Kendall County has incredible schools, but they shouldn’t have to do everything on their own.
Our five school districts (Yorkville 115, Oswego 308, Plano 88, Newark 66, and Lisbon 90) are working hard to support students and families while the needs keep growing. Year after year our schools are asked to do more with less, and we all know how much of our tax bill already goes to the districts. Mental health concerns are growing, access to services is uneven, and our teachers and school staff are stretched too thin.
This is where the county board could and should play a more active role.
A County-Led Task force with Real Purpose
I’m proposing a county-level task force focused on building stronger partnerships between the county and our public school districts. This group would:
- Watch for state and federal grants that support student mental health, school-based services, and community programs
- Identify eligibility criteria and deadlines
- Report regularly to the county board with clear recommendations
I want to partner with our schools, then go after every dollar that can make a difference. That gets more out of the tax dollars we already collect.
Built With Community needs in mind
The task force could also form subcommittees with each school district, made up of educators, parents, administrators, and community members, to:
- Share the workload of reviewing grant opportunities
- Provide input on which grants to pursue
- Increase transparency and build public trust
That keeps decisions out of closed rooms and keeps them from stalling out. It brings the community in early, and fewer opportunities slip past us.
Why This Matters
Many of our districts are operating in the red right now, even with school boards working to cut unnecessary spending. Budgets are tight and the need is high.
Grants won’t solve every problem, and they come with headaches of their own. But if they’re used well, they ease the burden on schools, get students better access to support, and reduce the pressure to raise local taxes.