IS DISTRICT 206 BLOOM TRAIL GETTING READY TO STRIKE?

Superintendent of Schools- D206
Dr. Lenell Navarre

By Joseph Wiszowaty
CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Teachers of Bloom Township School District 206, which serves all of Sauk Village, will be staging what is being called a march at a School Board meeting Monday night according to a source.  The march, apparently a protest against stalled contract negotiations.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated this could be a prelude to an actual teacher strike.  Teachers in District 206 have not had a pay raise in over 3 years according to the source.

It was also learned that Dr. Lenell Navarre, Superintendent of District 206 has been removed from the negotiations and a mediator has now been brought in.

Donald Aprati, speaking on behalf of the Board of Education for Bloom Township High School District 206 said in a prepared statement in response to our request: "While it is not the practice of the Board and Administration to comment on the ongoing negotiations for any bargaining unit, the Board believes it is important to provide answers to questions in order to demonstrate that the District is working towards the best interest of the students, staff, community, District stakeholders and taxpayers" Aprati said.

"First, the District team, led by the Superintendent, is committed to negotiating a fair deal for all involved.  The Superintendent has been working during the entire process at the direction of the Board toward achieving its goals in addition to opening schools and implementing the terms of the $6 million School Improvement Grant that was obtained to improve the education of the students in the District" Aprati said.

Aprati was not able to comment on Navarre being removed and mediation being needed except adding "I can tell you that mediation is a process that causes both sides to do the appropriate amount of searching for what is most important to reaching an agreement that is in the best interest of all involved, but most importantly for the students" Aprati said.  "Mediation is a part of the process of negotiations in this day and age; a process the Board welcomes" he said.

"The Board has always had a good relationship with the faculty Association.  We strive to continue that relationship which has always been based on the teachers being treated fairly, providing salary increases when possible and fiscally prudent and to move the District in the best interest of educating it's most important asset, it's students" Aprati said.

RESIDENTS APPEAL HIGH PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS

Trustee Derrick Burgess talks to residents

by Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE | Trustee Derrick Burgess and his Intergovernmental Relations Committee hosted a Property Tax Appeal Forum Thursday night at Village Hall.  The office of the Cook County Assessor and Bloom Township Assessor Nora Martinez-Gomez were on hand to help those file their appeals.

 

“This is the first step in the process” Teresa Chandler of the Cook County Assessor’s office said during the meeting.  Once the homeowners have completed the form and the new assessment has been made of their home, the homeowner if they do not like the new value, can file an appeal to the Property Tax Assessment Board. 

 

Residents property tax assessments had increased despite the fact that property values in Sauk Village have gone down.  One resident's value was put at $208,000 by the Cook County Assessor despite the fact they had a recent appraisal for $118,000 and they filed their appeal Thursday night.  "I wish I could get $200,000 for my home, I'd sell it today" they said.

 

“We’re here to assist residents in the process” Martinez-Gomez said.  Residents can meet with staff at Bloom Township’s office at 425 Halsted, Chicago Heights and complete the process.  The Bloom Township Assessor will assist residents with finding comparable sales in order to establish the value.  If you have an appraisal or other comparable home sales the Assessor will consider that data as well.

 

“We have got to take care of each other.  Check with your neighbors, check with them to make sure that they have their exemptions filed” Chandler said to residents.  You can spend hundreds or well over a thousand dollars for an attorney to do the job you can do yourself Chandler told residents.

 

Trustee Burgess speaking to long-time resident
Joanne Lynch

A senior citizen, who lives in Sauk Village was paying $2,600 for a number of years.  “I wasn’t

aware that the exemptions were not filed, I just pay my bills when they come due.  I brought my tax bill to Trustee Burgess and he noticed that I didn’t have the correct exemptions filed.  He helped me with Bloom Township and now my tax bill is about $800 per year” the senior citizen said.

 

Chandler said residents can get up to 3 years of refunds for over payments if exemptions that should have been received had not been received.

 

“We had 23 homeowners file for immediate appeals and about 71 people attended tonight” Burgess said.

 

“I don’t mind helping people through the red tape of government, that’s what the Intergovernmental Relations Committee is all about” Burgess said.

 

Burgess said he will have a link to the tax appeal form on the Intergovernmental Relations webpage and will also have it on his Facebook Page (YOU CAN CLICK THE LINK HERE: Derrick Burgess- Sauk Village) so residents can file these.  For those who do not have internet access these will also be available at the Village Hall and Library Tuesday, September 16th.

 

There is only a 30 day window in which to file your appeal is October 6^th and the deadline to provide documentation for your appeal is October 16^th according to Burgess.