Mad Science irked by District 47 flier policy
By BRETT ROWLAND - browland@nwherald.com
CRYSTAL LAKE – The operator of an after-school science program and some local parents are upset about a District 47 policy that prohibits organizations from sending fliers home with students.
Susan Petersen, who operates the for-profit franchise Mad Science of McHenry County, was used to handing out fliers to teachers for her hands-on science classes. Once or twice a year, Petersen said, she would drop off the fliers, which then would be sent home with students.
School officials since have cracked down on such practices, citing a district policy that severely curtails the number of fliers sent home with students. Only fliers from taxing districts and parent organizations that have been approved by the school board are sent home.
Petersen said enrollment in her educational programs dropped so low as a result of the policy that classes had to be canceled this year at West Elementary, one of the district's 12 schools. Her motive, she said in a recent e-mail to parents, is not solely financial.
"Our cancellations mean that dozens of children will not be getting the enrichment and excitement for science our program generates," she wrote to parents.
District 47 officials and school board members say the policy, instituted about five years ago, is aimed at limiting the number of papers sent home. Before the policy, students were being inundated with a mass of fliers and other papers, district Superintendent Ron Miller said.
"Homework and school communications were getting lost," he said. "We're not in the business of being a distribution center."
Miller also said the policy was designed with fairness in mind and that no exceptions would be made based on the content of a particular flier.
Furthermore, school officials say organizations such as Mad Science have been given other options for distributing fliers to the district's 9,000 students.
Twice a year, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, clubs and other agencies can pay $10 to have their programs included in a newsletter distributed to all students, said Clare Bourne, district board secretary. Organizations also can drop off 50 board-approved fliers at the schools for distribution from a public area, such as the front desk, she said.
Petersen said those methods are ineffective and argues that her program is educational and should be given an exception. She also wants the policy to be revised to allow individual school principals to decide which fliers are handed out to students.
"We can't make an exception; otherwise we will be overwhelmed with paper," district board member Nancy Gonsiorek said. "We are just adhering to a district policy. We can't pick and choose."
Gonsiorek added that as a parent, she knew how hard it was to keep track of school events and homework amid a sea of fliers and program invitations.
Miller said making exceptions also could open the district up to equality lawsuits.
Petersen is hoping parents can help her change the district's policy and continue with the science programs, which she said benefit the district, students and community.
To learn more
www.madforscience.com
