Victory for CUSD 300
The successes of the bond measures in Chicago Unit School District this year were landmark victories for the community and for Winning Mark. As the Chicago Tribune stated, "Facing massive budget cuts, voters in Community Unit School District 300 supported a property tax increase to save sports music, and jobs, as well as a $185 million building bond issue to add schools in the fast growing district." Making this victory especially sweet was the David and Goliath nature of the campaign. The Northwest Herald described the victory as "Bucking a Trend." Traditionally, bond measures like theses had been defeated in this district by a coordinated opposition lead by The Family Taxpayers Network, "A conservative watchdog that takes credit for defeating the district's last referendum effort in 2003."
According to the Daily Herald had the measure failed, "District 300 board members said they would have had to institute $5.6 million in cuts for next school year, including all extracurricular activities, gifted education, course offerings and elementary music." 
However, this year Advance 300, a committee composed of parents, students, and community leaders, armed with direct mail pieces from Winning Mark would not accept no for an answer. Direct mail pieces with the message "We know that quality schools mean a strong community" and itemized breakdowns of the funding from the referendums helped to stimulate local support. District 300 spokeswomen Darlene Johnson summarized the spirit of the campaign, "I have never seen people work so hard and be so successful. I just think all the people were so dedicated. To me it was a perfect campaign." For us, it proved that no cause is a lost cause.
May 26, 2006 | Filed Under: Featured, Public Financing | Permalink
