I have two concerns regarding the November ballot; the first is about the mill-levy override. On May 4, I overheard a member of "D-38 Deserves Better" tell someone that the School District 38 Board Of Education would not be putting the mill-levy override question on the ballot. While I am curious as to where she got her information, I am more concerned about having my right to vote for the future of education in D-38 taken away from me. At this point, no one in this community knows which way the vote will turn out. For the past two weeks I have been asking everyone I come in contact with this question: "Will you vote for the mill-levy override?" With one exception, the answer I receive is "yes," and that one exception is not absolute. If voters in this community do not pass the mill-levy override, then we will have to live with the consequences. We should not, however, allow those consequences to be forced upon us by as few as three members of the D-38 board. If the mill-levy override is on the ballot, the worst that can happen is that it does not pass. So ... the big question for me is: WHO benefits from not putting it on the November ballot? This issue should be placed on the ballot and the voters should be allowed to decide.

My second concern is about "D-38 Deserves Better" gathering signatures in support of Jes Raintree and LouAnn Dekleva resigning their BOE positions. Why are two board members more responsible than the rest, for decisions that have been made unanimously? There are three BOE seats up for election in November, those belonging to the two board members previously named and the third belonging to Stephen Plank. Since this issue can also be resolved on the ballot, I see no reason for BOE members to be appointed at this time. Once again: WHO benefits from this? I believe this community is perfectly capable of selecting BOE representatives, and should be given that opportunity without interference.