Barrington business leaders and residents came together recently to attend a town hall where they learned about new initiatives by area townships, park districts, libraries and schools.
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Hosted by the Barrington Chamber of Commerce and held at the Barrington Park District Recreation Center, 65 people heard from a panel of nine local leaders from the Barrington Area Library, Barrington School District 220, Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Park District, Barrington Township, Cuba Township, Harper College and the South Barrington Park District.
Attendees of the April 19 event were told how township officers can assist in property tax appeals to reduce assessments free of charge, how pickleball mania is finding more courts at park districts throughout the Barrington area, how recent referendum dollars have been applied to community projects and how local schools are teaching and using artificial intelligence in their curriculums.
New SD220 Superintendent Craig Winkelman said the district is using artificial intelligence in early learner reading and tutoring programs. The program, developed by Carnegie Mellon University, listens to assess where a child is having difficulties in reading fluency and provides real time instructional tutoring. He said teachers are also adjusting writing curricula to ensure students are learning the essentials of writing without the assistance of such Ai programs.
At Harper College in Palatine, President Avis Proctor said her team has launched a program that teaches artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Harper, which serves 30,000 students annually from 23 area communities, features a diverse student body, she said.
Proctor said 69% of the college’s students attend part-time and 30% are age 18 and younger, with over 5,000 dual credit students in partnership with area high schools.
One of the pillars of the college is to remove student barriers, whatever they may be, she said, and set them up for success.
“We’re facing growing poverty in the area,” Proctor said, noting 49% of Harper students report some kind of housing insecurity while 13% face homelessness.
Teresa Jennings, executive director of the Barrington Park District, reported she and Park District staff are “riding on the joy of passing our referendum” during the recent election. The $18.8 million bond referendum will pay for a new pool and bathhouse, six to eight new outdoor, lighted pickleball courts, four new outdoor, lighted platform tennis courts, a new warming hut for courts that includes bathrooms, shade and seating, along with a new picnic shelter, according to the Park District.
Jennings said the Park District has been managing a record number of program registrations, and with the referendum, the 25-year-old pool currently using well water will be replaced with a new pool in 2025 that uses village water. She said the new pickleball courts “give adults and young kids an opportunity to be out in the park.” The Park District’s Silver Sneakers fitness program is also growing, Jennings said.
She explained that Citizens Park was paid off in December and the recreation center will be paid off in five years.
“It’s good to do business this way and not raise taxes,” Jennings said. “This board continues to think how we can keep the taxes down and continue to provide quality programs and services.”
Supervisors of both Barrington and Cuba townships emphasized the need for their food pantries, which continue to serve dozens of area families with both fresh and canned foods, and provide rent and transportation assistance, as many people continue to struggle amid rising inflation.
Scott Anderson, Barrington village manager, along with board members from some of the taxing bodies, were in attendance at the town hall.
The town leaders were looking “to have a better understanding of what other governments’ high-profile projects are,” Anderson said, adding there is a lot of intergovernmental cooperation, particularly with the school and park districts. “This creates an understanding of what their opportunities and challenges are and helps us determine where we can strengthen our partnership.”
Anderson and Linda Hovde, president of the Barrington Park District board, who was also in attendance, agreed learning about what was happening in the schools and particularly about the growth and successes at Harper College, was essential.
“There’s a lot to learn about our taxing bodies and that’s the value of a program like this,” said Suzanne Corr, president/CEO of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s incredibly valuable to be an informed citizen and informed business owner and be aware of how our tax dollars are being spent. It’s also incredibly informative to the organizations as they’re listening to what others are doing and they’re learning so much. We should all be very proud — there are many well-run organizations in our community.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.