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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER " S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N O L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " VOLUME 105 NUMBER 79 FRIDAY. MAY 1, 1981 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 25' Halt Shores Road McHenry Shores residents who gathered at the first village meeting for newly elected members began to question their Intent when three of them, Rose Lillegard, Richard Panerali and Charles Worth waivered in a decision. They were SHAW MgXA NfWS SttVtCt The McHenry Shores village board of trustees, with a recently elected majority, halted the special assessment road program and sought to determine the costs to date at the first meeting of the newly sworn in board in Tuesday's meeting. Rose Lillegard, a successful write-in candidate for trustee, capsulized the stand of the coalition against the special assessment proposal. "It boils clown to money that we do not have. We should cut it off till we find out how we stand I was elected on my platform of no Special assessment ." Troubling the four new members of the board was the revelation of the obligations of the village to the contemplating whether they should abolish the old committee for local improvements or let it complete its mission for part of the streets in an effort to salvage some of the village costs for the program. The future direction of scnools has long provided a fertile topic for con­ versation and seldom fails to bring forth a variety of opinions For a good many years, one of the intriguing suggestions has been for year round school, and one of the arguments to back up that view was economy After all, early education was on just such a basis. But in a rural nation, farmers needed youngsters to help during the harvest season, and from this need developed the school system as we know it today. It was only when enrollments in­ creased dramatically that school leaders began their search for more use of the buildings and at least delay a request for more tax money. There were high points and low as the subject came up for debate in recent years. Because we had heard less about it in the last couple of years, a recent talk before the board of the local high school merited attention. It was interesting to learn that finances -- the reason once suggested as a selling point for the year around school-was now given as the major reason for a loss in its popularity. There are now reported to be only about 50 year around schools in the entire country. Surveys conducted in 1974 and 1976 showed a lessening strength for them The conclusion of the speaker was that year around schools work better at an elementary level and least well in high schools. Big problems were reported where large curriculums are involved. In these days of cost conservatism, it may be that the year 'round school will not see its day in the immediate future, if we can believe the local speaker. The plan, he said, makes the cost of faculty members rise Also, he counted a top park district program in the community as a necessary ingredient to provide recreation and keep off the street those young people not in school. Local educators heard the talk with interest, for it's their duty to keep in­ formed on educational trends But learning what doesn't work only eliminates one plan - it doesn't give us a good idea how to best use $20 million worth of property more than nine months of the year KAF engineers for an undetermined amount (estimated at $40,000 to $50,000) about $8,500 in legal fees to the village at­ torney's (Dave Rogers) firm, and an estimated $2,000 to Chapman and Cutler for possible service on the program's bonds As the new trustees moved to dissolve the old committee of local im­ provements, consisting of the former board of trustees due to the provisions of its establishment as specified by Chapman and Cutler according to Rogers. Rogers advised they should let the present committee complete its work and make its recommendations, and I hen it' would automatically be dissolved He indicated that he already had prepared its recommendations for presentation at the April 23 hearing This was postponed until June 25 because the project engineers Baxter and Woodman, did not appear with the revised information for a reduced proposal President Grimes, a holdover from the old board, agreed to set up a meeting with Baxter and Woodman and Attorney Rogers to include Trustees Richard Panerali and Donna Tobeck and himself to try to negotiate a more favorable settlement of the terminated program's costs As the new trustees, Lillegard, Panerali and Worth, waivered over abolishing the old committee for local improvements or letting it complete its mission for part of the streets in an effort to salvage some of the village costs for the program. Nina Keene spoke up. "The citizens' group now wonders where the new board stands." After Grimes had agreed to set up the meeting with the engineers and had distributed the committee information on the road program engineering and legal costs. Donna Tobeck, the fourth new trustee, emotionally addressed a question to Grimes and Rogers, "How could you put us in this kind of mess after that second meeting < on roads last year!>" The financial impact of the road improvement program, even when stopped, was not fully realized by the new board members until Grimes and Rogers, under questioning, provided them with the committee documents What had seemed like simply a matter of passing a few ordinances to halt, suddenly presented ominous in­ dications of village debt As Lillegard read the provision of the contract providing for payment of engineering services, it seemed to say that the village was on the hook for 4 or 5 percent of the estimated cost of the project, which is approximately $1.5 million, even if the work is not done. She moved with the concurrence of the rest of the trustees to have the board notify the committee for local improvements, the attorney, the court reporter, and the engineers to incur no more expenses until the board can find out what they are Highlights of the special assessment discussion followed. It began after the new trustees introduced a number of ordinance amendments which included changing the appointment method and duration of the committee of local improvements to prevent the holdover feature keeping the former trustees on the committee. Rogers said that Chapman and Cutler insisted names, not officials in blank, were required on the appointment documents. Montini Schools Adopt $279,675 Budget The Montini Catholic schools board of education adopted a budget of $279,675 for the 1981-82 school year. Included in this budget are the systems' tuition rates for 1981-82: $410 for one child of a family who is registered at St. Mary's or St. Patrick's parishes; $515 for two or more children of either parish families, and $670 per child for out-of-parish families The tuition rates reflect a 7 percent increase over the 1960-81 rates. Registration of new and transfer students is now in progress at both the Primary centei (grades 1-4) and the Middle school (grades 5-8). In other business, the- board discussed, at length, the possibility of moving the jurisdiction for the sports program at the school from its control to a parent booster group The issue was tabled until the May meeting, thereby giving the board time to reflect upon the pros and cons of such a move. This action, if it should become reality, would in no way diminish the present sports program in terms of offerings and availability to students, according to the board. Montini is currently the only Catholic elementary school in McHenry county that operates its athletic program through the school and the board Also discussed were the parishes, and first grade enrollment for 1981-82, which is very strong Plans were adopted for initiating a waiting list when the class size maximum is reached SHAW MCDIA NCWS SIKVICC Rogers also suggested that the committee be allowed to finish and then be dissolved, and Lillegard objected, "I can't see why we should pay the at­ torneys and engineers (to continue). We got a mandate to stop the ex­ penditures " From the audience came a protest. "I'm from a group that represents a majority, more than 200 voters, who wanted it stopped. I can't understand why you're still talking about it " After disclosures of project costs. Grimes suggested that some of the program be done to take up part of these costs Panerali objected. "The bills are going to be about $50,000 and we haven't got it Lillegard asked Grimes if there were any blocks completely in favor of the program Grimes indicated that the street on which a developer. Fuller, owned lots was completely pro. but declined to identify any others since he "ethically" couldn't sell the road program as much as he wanted "It's not right to speak for people who I f^el would favor it." Lillegard commented. "Too bad. I hoped you could convince me But let's analyze the vote of April 7, a maximum of 77 votes cast in favor of roads, about 35 households The people don't want anything, not even at $10 a foot We go with the mandate " Grimes asked what the election meant, "Is it a vote against th^project or that they did not trust the people in the program"' I encourage to hold off a decision until the next meeting " When Panerali pointed out that it would be the end of May before they met again. Grimes reached over and signed the ordinance for two meetings per month which Lillegard had offered and passed earlier, but which Grimes threatened to veto "as unnecessary Panerali asked. "What difference is onauar two blocks going ahead going to make0 Perhaps $200 or less0" Grimes conceded. "Politically you're making the right decision, but you should read the contract for a fiscally responsible decision." Holdover trustee, Martin Koleno, defended the road program. "The special assessment proposal was the first step toward solution of road problems that have always nagged the village " Other business included ordinance amendments for administrative details and conduct of board meetings, a refusal to reappoint Rogers as village attorney, temporary extension of the police contract with Bull Valley and a distribution by Grimes of papers relating to village business to the new board members who were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting Spray For Gypsy Moths The aerial spraying of Bacillus Thuringiensis <BT), a bacteria, to combat Gypsy xmoths in the City of McHenry has been slated for May 6 and May 12, weather permitting, according to Norman Seaborg, of the Illinois Depart ment of Agriculture The state Agriculture depart ment- spokesman said the helicopter sprayings are scheduled for around dawn of those days * The sprayings constitute only a part of the program designed to control and eradicate the Gypsy moth infestation Contrary to the wishes of the Concerned Citizens of McHenry, a group that formed to oppose the use of the chemical Sevin in McHenry, the Agriculture department would not fund any ground sprayings of BT Ac­ cording to previous information, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was fairly well committed to its share of the project funding, but the com­ mitment from the state Agriculture department was not as solid The control and eradication program will also entail the use of delta traps, baited with a synthetic sex attractant (pheromone), in order to trap male moths before they"mate In recent City Council action, a letter was authorized to be sent to the Federal Aviation Ad­ ministration which stated that the city had no objections to the use of helicopters to applv the BT Learn Impact Of Federal Fund Loss The board governing an already financially troubled school district learned Tuesday evening of prospects for reduced federal revenue which will make their problems even greater Dr Richard Farmer, superintendent of Flementary District 15. outlined decisions of the President and detailed their impact on the local district if the proposals are adopted The total anticipated loss over the amount received for the 1960-81 year is $103,035 98 For the entire 16th congressional district that figure runs into the millions Title I funds for remedial reading may be reduced from $54,016 to $43,585 25 for a loss of $10,490 75 Two categories of funding in the area of special education also are expected to be cut One. for extraordinary needs of the severely handicapped will be reduced $3,019.38. from $25,587 12 to $22,567 74 The second funding covers teachers, diagnoses and other such needs of special education It is an­ ticipated this funding will be reduced $14,308 48. from the $68,126 44 received this school year to $53,817 98 Dr Farmer noted the drastic cuts expected in the lunch program which may reduce the local funding by $62.788 09 Present federal funding amounts to $106,363 93 and only $44,575 84 is expected next year The superintendent explained however, that he does not expect that those who cannot afford lunch will be cut from the lunch program Instead, he pointed out. lunches of other students will be raised to cover the reduced funding loss The milk program will "almost be vMped out", according to Farmer, who hastened to add that the drastically reduced funding does not apply to milk purchased as part of lunch Rather, he said it affects milk bought for a lunch break or an extra carton purchase This year. District 15 receives $13,615 % Next year, if the proposal of the president is carried out. this will be reduced by $12,429 28 to $1,186 88 In later discussion. Dr Farmer asked the board if they felt a goal should be established in view of reduced funding He referred to the very basics of education--the readin'. ritin' and rithmetic -with the purpose of doing an (Continued on page 18) MCC Board Divided On Increase In Tuitions McHenry County college trustees approved a tuition increase and listened to a request for a 1981 tax levy increase to the full amount allowed by­ law at last week's meeting There were two dissenting votes and one ab­ stention The $2 tuition increase, from $17 to $19 per credit hour, is expected to generate an estimated $122,100 in ad­ ditional revenues The Fducation fund would garner nearly $13,600 in new revenues, while the Building and Maintenance fund would be increased bv about $8,500 The vote to approve tuition increase passed with trustees David Murphy. Barbara Pautz. Dr Ryan and Anthony Wujcik voting in favor Trustees Fugene Meyer and Robert Weidner voted against the increase Trustee Herbert Lutter abstained MCC President Robert Bartlett also asked the board of trustees to consider a tax increase of $ 12 per $100 assessed valuation for the Fducation fund and $ 03 per $100 assessed valuation for the Building and Maintenance fund Lutter expressed concern and dismay (Continued on page 18) All-City Jazz Festival Prom Royalty Preparations are almost completed for the annual all-city Jazz festival to be held at West campus auditorium Wednesday. May 6. starting at 7 p.m. The evening will bring together many of the fine jazz musicians of the area in a free, two and d half-hour concert. Participating as individual organizations will be bands from the various area schools and the city. From Marian Central high school there will be an aggregation directed by Richard Mikus His wife, Jerry Mikus, will direct a combined junior high band of parochial school students. Other participants will be the East campus stage band, directed by Bill Toalson; West campus. John Leighty; McHenry County college. Ron Pingle; and the McHenry city stage band. Bill Toalson. The public is invited to attend These McHenry high school seniors comprise the royal prom court from which the reigning pair is being chosen prior to Saturday's prom. From left, sitting, are Lorene Bianchi, Mary Lou Redmond, Karen Strohman, Patricia Reeves and Julie Mauer. Standing are Jeff McNish. Chris Freund. David D'Angelo. Bob Bryniarski, Richard Adams II, and Brian Wrona. Lori Knaack was absent when picture was taken. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A large turnout of students is ex­ pected when East and West campuses of McHenry high school hold their annual spring prom Saturday. May 2 Buses will transport the couples to the Wagon Wheel in Rockton, 111 , for a dinner dance. Highlight of the evening will be the crowning of the king and queen From six couples nominated by the senior classes, the reigning pair will be selected by a vote of the juniors and seniors in mid-week Saturday's dance will be followed by a show featuring a hypnotist, after which the students will change into casual clothes A cold buffet will be offered, and recreation will consist of swimming, tennis and bowling throughout the night A second band will provide music for those who wish to continue dancing, and at 4 a m , a movie will be shown After a buffet breakfast, buses will return the prom couples to McHenry History Museum Opens May 3 Plaqulng Program Page 9 FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Recognize Hospital Volunteers Long Service Page 10