D200 School Board Meeting

The Woodstock District 200 School Board met tonight, in spite of hazardous roads and threats of a blizzard.

In response to my comments to the Board about the proposed cuts in the early childhood programs, Superintendent Ellyn Wrzeski explained that this program is funded entirely by a State grant and cannot be funded by general school district monies. D200 has asked the Illinois State Board of Education to pay the grant that was promised. ISBE says it has vouchered it to the Comptroller for payment, and the Comptroller says there is no money to pay it.

We all know that Illinois is in deep trouble financially. Are people running the state government who cannot add and subtract? How many years ago did they know they wouldn't be able to pay their bills?

Would it do any good to pound on Jack Franks and Pam Althoff? Unfortunately, probably not. There seems to be money for legislative scholarships, but not for at-risk children entering the school system.

Woodstock may soon follow the lead of Elgin and Carpentersville and put up a huge billboard like this: "THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OWES D200 $5,000,000. PAY UP." OK, so that's my choice of wording. The Board gave support to this advertising.

The management staff of the D200 Food Service Department gave an interesting presentation about delivery of food services to students throughout the school system. Currently, they serve an average of 925 breakfasts and 3,575 lunches daily. Daily vending sales average $220.00 (down from $600 in 2006).

Free and reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches are available to many students, and those students pass through the regular food lines, right along with all other students. Their meal pricing is handled confidentially through the computers, so that they avoid identification as a student receiving special pricing, which must be applied for.

Food service facilities are monitored by the McHenry County Department of Public Health and regularly receive inspection scores of 97-100%. There are inspections by other agencies as well.

Healthy meals are served to D200 students. Nutritional guidelines must be met and maintained. Illinois Junk Food Rule 305.15, which applies to food and beverages sold to students before and during school hours in 8th Grade and younger, is followed, and there are no vending machines in the elementary schools.

The Board complimented the food service managers on their efficiency and thoroughness and acknowledged the complexity of the food service program.