Illinois Election Interference

Huntley D-158: Election Interference?

Shortly before the March 16, 2004, vote on Huntley D-158's proposed tax hike for schools, a video was shown to all Huntley High School students. CRAFT obtained a copy of this video. A synopsis with still shots is shown below. For those with high speed internet -- and interest -- the video can be seen here (you may need the mpegable DS decoder to play the file with Windows Media Player). We don't know whether this was shown beyond the high school, i.e. at middle or elementary schools. It was shown during "compensated time" for school employees, and using school (public) facilities. Click here to request a copy of the video.

Update October 1, 2004. A column in today's Northwest Herald accused CRAFT of a misleading attack on D-158, with reference to the video. The column indicated this video was a project for a broadcast journalism class, along with stories about saving the lives of squirrels and the need for school spirit. Considering its persuasive nature, the referendum video seems more suited for a marketing class than broadcast journalism. What if the topic was opposition to the referendum? Or a persuasive piece on the positive aspects of communism? Promoting a tax increase referendum was a questionable choice for the topic of a video to be shown to a thousand high school students.

The Northwest Herald column says the video "never comes out and says people should vote for a tax increase." Look at the first picture below and judge for yourself if the columnist is correct. The column accuses CRAFT of saying the video was "school funded propaganda put out by administrators." Look at the page as it appeared before the column, and judge for yourself if the columnist is correct. The web page does say it was school funded, and unless the students brought production equipment in from home, it was school funded. The page doesn't call it propaganda, but it is propaganda. And the web page never said it was put out by administrators.

If there was any "misleading attack" it was by the Northwest Herald directed at CRAFT.

CRAFT believes this five minutes would have been better spent on learning something that would enhance the students' chances for success as they enter college and/or the work force. We anxiously await the sequel, which we guess is due for release sometime in October, 2004. We'll be asking the McHenry County State's Attorney to review the next video.

Opening two scenes. Does this look like it will be an objective documentary?

Next is Steve Swanson, D-158 superintendent ($163,077 in 2002-03, 16% increase over the previous year) and David Johnson, Huntley HS principal ($111,923 in 2002-03, 35% increase over four years earlier), saying D-158 needs a lot more money.

Just information? Not taking a side? The video next shows scenes of various extracurricular activities, with the strains of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss It Goodbye" over the pictures.

Consequences? A term normally used when someone has done something bad. Like wanting to keep their hard-earned money, or holding those who spend their money accountable for how it's spent. Welcome Cheryl Meyer, co-chair of the pro-tax committee B.E.S.T.

Total enrollment by year. Why does the *PER STUDENT* cost go up? Manage your growth like any company would have to. Do you want your tax dollars spent in a world where there are volume surcharges instead of volume discounts?

A non-partisan closing.

Huntley and Illinois residents, is this what you want your kids taught in school, what you want your tax dollars spent on, and what you want school employees spending their time on?

For more information on these web pages or to submit examples of election interference in your district, contact Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes.

CRAFT believes public school funds or resources should *not* be used to educate the public on political issues.

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