The Lane School making big sacrifice for District 181
For many District 181 residents, the overcrowding issue at Clarendon Hills Middle School is over because the School Board voted Monday night to redistrict The Lane to Hinsdale Middle School.

Throughout this process, the sentiment of District 181 parents, primarily those in the Walker, Prospect and Monroe districts, was overwhelmingly in support of redistricting The Lane so that their children would be able to learn in a safe environment that promotes educational excellence. However, rarely was there an acknowledgment of the sacrifices The Lane families have had to make sacrifices two times now by moving from a known school environment to a new one. Rarely did others in the district empathize with the emotionally difficult few months our fifth-grade students have endured, not knowing where they were going to middle school at a time when they should be building excitement about their middle-school experience.

Throughout this challenging and upsetting process, I have been proud to be a parent of a The Lane School fifth-grader. I believe The Lane School community has acted with integrity and grace in the face of a very complex and emotional situation. Our parents have worked hard to educate the School Board members and administration about transition issues that are necessary to help support our students. We have, time and time again, presented ourselves to the board and the administration in a way that we would expect our children to act.

It is my hope that we will not be forgotten now that the dust has settled. I urge all District 181 parents to support us as we move from one overcrowded situation to another. HMS needs resources to bring it up to the level we expect at a District 181 school. We expect our parents to support this. As others have said, “we are taking one for the team,” which is something no other school has been willing to do.
Susan McBride, Hinsdale

ComEd should pay property taxes just like residents
Have you seen your Com Ed electric utility bill lately? Over the past year, DuPage County residents have seen electric rate increases averaging 26 percent with another 10 percent increase possible next year.

Now, ComEd wants to increase your property taxes. Com Ed is challenging DuPage County’s property tax assessment and asking for a 90 percent  reduction on the nearly $2 million in property taxes they pay each year. If successful, this would mean homeowners would see an increase in their property tax bill because all other property tax payers in the county must make up Com Ed’s reduction.

On Com Ed’s Web site, there was no mention of this attempt to reach further into the pockets of DuPage residents, but they do mention this: “At ComEd we not only believe in being a good employer, but also being a good corporate citizen.”

I have a suggestion for them: Double-digit electric rate increases are difficult enough for many DuPage residents. Don’t also increase our property taxes by reducing yours to fund your company. How about supporting the local community by continuing to pay your current property taxes — the same way you have over past decades — just like other property tax payers in DuPage County. Especially if you want to continue raising rates and also be the “good corporate citizen” you believe you are.
Paul Fichtner, DuPage County Board, District 1

FISH Pantry gives thanks for Mail Carrier Food Drive
On behalf of the FISH organization, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the community of Downers Grove for its generosity during the annual Mail Carrier’s Food Drive, held May 10.

Nearly 19,000 pounds of nonperishables were collected with the help of the letter carriers. Volunteers who helped collect and sort food include Campus Life, First Presbyterian Church group from Western Springs, Hobson Road Community Church in Downers Grove and our high school football team. This support will help us stock the shelves of those families in need in the coming months.

FISH maintains a free food and clothing closet in the lower level of the Downers Grove Township building, located at 4340 Prince St. Generous contributions from our communities allow FISH to serve many individuals and families on an emergency basis each month.
Laurel Bowen, FISH board member