Well, I've just hammered out another 650 word story about a local school referendum that was narrowly passed by its residents, much to the joy of parents and administrators, and much to the chagrin of senior citizens on fixed incomes.

I was surprised to find so many angry, untrusting conspiracy theorists in Niles, IL -- over age 60. Unbelievable how upset some of these people are that there taxes are going up a fraction. What about the kids? Many of these seniors sent their children through the same schools years ago, and now you want to cut ties with the district all together? Ah, screw 'em. We don't need to give those schools any more than we're already giving them!

Wow.

Well, turns out this little spat between school administrators and unhappy seniors is hardly about the kids. It's about "unusually high teacher/admin. salaries," misinformation, and mismanagement of the school budget.

Teachers, administrators and others in school district 63 have seen their salaries increase at more than twice the rate of inflation during the past three years, while school funding from the state has increased 1.8 percent ---the angry seniors said.

Basically, it's turned into a he said, she said battle, and it's getting ugly. They're calling each other liars, swindlers and crooks.

The district thinks the seniors are just conspiracy theorists out to spread misinformation so as to convince community members to vote against referendums because of their own property taxes.

The seniors think the district have no idea what they're doing with the budget. They think the school board, the superintendent and the administrators are corrupt, looking only to squeeze a few more bucks out of the system. They accuse the board of disguising expenses, hiding money and not adhering to the Freedom of Information Act.

But, at the end of the day --- the kids are suffering.

Some classes have 39 children in them. 39! With 1 teacher? How do you possibly teach 39 8-year old children with one teacher?

After school programs have been cut. No more football, band, strings or other extracurriculars.

No more teacher's aides. This school district has demographics in which 70-75 percent of its students speak something other than English in their home. Teacher's aides help translate and assimilate the children -- with many cultures clashing together.

Anyway --- The referendum passed (by 1.5 percent), and the school gets $3.9 million over the next few years. Their programs are coming back, their classes will shrink, and their education will be better.

Your $200,000 house has an annual tax increase of $180.

Crazy how politics splits us at all levels --- even sometimes at the expense of children.