BY MIKE CETERA
It looks like people opposed to the Indian Prairie boundary changes (and the new location of Metea Valley High School) are getting ready to sue.
They've set up a Web site basically announcing an impending court fight:
We are also unhappy with the decisions of district officials and concerned about the future of the district...and, to that end, have secured legal counsel to explore options ranging from stopping the new high school location to overturning the 2006 Referendum.Did you think it was over? It is not over. Our legal team thinks we have a fighting chance - so should you.
The local news media has stood by the school board and administrations' comments and either lacks the ability or the interest to delve into details of how taxpayers have been misled in a classic "bait and switch" to build a school that is poorly located, too large by any measure, and perhaps, not even needed. Where was the unbiased journalism? The investigative reporting?
The Web site is impressive in its volume -- there's a lot of stuff there. But there's no way to tell just how many people are involved.
We know that many parents are upset over the boundary decision. We also know some people are mocking the outrage.
So, did the school board really come down on the wrong side of the boundary/high school issue, or are these people just mad they didn't get their way?
Good for them and good for the MVHS boundary residents who will file a lawsuit against the SD if the MVHS building process is delayed by this "entitled" group for any other reason other than a VALID environmental issue at the North Eola Road site.
They do have a lot of information on their web site, if any of it is enough to change things is perhaps a different story.
Last time I checked I don't recall you having a right to attend the school closest to your home.
One of their questions struck me however...
By building a new HS, is the district losing economies of scale with cost per student lower than state/local districts?
I suspect most folks would argue that 3,500 students (as wikipedia states at WV) and 4,100 at Neuqua are too high. Too easy for kids to get lost in the cracks, heck too hard for a kid to make varsity in a lot of sports.
Anyway if your thoughts about how to run education involve economies of scale, why not do one high school and do shifts. That would save you some money.
Funny we managed to build a nice new high school in Oswego for less money (taking land out of the picture).
Future MVHS Parent,
Your comments are exactly what is fostering the divide in district 204.
Entitled? Why use that term? Could it be that there are people with valid concerns in district 204 at what has occured to date?
I was offended (as a parent who spends a great time volunteering in 204 schools) by the "entitled" label that d204's Superintendent placed upon those prior to public comment at the boundary meeting.
Why do you think those with concerns are "entitled"?
I don't mean to start a fight, we have enough of that going on. I'm just curious as to why people don't understand that many residents have concerns with the way in which 204 leaders have handled this situation. Don't you think some of the blame should be directed at those who put us in the situation we are today?
Face it, Naperville has turned into a town that looks good on the outside but on the inside it's like a cancer spreading it's disease. Unfortunately a round of chemo won't erradicate it.
We have to many selfish, arrogant people who live in this town and are destroying its reputation for those of us who have been here all our lives, were educated in 204 and our now our kids.
I'm embarassed to call any of you my neighbors. It is what it is and time to move on.
Life will not end here because our kids will have a 30 min. bus ride. Many kids already have that, including mine to MS. So get off your high horse and come down to reality.
The only ones lauging about this whole mess are the lawyers who will end up making lots of money off of this.
My kids have gone to school in dist 204 since kindergarten. One, was forced to move elem schools four times during the growth in the district which did not seem to be controlled by the cities. He survived. He excelled in the school, due to the excellent staff and caring teachers. The parents whining about the new school should think what is best in the long run for these kids and the district. Those of us that have paid the taxes and impact fees for over 20 years are getting sick of constantly paying more because of the cities greed in allowing so many new houses to be built in this district. Where are the city planners?
You voice such concern over the responsibility of the district and the city to give you what you want..... like a spoiled child. Come-on you live in the "kid friendliest" town in the United States. Your children outnumber the adults in town. YOU WANT TO LIVE IN 204 for it's services and reputation. You have stuffed every possible seat in the arena and now you are bitching over the cost of the seat. Look around you. You have a great community and terriffic real estate values. A law suit will only make the children who you care so much about suffer in over crowded conditions longer. Nequa Valley was passed by people who don't even live here any more, they didn't care, they overspent and underestimated growth. They ate the neighboring middle school to use as a freshman campus. The average family is transferred and stays three years! They are willing to build anything because they aren't staying.My guess is some of these law suit happy people will leave if they don't get what they want.Is the concern the bus ride? Is the concern the fact that the distrcit couldn't afford the land at 75th? Is the concern the socio-economic mix in the buildings? Afraid of your resale value? My question is not where is the city, or where is the distrct, but where are the adult parents? Your children need this building soon
What an interesting letter from a person in the March 10th Naperville Sun. In the letter the person seems to talk about the SD boundary issue but continues onto to one or two nonrelated topics. Hmm! With regard to the new HS this person said that they lived, and I quote, "in the evil Tall Grass neighborhood." Well you said it, no one else did, and I hope that your neighbors gave you permission to sterotype the Tall Grass neighborhood. I do not live there and I would not use such words, particularly about oneself. Also, not all Tall Grass homes are across the street from NV, if that were so then the Tall Grass area would be pretty small, which it is not. Remember, the last boundary decision, if you could call it that, had kids from Gombert being bussed to the new HS when they lived acorss the street from WVHS, and Gombert is a smaller neighborhood so all could walk to school. It pays to do some research before speaking. As for one set of railroad tracks being a obstacle, well, any driving student that lives East of Rt 59 has to cross several large traffic intersections(4-6 lanes). Lets get real, no one, in their right mind, is going pay for the Brach-Brodie land, and subsequent multiple referendums to fund the school. The price has been set, by a jury, and besides, property tax would go through the roof, regardless of stop gaps is tax assessment. You want to see people flee the area and potential home buyers avoid the area, well, that will do it. If the new HS is needed, then build it where has been set, near Eola Rd and lets get on with life.