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IASB recommendations to D64 & D207 Boards
d64-publiccomments@d64board.org
November 18, 2021
Dear Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education,
The League of Women Voters Park Ridge is aware that the annual meeting of the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) is this weekend and there are several proposed resolutions being voted on. We are submitting this written public comment to be read aloud at tonight’s D64 board meeting in light of your discussion on 10.21.21 about the IASB recommendations. We remain proud to be considered a trusted resource in Park Ridge and feel strongly that our positions go on public record.
In short, we believe it is urgent that gun violence protection action is increased. We are opposed to guns in schools. We are grateful that you will be sending our D64 delegate to vote against Resolution #2 which allows school employees to carry firearms on school property. The presence of concealed weapons in a school setting would be very detrimental to learning environments.
However, we are greatly disappointed that you are sending our delegate to also vote against Resolution #15 which promotes stronger gun storage laws in homes with students under the age of 18 years. Current law already requires safe gun storage if a minor under the age of 14 may gain access. We believe that any and every child living in this community should not be able to gain access to a firearm and bring it into our schools.
Glen Ellyn SD 41 got it right when they submitted their rationale to the IASB Resolutions Committee for review.
- Research indicates that strong child access prevention laws decrease unintentional shootings, suicides, and school shootings.
- Between 70% and 90% of guns used in school shootings perpetrated by shooters under the age of 18 were acquired from the home or the homes of relatives or friends.
- More than half of gun owners store at least one gun unsafely, without any locks or other safe storage measures. (That is one gun too many.)
- Nearly a quarter of all gun owners report storing all of their guns in an unlocked location in the home.
Plans for preventing mass shootings are well documented and a culture of secure gun storage is possible. The League of Women Voters Park Ridge agrees with the position of the League of Women Voters Illinois which aims to keep our schools safe. We believe it is within your purview to protect the health and safety of our student citizenry and it is important to vote to limit accessibility of handguns and semi-automatic weapons in our community.
Please reconsider your position regarding Resolution #15.
Respectfully Submitted,
The League of Women Voters Park Ridge Board
LWVPR Agenda Recommendation to D64 Board
September 10, 2018
Board of Education Park Ridge Niles School District 64
164 S. Prospect Ave. Park Ridge, Il 60068
Dear Board of Education Members of School District 64,
My name is Mary Upson, and I am the president of our Park Ridge chapter of the League of Women Voters. Our members have been observing the District 64 board meetings over the last three months. The topics generating the most community interest currently are the concerns regarding the Special Education Program and the potential School Resource Officer pilot program.
Frequently these items are placed late in the agenda, after topics that have generated less attention. As these meetings run later than any other board in the community – usually past 10 p.m. – people who want to hear about or speak on these issues have to wait a very long time or are unable to hear the discussion or participate at all because they have family and work commitments.
The board has acknowledged that there is friction among different stakeholders about these matters and has expressed a desire to promote a greater sense of trust and cooperation. We commend you for this and have a simple suggestion that may help. The League of Women Voters of Park Ridge respectfully requests that items that have attracted increased community interest be moved higher on the agenda at future meetings, as both the city and park district of Park Ridge do. Parents and other taxpayers would have more direct access to information and a better opportunity to weigh in on important matters.
Thank you,
Mary Upson President, League of Women Voters of Park Ridge
