Outsiders help school district

The Friends of Oak Park Schools, a volunteer organization represented by Barry Myerson and Lori Yacobian, recently presented the Oak Park Unified School Board with a check for $51,000. The amount was 25 percent larger than last year's contribution.

The money, presented June 13, was a voluntary donation of D4 parcel taxes from nearly 100 families that don't live in the Oak Park district, but whose children attend Oak Park schools. Since these interdistrict families don't reside in Oak Park, they're not required to pay the tax.

The D4 parcel tax was okayed in 2004 with an 81 percent approval. It levied a five-year annual tax of $197 per parcel.

"The money (is) used to preserve our elementary and secondary music programs," said Tony Knight, district superintendent.

The Oak Park Unified School District ranks in the top 2 percent statewide and Oak Park High School has been ranked in America's top 100 by Newsweek magazine. Because of its excellent reputation, the district attracts students from outside communities, but the families of those students are exempt from paying property taxes associated with local bond measures. The issue became a sore spot in the recent June 6 election to raise new bond revenues.

Only 41 percent of families in Oak Park have schoolaged children-and the district's student population is on the decline-and many older residents and younger, childless couples feel they are being forced to foot the bill for the out-of-town students.

But school officials want to stress that the out-of-district students are not freeloaders.

"The parents of students on interdistrict permits are well involved in the schools and make substantial contributions to the schools in terms of time, energy and financial resources," Knight said. "The addition of students on permits is currently contributing approximately $700 per resident child."

The amount of state funding brought in by interdistrict pupils totals $2.3 million, Knight said.

It remains uncertain whether interdistrict parents will begin donating additional funds in response to the passage of Measure C6, the June 6 bond that levied a new $24 tax per $100,000 of assessed valuation.