because it is funded by local taxpayers. Rather, “public” also refers to that which is for the public’s use. See Black’s Law Dictionary 1265 (8th ed. 2004) (defining “public building” as “[a] building that is accessible to the public; esp., one owned by the government”). Here, the stipulated evidence indicated that Belvidere High School is maintained by the government, as local property taxes pay for its operation and maintenance. What is less ascertainable, perhaps, is whether a public high school is for the public’s use. In other circumstances, our supreme court has recognized that public schools are used not only to educate children but, also, to provide space for public functions. See, e.g., Board of Education of City of Chicago v. A, C, & S, Inc., 131 Ill. 2d 428, 474 (1989) (<HOLDING>). Thus, although public schools are used
holding that a federallyfunded program in which public school teachers provided remedial education to disadvantaged children in parochial schools as well as public schools did not violate the establishment clause holding that the waters of the state are a public asset and noting that this court has previously determined that public land public revenue a municipallyowned utility and wild salmon are all public assets that cannot be appropriated by initiative footnotes omitted recognizing the legal principle that an order of sale is a public document and all bidders as well as other persons are charged with notice of its terms recognizing that public schools are owned by the government maintained with tax revenue and used for mandatory classroom attendance as well as for other public functions recognizing that public utilities affect the public interest in that they render essential public services to a large number of the general public