistics suggest. K.A.F. schools will be in charge of the demonstrations Wednesday. Jack Tierney, coordinator of Cooperative Work Training program at West campus, is proud of the progress made in this first year of local operation for VICA. It involves students who work in cooperation with local business people under a broad category of Cooperative Work Study. The program in­ cludes such fields as industrial arts, health careers, home economics, etc. Operating on state and national levels, students select at the beginning of the year whether or not they wish to enter into membership. Although the organization nationally was organized many years ago, interest has in-, creased since 1968 because of a vocational amendment which provides funding. Administrators of the McHenry high school will join students and teachers in this first dinner-business demon­ stration meeting. McHenry Woman Nominated For Top Position Alice Howenstine of McHenry has been nominated as a member of the executive board of the McHenry Countv Defenders. (Continued on page 18) THE MCHENRY BLAINDEALER SERVING THE CH A IN-O-L AKE S REGION SINCE 1875 VOLUME 101 NUMBER 48 WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 23. 1977 2 SECTIONS 32 PAGES 20* Consider Reduction Of District 156 Teachers Deputy Hospitalized After Skirmish On Duty A Wonder Lake youth was arrested and a police officer hospitalized following an in­ cident Thursday afternoon in Wonder Lake. Allen G. Stott, Jr., 4413 E. Wonder Lake drive, was arrested and charged wtifc aggravated battery, resisting arrest, and having no fireaj^ns card following a skirmish with a McHenry county Sheriff's policeman, Deputy Anthony Olszewski, who was hospitalized after the scuffle. According to the police report, Deputy Olszewski responded to a complaint of gunshots being fired at the Stott address. Upon arriving at the scene, §(ott was placed under arrest, and a scuffle occurred, in which the officer was injured. While the youth was allegedly fighting with the police officer, the family pet, a German Shepherd, also attacked Olszewski, who was taken to McHenry hospital. Bond for the charges against Stott was set at $22,000. The knotty problem of a reduction in force concerning teachers in High School District 156 provided board members with an opportunity for an exchange of opinions when they met in regular session this past week. Although approval had been recommended in the Reduction in Force policy provision of the school manual, no action resulted from the discussion. At the conclusion, President James Althoff recommended further study. It was generally agreed that it will probably be possible to disclose to faculty members which teachers will need to be taken off the roster by May 1 of 1978. The reduction is necessitated by the anticipated withdrawal of about 500 Training Programs In County Plans Two training programs are planned for key McHenry county people in positions of public responsibility for safety. One program is for the jailers. The other is for those who would respond to an emergency where hazardous materials may be involved. Both programs were discussed at last week's Danish Visitors Describe Local Schools As "Models" McHenry County board meeting. Ross Kitchen, Marengo, said the McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster agency seeks assistance of the board in sponsoring a seminar for firemen, rescue squad mem­ bers, police, industrialists and other who might come in contact with hazardous materials during an emergency. The County board approved seeking a grant of up to $1,000 for funding after Kitchen ex­ plained the money is reim­ bursable by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is encouraging these seminars. The Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency will cooperate with the presentation of the 84- hour seminar. John Shay, McHenry county director of the Emergency Services agency, has set April 24 as the date for the seminar. He hopes to have Eugene Schlaf, retired superintendent for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, in charge. Asked about the extent of hazardous materials, Shay said 8,000 items listed in the library are considered dangerous. "Fire chiefs have no idea what they might come in contact with when there is a train or truck accident. An industrial fire could be the start of serious danger both to the firemen and to the public," said Shay. As an example, he recalled the industrial fire at Union a few years ago where anhydrous ammonia was involved. The seminar will help participants learn how to identify and combat hazardous materials. The public will be notified of the seminar. Persons with responsibility concerning hazardous materials will be invited, Ronald J. Morris, Harvard, chairman of the Public Safety committe, said. The second training program is being requested by County Board Chairman Klemm through the Lake-McHenry (Continued on page 18) students when the new Johns- sburg high school opens. One of the questions pon­ dered by board members is how to keep the best teachers and be fair in making a determination. Another is how much preference should be given to seniority over per­ formance. Interesting figures were revealed which demonstrated the difficulty in knowing just how many teachers may be involved, ft is expected that thirty-five teachers may need to be released. The Johnsburg enrollment in MCHS at the start of the last school year was 551. This number had dropped to 509 by Jan. 21 of this year. Thirty-four students from District 12 were among MCHS January graduates and there have been eight dropouts. Tuition charges due from District 12 from Aug. 30, 1976, through Jan. 31, 1977 amount to $501,581.58. Projected from Feb. 1 through June 31 it is $393,263, based on the 509 student figure for seventy-nine days at $9.78 per day for a total for the 1976-77 year of $895,084.58. District 156 had budgeted $927,590 as of Jan. 18 of this year and the difference bet­ ween the two figures--$32,506- will be reflected in budget reduction. However, $29,594.28 will need to be returned to District 12 attributable to January graduates. The variables prompted President Althoff to point to the difficulties that exist, com­ pounded by the unforeseeable number of dropouts. The request for an in-depth study followed, after which administrators in Johnsburg will be contacted. An amended budget in the amount of $6,872,651 was adopted by unanimous vote., The delay in adoption resulted from a late negotiations agreement on teacher salaries. The new, higher budget figure calls for the district to be in the red by $82,230 by the end of this fiscal year. Based on original budget figures, it was disclosed the deficit would have been $49,383. One topic covered at the meeting concerned the economy of the-heating systems in both buildings. This brought the question of the amount budgeted last year. It was disclosed by Business Manager Michael Kelly that a total of $31,500 was spent for gas at East campus and $29,700 for electricity. West campus, which has substantially the same square footage, required the ex­ penditure of $46,000 for gas and $60,000 for electricity. (Continued on page 18) Nun Seriously Hurt In Crash Divorces Take Sharp Increase Over Past Year A report from the office of Margaret O'Neal, clerk of the Circuit court, indicates an increase in divorces in the county during the past year. During 1976, 760 were filed compared to 675 the previous year. There were 854 ter­ minated in '76 and 379 were pending as of January of 1977. These figures compared with 600 terminated in 1975 and 473 pending Jan. 1, 1976. Mental cruelty was the most common complaint, followed by cruelty and desertion. The same causes led the list the previous year. Members of the McHenry Rescue squad work to free a Chicago woman. Sister Carol Casper, who was trapped in her vehicle following a three-car accident Sunday at 6:15 p.m. on Rt. 120 near Ramble road. Also injured in the crash were two boys, Ronald Three persons were injured and taken to McHenry hospital following a serious three- vehicle accident Sunday night at 6:15 p.m. on Rt. 120, near Ramble road. Ronald Folz, 12,1614 Meadow lane, McHenry, was injured when the car he was riding in, driven by Donald J. Folz, same address, crossed the median strip and collided with a car driven by Sister Carol A. Casper, Chicago. The Folz boy was admitted to the hospital, and is expected to be released Tuesday afternoon. Both Sister Carol Casper and a passenger in her car, John F. Wood. ll,"fChicago, were also injured and taken to the hospital along with .the Folz boy. v: Wood was treated and released, while Sister; Carol Casper was transferred to Evanston hospital for further treatment. Folz, 12, 1614 Meadow lane, McHenry, and John F. Wood, 11, Chicago. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD The third car involved, driven by William A. Ward, Harvard, sustained $300 worth of damage, but the driver was not injured. None of the three drivers was ticketed in the crash, which apparently was caused by a fourth, unidentified vehicle. Folz stated he was driving west on Rt. 120 in the outside lane, traveling approximately 30-35 mph. He further stated he was still east of the intersection when he observed a southbound vehicle on Ramble road. Folz added he did not feel the vehicle on Ramble road would be able to stop in time. The unknown vehicle continued southbound without stopping for the stop sign Folz further said that he swerved to the left and ob­ served the southbound vehicle go past the rear of his car. The (Continued on page 18) M c H e n r y E l e m e n t a r y District 15 welcomed distinguished visitors from Denmark Feb. 10 and 11. Gitte Baumgartenn and Christian Linnemann discussed with Dr. Robert Boos and Fred Kusch the organization of District 15. The Euiopean guests are oh a five-month tour of public schools in America. The Educator Training center of Los Angeles, from which the Glasser "Schools Without Failure" program emanates, recommended that they visit McHenry District 15 because of its noted discipline, 4iuman relations, and communications programs. After visiting McHenry Junior high school, Hilltop school, and the Alternative high school, the guests remarked on the openness of the students and the school district. They found staff and administration to be "models of a humane school setting with high standards for academics and responsible student behavior". In exchange, Gitte and Christian gave District 15 administrators a synopsis of public school education in Denmark which Dr. Boos welcomed as.a "professional vitamin". Gitte Baumgartenn, left, and Christian Linnemann of Denmark talk with local administrators about the organization of School District 15 during their visit to McHenry Feb. 10 and 11. ^ ~~ STAFF PHOTO-WAYNEGAYLoRD "\