The Legislation & Policy Committee advocates and shares information about local, state, and national legislative and policy issues that affect children's education and well-being in District 204.
Resolutions
Legislative & Policy Links
The Legislative Brunch
Resolutions
Social - Emotional Learning
- Social - Emotional Learning Resolution & Summary
Proposed by the Neuqua Valley High School PTSA, this important resolution was adopted statewide by Illinois PTA in March 2009. Research proves social and emotional development is an essential foundation of cognitive development directly related to students' academic achievement. Social and emotional learning is a process by which children learn to recognize and manage their emotions, demonstrate concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle life's challenges constructively. Legislators, educators and caregivers must take deliberate steps to promote social - emotional learning.
For information on how to promote social - emotional learning, visit
Resources.
Legislative & Policy Issues
EJ&E Railroad Acquisition
- February 2009: CN finalizes purchase agreement of EJ&E and announces freight traffic will increase, beginning in March 2009.
- December 2008: STB releases its Final EIS, approving the CN purchase.
- September 2008: Public comment closes. HR 6707 fails in the House.
- July 2008: STB releases its Draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for public comment. The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts to wetlands and wildlife, noise, and future traffic operations that could result from the proposed acquisition of the EJ&E by CN. Fifteen roads were identified in the report as needing improvements, including Ogden Avenue, Montgomery Road and Liberty Street. HR 6707 is introduced in Washington to enable the STB to thoroughly consider the public interest when evaluating railroad mergers.
- April 2008: STB begins evaluation of the competitive, transportation, and economic implications of the transaction on the national rail system. 22 local governments, including Aurora and Naperville, join to create "The Regional Answer to Canadian National" (TRAC) to fight approval. Refer to www.fightrailcongestion.com for more information.
- February 2008: STB allows public comment on the draft Scope of Study for the Environmental Impact Study. IPPC members vote and submit a position letter to the STB stating opposition due to safety and traffic concerns.
- October 2007: Canadian National (CN) files an application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to acquire the EJ&E Railway.
The STB is a regulatory agency with jurisdiction over rail line sales. The STB can approve or deny the sale, or approve the sale with certain requirements, such as overpasses or underpasses. Read more about the STB:
www.stb.dot.gov.
Municipal Development
The Indian Prairie Parents’ Council respectfully asks municipal governments to judge impacts upon the District 204 school system when reviewing petitions to rezone Office/Commercial/Industrial-zoned properties to residential use.
IPPC encourages municipalities to deny rezoning requests which would be detrimental to interests in District 204. The position was prepared September 2006 and adopted January 2007.
The position was first presented to the Naperville Plan Commission in January 2007 in opposition to a Pedcor Investment proposal to rezone a parcel from office to residential use for the construction of a 120-unit apartment complex. The request was eventually denied.
Additional Resources:
School - Based Polling
National PTA and its constituent organizations seek to promote the welfare of children and youth. In response to community and membership input, IPPC examined the issue of school-based polling in District 204. The goal of the initiative was two-fold:
- Collaborate with stakeholders on the issue of school-based polling to address safety concerns for students when schools serve as polling places
- Gain endorsement from District 204 to schedule student non-attendance days on all future elections
As a result, the District 204 Superintendent directed the Calendar Committee to schedule student non-attendance days on elections in future calendars, bar serious hardship. In such an instance, administrators will work with individual PTAs to increase supervision at any school-polling site.
Legislation Reports
For more information:
Click on the "Bill List as of...." link
Website for IL General Assembly-complete list of bills, resolutions, etc.
Website for the Illinois State Board of Education
The Legislative Brunch