Real Estate Agents Support School Zones

Rockford, IL - Rockford real estate agents are eager to see the zoning system approved as the new student assignment policy for Rockford schools. They say the choice system drives businesses and potential homeowners away. "Where the boundary lines are, from a real estate perspective, is somewhat inconsequential," says Jim Barbagallo, Rockford Area Association of Realtors. "I think getting it done is going to be very important for the future growth of Rockford." Barbagallo says not being able to tell a company interested in locating in the Rock River Valley where their employees children will go to school is a deal breaker. "Without it, we`re finding a lot of companies are just turning and going back to Chicago. They are not coming here," says Barbagallo. "Without it, I don`t think we`re going to see commercial or industrial growth in the Rockford area." School board members recognize the importance of business development in weighing the school assignment zoning plan decision. "We`re one whole community, not just little segments," says School Board Member Alice Saudargas. "We have to look at it from a political standpoint...what is the best for the majority of the community." "Certainly I think it will be an ancillary benefit," says Dr. Dennis Thompson, Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. "I`ve had companies out of Chicago call that want to relocate here, but their biggest concern is they`re not able to tell their employees which schools their kids will go to. But our biggest benefit is clearly academic." School Board Member Mike Williams disagrees. Hes an avid opponent of the zones, saying itll lead to racial discrimination. He says too much weight is being placed on business concerns. "We`re trading the realtors` ability to read a map for a discriminatory process," says Williams. The Rockford Area Association of Realtors contributed $30,000 to the District 205 referendum campaign voters approved last month. Barbagello says the group has donated money to all school referendums in the Rockford area because they support excellence in education.