Part-Time Pundit

Schools Should Put Financial Records Online in Exchange for Sales Tax Increase

The following was a column that I wrote for the News-Gazette in regards to the 1% sales tax increase in Champaign County for school facility construction.

The Champaign County Board is poised to vote to put a referendum on the ballot that will allow the school districts in the county to benefit from an increased sales tax to pay for facilities. Some districts will then issue a partial abatement of property taxes to provide some relief in return for the increased sales taxes.

A look around the county will show that many districts are definitely in need of capital improvements and the state certainly has not helped matters with the ongoing fighting over such funds being made available to schools. However, one critical matter impedes the success of increasing sales taxes for schools: the lack of trust many citizens have in their school districts.
It is no secret that Champaign Unit #4, for example, is still struggling with issues related to the trust people have in that district. One of the major reasons that the $60 million dollar bond issue failed a couple of years ago was directly related to many voters not trusting the school district with that money. Urbana schools are not immune from trust issues because of their recent difficulties. In a time when many working families are being pinched, a solid case needs to be made that these funds will be used efficiently.
There is, however, a solution to the trust problem and that is proactive transparency on behalf of the schools. Under the Freedom of Information Act, any voter can submit requests to see the budget, any check written by the schools, salary information and contracts that a school board signs. However, this process can be cumbersome and is subject to some delaying on the behalf of government bodies.

The solution is simple: school boards should post their check registers online within 48 business hours of any transaction. All contracts and salary information should be placed on the web as well. This information is already public record, but taking the step of putting the information online without forcing voters and the media to undertake the process of a FOIA request will show a great deal of respect for the voters.
This information is rightly public and belongs to the voters. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act reads, in part: “all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials”.
What better way is there for the school boards to show that they will spend the money appropriately than by showing the voters where the money goes? It will go far to rebuild the trust that has been lacking as of late.

Champaign County schools would not be the first to adopt a proactive stance to transparency. They would join schools in Palatine, Elmhurst, Carpentersville, and even the Collage of DuPage. In fact, Mahomet-Seymour schools already put some of this information online.

The information is already generated electronically so the cost of putting it online is effectively nothing. In fact, it actually creates cost savings by ending the expense in responding to routine FOIA requests which can be answered instead by going to the website.

Many critics of the school districts are able to lodge false charges about school spending (or misspending) because of the time and effort to get the truth. Schools should voluntarily put their financial records online not because they have something to hide, but precisely because they don’t have anything to hide. In so doing, they will join dozens of other school districts and institutions that are rebuilding trust in the schools and in government.
Many critics continue to charge year after year with each tax increase that the schools are misusing the money. It is time for the school districts to be proactively transparent to put these charges to rest. The voters are already, by right, entitled to this information. If schools want to rebuild trust and accountability, putting their financial records online is a great first step.

October 20th, 2008 Posted by John Bambenek | Columns, Politics, Unit 4 Race | no comments

Response to Candidate Questionnaire from Campaign for Comprehensive Sex Education / Planned Parenthood

The conventional political wisdom is not to respond to candidate questionnaires from “hostile” political organizations. It just doesn’t sit well with me not telling voters or political groups where I stand though. So this is what I sent Planned Parenthood in response to whether I would support a standardized comprehensive sex ed program for Unit 4.

The question of sexuality, particularly sex education, is invariably tied into a question of values and value systems. As such, any discussion immediately becomes polarized between right and left. The options are either abstinence-only or comprehensive-only sex education. This is a false dichotomy, but also makes a dangerous assumption about the role of schools and government.

The United States is a values-pluralistic society. With rare exceptions (e.g. crime) all values should be respected and the government should not try to mandate one set of values over another. Many players in this debate are encouraging exactly that: a mandating of a particular set of values.

It is my belief that parents present the value system of their choice to their children, and the schools and government should respect that. I do not support a standardized sexual health curriculum for Unit 4 because that would entail me making a decision on what values are important for someone else’s child, a decision I would not want imposed on myself as a parent.

I believe the policy of the Board should be to, as far as practical, handle the issue as the parents decide they want it handled. If they wish to have comprehensive sex education taught to their child, that is there choice and it should be available to them. If they wish only abstinence education be presented, that is likewise their choice. If they wish to handle the matter themselves in private with no interference from the schools, that should also be respected.

It is my firm and unwavering belief that the schools are not a tool to be used by government to prescribe value systems to our children aside of what is necessary to be a good citizen. The diversity of our nation and community requires that governmental leaders allow these value system choices be made by individuals and parents, not by elected officials.

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March 4th, 2007 Posted by John Bambenek | Chambana, Education, Elections, Politics, Unit 4 Race | one comment

Why Normal People Don’t Run for Office

I decided to run for the Champaign Unit #4 school board because I was tired of complaining in my columns and to others of my dissatisfaction with Unit 4. I ran to try to be part of the solution, not to be another pundit engaging in a blog B&W session. For this, I have been rewarded with being accused of 83 felonies that carry a maximum penalty of 457 years in prison and that’s not even counting the misdemeanors.

It’s not that I have a problem with Mr. Brayfield challenging my petitions. It’s not a problem that he sees problems with the school board and is trying to do what “one man can do” to help fix it. It’s that his attacks are personal, destructive, and undemocratic.

Despite claims to the contrary, these challenges are not democratic. Democracy entails the freedom to choose when voting. That freedom is not enhanced by one person showing up in a hearing in which the public can witness but not participate (except for public comment which has no bearing on the objections themselves). That freedom is not enhanced by attempting to take away people’s right to choose from a variety of diverse candidates and making sure they are only presented with candidates that fit some preconceived ideological mold. These objections aren’t democratic, they are undemocratic and they are an affront to everyone who has fought and died for democracy to suggest otherwise.

I will criticize no one for attempt to contribute constructively to Unit 4. Even if I disagree, I will welcome any participation. If you have ideas, I will make sure you have the resources to bring solid and complete proposals to the Board, even if I disagree with them. However, that does not give license to individuals to contribute destructively by disparaging people in the press and in objections for running massive criminal enterprises just to get 50 or more signatures to run for the unpaid position of school board member.

I, and the other 4 candidates, have been accused of fraud, perjury, forgery, and conspiracy and on that basis we should be removed from the ballot. These accusations are not presented with any factual basis whatsoever. One candidate, a bank executive, has had to explain to his superiors and co-workers the nature of these allegations of fraud. Fraud, for a bank executive, is a career-ending proposition.

All that Mr. Brayfield has accomplished with this stunt is to discourage honest people running for school board in Champaign. Why would anyone submit there name to have the Brayfields of the world run to the press and start accusing them of being criminals? It has been said that there is something about running for and holding office that will turn honest people into felons (ok, I said it), but this is a little off the mark. The biggest threat to democracy is that only a certain class of people runs for office, and Mr. Brayfield is part of the ongoing actions that discourage all but the most pathological from running.

It is clear from his selection of candidates that he objected to, that he has an ideological agenda and has engaged in a radical smear campaign to destroy the integrity of the people he disagrees with. If he has a problem with a candidate, then those issues can be addressed on April 17th in the ballot box. Exactly the way democracy is supposed to work.

February 24th, 2007 Posted by John Bambenek | Chambana, Education, Politics, Unit 4 Race | 3 comments

Statement Regarding the Arrest of an Urbana Teacher on Suspicion of Child Molestation

See story in the News-Gazette.

The arrest of a second grade teacher in Urbana is a disturbing event. While the facts of the case remain unclear it is too soon to rush to judgment. However, in the light of these events it serves as a reminder to the schools in their responsibility to provide a safe environment for children.

The purpose of public schools is to provide a sound education for our community’s children. Part of that responsibility is to ensure that the teaching environment is free from harm. Allegations of sexual assault must be seriously investigated and policies put in place to make sure that the likelihood of such assaults is extremely low.

To be clear, this is not an allegation of insufficiency of policies that are currently in place. However, every policy should be routinely reviewed to make sure they still meet the needs and goals of the community and the schools. This event is a reminder to take such a review to ensure policies regarding sexual assault and allegations of such assaults both ensure that, as far as legally possible, the risk to our children is low and that teachers are protected to the greatest possible degree against capricious or false allegations of sexual assault.

I call upon both the Urbana and Champaign school districts to review their policies to make sure that the risk of sexual abusers gaining employment is low, that policies and procedures regarding investigating allegations are fair yet thorough, and that the schools take prompt action to both remove predators from the schools or clear the teacher of wrong-doing.

February 2nd, 2007 Posted by John Bambenek | Chambana, Politics, Unit 4 Race | no comments

When Knowing Ethics Too Well is an Ethics Violation

The governor’s office is facing a lawsuit over disclosure of the many subpoenas received by our illustrious government. Pay-to-play scams, hired truck, and hiring scams are rampant in the government of Illinois. So what does the Executive Investigator General target for investigation? People who take the annual ethics test too fast because they know the material already (or have an IQ above 70).

The news has made the rounds in Illinois that people who took the ethics test too fast were declared to be non-compliant. It appears that I am one of the people who knows the ethics law too well and has a sound moral compass.

My response was less than kind. The reason for this is as follows:

1) I don’t take kindly to being accused of an apparent crime.
2) I really don’t take kindly to being declared guilty of an apparent crime.
3) It’s especially obnoxious that I’ve been declared guilty of an apparent crime without any investigation, hearing, trial, consultation, or any of those other things that general constitute a just government.
4) My wife is a week and a half overdue. While this is obviously more an issue for her than it is for me, we’re both frayed and this letter turned my mood from sour to downright shitty.

I was in a hurry to get it written before I left the office so there are some typos at the end. The other interesting thing I noticed is that although I said such a violation is apparently a misdemeanor, I’m not so sure that’s its the case after a closer look at the statute. Article 50 stipulates the penalties. The training is required in Section 5-10. The penalty section doesn’t actually assign a penalty for section 5-10 so it is entirely possible (this is the point where a lawyer can come in and clarify) that not complying with the Ethics training requirement cannot be punished at all.

I’ve decided to make this public because it’s a public record anyway. That and I’m sure some enterprising C-list blogger will think he’s terribly clever for filing a FOIA and then declaring me to be unethical to interject that into my campaign for the Unit 4 school board.

At first, I thought I was believed I was fine because I seem to remember going to the bathroom in the middle of the training. Apparently it was before or after I did the web-based training. The training was relatively simple and everyone I know could have taken the test without looking at the accompanying material and aced it. Do we really need web-based classes to say “Thou Shalt Not Steal”? I realize some enterprising lawyer probably got some political connected corrupt crony off because no one ever told him stealing was bad, but that’s not the world I live in.

The training was virtually the same as last year and the material is intentionally written to be easy to understand. Besides being familiar with the material because I took the same training before, I’ve been through the ethics process twice (on the filing end, not the receiving end) so I’m familiar with reporting, the duty to report and whistleblower protections. I also come from a family of lawyers which makes me somewhat of a rule monger. We won’t get into the fact that I read very fast.

My response is harsh, yes. However, I don’t take kindly to being declared a criminal without so much as a hearing. I called the University Ethics Office and was told the decision was unappealable. On top of that, I don’t appreciate Jimenez suggesting that we committed additional crimes by developing a cheat sheet. I’m not sure what kind of people Jimenez hangs out with, but the people I associate with don’t need a cheat sheet for a test that didn’t even require looking at the material to pass. For the record, I read the material online and the packet they sent with the letter because I am required to.

I revised the form they sent for me to sign so that it didn’t admit guilt or even recognize a crime or offense has occurred and sent it back in. I would imagine that I will see no further problems. I still do hope the OEIG might find something better to do with their time.

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One does not need a bathroom guide to tell if the bathroom design is ok or not. Similarly to buy bathroom vanities and other supplies, one does not need to have the experience of buying. However a bathroom guide can come in handy when you are about to get bathroom furniture and will help you in choosing the material. Not only that, but it also has some really useful tips on window washer and making the most out of shower curtains.
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January 6th, 2007 Posted by John Bambenek | Chambana, Politics, Unit 4 Race, University of Illinois | 2 comments

Press Release: John Bambenek Declares Intention to Run for Champaign Unit 4 School Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2007

Contact: John Bambenek
217-493-0760 / jcb.unit4@gmail.com
http://www.parttimepundit.com

Champaign, IL - - On January 5th, 2007, Champaign resident John Bambenek declared his intention to run for the Champaign Community Unit School District #4 school board. The election is being held on April 17th to fill the four seats and one special election that is currently up for election. He is running for one of the four open seats for a full four year term.

Mr. Bambenek currently works as a research programmer for the University of Illinois at the Coordinated Science Lab. His duties include system and network administration as well as a small amount of information security research. He recently gave a presentation in Washington DC on information security and identity theft.

Before joining the University, he worked for Ernst & Young and Capgemini Ernst & Young as a project manager and senior consultant. He worked with many of the top Fortune 500 companies. He is also a freelance columnist and blogger writing on political and cultural issues.

In explaining why he is running for the school board, Bambenek said, “Unit 4 has been a frequent target of my criticism both in my columns and on my blog. I could either continue to complain or roll up my sleeves and try to fix it. I choose the later.” Mr. Bambenek is currently scheduling meetings with various community groups and individuals to gather input on the school system. He hopes to restore trust in the school system that was lost in recent years due to actions surrounding the consent decree and other problems.

Mr. Bambenek currently serves as the executive director of the Tumaini Foundation, a Champaign-based not-for-profit. The Tumaini Foundation is a charity that supports rural Tanzania schools by sending them much needed school supplies, medical supplies and computers.

For more information please contact John Bambenek at 217-493-0760 or via email at jcb.unit4@gmail.com.

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January 5th, 2007 Posted by John Bambenek | Chambana, Elections, Politics, Unit 4 Race | no comments