WHY ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNDING WALKOUTS?

Lake County School Boards Must Answer — And If Necessary, Be Investigated

By Michael "Mickey" Scornavacco
Republican Committeeman, Antioch 6

Illinois law is clear.

Under 105 ILCS 5/26-1, children between ages 6 and 17 are required to attend school.

Under 105 ILCS 5/26-2a, a student absent without valid cause is considered truant.

Valid cause includes illness, religious observance, family emergency, and other limited circumstances as determined by the board of education.

Political walkouts during instructional hours are not automatically listed.

So here is the question every Lake County taxpayer deserves answered:

If students walked out during class time and were not marked unexcused, who authorized that decision?

Because legally, it must be one of two things.

Either it was truancy under Illinois law.

Or the district formally determined it was a valid cause and excused it.

There is no middle ground.

Taxpayer Dollars Are Not Meant for Political Spectacle

Public schools are funded by property taxes and state dollars for one purpose: education.

Instructional minutes are calculated, funded, and audited. Teachers are paid to teach. Students are required by law to attend.

If instructional time is being redirected toward political demonstrations during the school day, taxpayers have a right to ask:

Why are publicly funded classroom hours being used this way?

If a district knowingly excused a politically themed walkout, that is a policy decision with financial implications.

And it should not happen without public transparency.

The Law Requires Consistency

105 ILCS 5/26-2a defines chronic truancy as absence without valid cause for 5 percent or more of the school year.

Schools must track, document, and intervene.

If a student skips class for personal reasons, attendance rules are enforced.

If a student skips class for political activism and it is not treated as unexcused, the district must explain the legal basis.

Public institutions cannot apply statutes selectively.

A Formal Review Is Warranted

Given the seriousness of compulsory attendance law and the use of taxpayer funds, I am calling for:

• A written clarification from each district involved
• Disclosure of any board-level determination excusing walkouts
• Release of attendance coding policies used for these events
• Documentation of any administrative approvals

If districts cannot clearly document that attendance law was followed properly, then a formal review by the Regional Office of Education or the Illinois State Board of Education may be appropriate.

This is not about punishing students.

It is about whether governance standards were upheld.

Districts Connected to Reported Walkouts in Lake County

Residents seeking clarification may contact:

Grayslake Community High School District 127
Website: https://www.d127.org
Board Page: https://www.d127.org/page/board-of-education
District Office Phone: (847) 986-3100

Round Lake Area Schools District 116
Website: https://www.rlas-116.org
Board Page: https://www.rlas-116.org/school-board
District Office Phone: (847) 270-9000

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118
Website: https://www.d118.org
Board Contact Page: https://www.d118.org/Home/Board-of-Education/board-contact-information
District Office Phone: (847) 526-7690

Mundelein High School District 120
Website: https://www.d120.org
Board Page: https://www.d120.org/about-mhs/board-of-education/
District Office Phone: (847) 949-2200

Warren Township High School District 121
Website: https://www.d121.org
Board Page: https://www.d121.org/ourschool/board-of-education
Board Email: boe@wths.net
District Office Phone: (847) 548-6000

Barrington Community Unit School District 220
Website: https://www.barrington220.org
Board Page: https://www.barrington220.org/our-district/board-of-education
District Administrative Center Phone: (847) 381-6300

Transparency Is Not Optional

Public schools operate under statute.

Compulsory attendance law exists to protect instructional time.

Taxpayer dollars exist to fund education.

If walkouts were excused without clear statutory authority, the public deserves answers.

If the law was followed, show the documentation.

If it was not, oversight mechanisms exist for a reason.

Lake County parents and taxpayers should insist on transparency, consistency, and lawful governance.

That is not partisan.

That is accountability.