I asked my kids who are students at Stevenson about the library renovation. They told me they thought the library was completely fine. They had no problem accessing internet. They had received tutoring there and found it perfectly adequate. As a taxpayer, I would have appreciated this issue going to referendum.

Are you sure your kids go to Stevenson in Lincolnshire? My son and all of his friends said that the library was essentially useless.

Lisa: The card catalog system i just FINE! And the encyclopedias are fairly new...

Ya, I'm sure it's Stevenson. Just checked my skyrocketing property tax bill!

Just the facts, you and the few remaining V125 supporters out there should just hang it up. The "read my lips, I'll cut your taxes" charade has been exposed. A library built in 1965 - long before computers, the internet, wifi, etc. - needs to be renovated. Your candidates have lied, are completely devoid of any useful ideas and have done the lion's share of the smearing in this campaign. Game over. Checkmate.

Mr. Moons - I don't doubt that a library that was first built in 1965 and not revamped since could use some help. However, I'd like to make one suggestion - in this time of economic turmoil, with many homeowners at risk of foreclosure and other financial ills, perhaps this was not the time to spend the 2.5 million, but rather use it to REDUCE our taxes, and defer the project to better times. And whoever began referring to the new environment as being like a Starbucks should be fired for stupidity, for making it sound like a luxury.
I'd also suggest that while our tax funds continue to be spent on maintaining the quality of education, the board look for, and publicize ways to REDUCE operating costs. Again, we are in a recession. Many of your constituents (taxpayers) have lost their jobs, or had their incomes otherwise cut. As a result, many may be at risk of losing their homes, partly because they can no longer afford their ever-increasing property tax bills. Notice I didn't just say cut, I said reduce operating costs without hurting the quality of education. C'mon, there has to be something you people can do! Businesses do it every day.

Mr. Moons,

Thank you for informing the public about the new features of the library. I had heard about it from a number of people, but did not know these details. So, the researcher that I am, went to SHS website today and looked at Board minutes. For me, I rely upon these minutes as my source of information as to how the Board operates a $90 M enterprise, as I often cannot make either the committee meetings or the board meetings. Here is what I found about the library renovation:

On 7/19/2010, a library renovation was listed in the Board minutes under "Site and Facilities." No minutes were attached.

On 8/16/2010, under "Site and Facilities" it said that the "final review" was taking place. No minutes attached.

On the regular board minutes on 8/16/2010, it stated "Mrs. Moons provided the Board with a brief report regarding the site and facilities meeting." I guess the report was so brief that no details were provided.

Then on 2/14/2011 regular Board minutes, it said "2011 construction bids not to exceed 2.7M.” Did not even mention that it was for the library.

In conclusion, I, as a taxpayer, cannot even determine from board minutes what the library renovations are, when they will be started/completed, or how much it costs. I find this lack of transparency VERY troubling. In addition, I was shocked to see that more details were provided for a $3,000 Board approved expenditure than a $2.7 million dollar library renovation!

Art and Uncommon, I, like both of you, am very concerned about my taxes and the cost of living in Lake County. However, Stevenson High School cannot be expected to be responsible for dramatically reducing your tax bill. The school alone does not play a role in your tax increases or decreases. Assuming that a $2.5 million library actually raised your taxes is incorrect. The library was agreed to after many years of discussion (it should have been done 10 years ago) and after careful analysis of the finances. I'm not sure if either of you have a student at the high school but if you did you would know that the library was essentially useless, forcing the students to leave the campus and use the public libraries. Although this is certainly not a hardship, it also is unnecessary for a school that serves so many. Art, you mention reducing taxes without hurting the quality of education. Not having a functional library does hurt the quality of education at Stevenson. I fully agree with you about the Starbucks terminology. However, the only thing luxurious at Starbucks is it's very expensive coffee. Any person in interior design will tell you that Starbucks is known for ergonomically, minimalistic furniture that allows for more people to sit in a smaller space. Which is exactly what is being used for the new library. As a mother with school-aged children I can only thank you for your tax dollars that have benefited my children dramatically.

From the United4Stevenson web site:
- Stevenson's library hasn't been updated since the school was built in 1965. Students need a 21st century learning environment to compete in a 21st century job market.

- The renovation will save thousands of dollars spent annually in required maintenance of the old facility.

- An entire section of the library will be devoted to students struggling academically. This promotes our mission of "Success for Every Student."