As District 209 continues to spend tax dollars defending school board President Chris Welch against a defamation suit the public has no business paying for, we’ll be tracking how many students could have been educated with that money.

Using information from the state’s 2008 annual report card, Welch’s $57,883.50 in legal bills could have covered classroom costs for more than six kids, operating costs for more than three kids and the entire school year for more than two kids.

Classroom costs for 6.4
kids (at $9,036 per student)

Operating costs for 3.3
kids (at $17,434 per student)

One education for 2.1
kids (at $26,470 per student)

If you’ve got comments about how your money is being spent, call Supt. Nettie Collins-Hart at 338-5912 or Chris Welch at his Chicago law office at 312-641-1555.