Indian Prairie School District 204 today announced that it is recommending Metea Valley High School be built on 87 acres east of Eola Road, south of Interstate 88 in the far northwest corner of the district. What's your reaction to this development?
The district says on its Web site that it can buy the 87 acres for $16.5 million from St. John AME Church and Midwest Generation. The district says the third high school and a new middle school will open in August 2009. And the district says the cost of building the third high school will not exceed the referendum amount approved by voters.
This is incredible news! As a Naperville North side resident, I went through the ridiculous boundary mess, watching the process unfold, displacing middle schools, etc.
I don't know how anyone can argue with this location. Look at the map they provided.
One school on the southern side.
One school in the middle.
Now, one school on the northern side.
At $191K per acre to boot. Great decision.
Fair to ALL of Naperville kids!
Not to be rude but does your map contain district population distribution.. Just curious.. Or are we doing as the crow flies analysis?
To be honest at this point I am glad they made a decision. Now let’s get boundaries done soon so we can just all move on.
But who does not think that we are going to face at least a year or two of stalled building in part because of lawsuits that will be filed against the district? The district is not the only group who can file lame lawsuits... My guess is someone will here to. Say the headlines with me, “Resident files injunction against district. Metea Timeline in Doubt” or “Brach Brodie files multimillion dollar lawsuit against 204. Metea Timeline in Doubt”
The last time we thought something was a done deal we found out the hard way it was not.
Bad location! Macom and Hamman are better location than this one.
Well, that is great for Naperville North residents but what about the residents in the middle and south? We also went thru the ridiculous boundry mess and we will probably have to go thru it again. How is this fair to ALL of Naperville kids? And I believe that the owners of the Brach-Brodie will not let D204 just walk away that easily. If you think this is over, its probably not. I hope for the sake of ALL Naperville kids that the boundries remain as they are in order to avoid a repeat of the last redistricting.
Just remember 204 is not a "Naperville" school district. 204 covers parts of other suburbs including the eastern section of Aurora. As for the boundaries, let's continue to focus on academic equity and numbers for fairness to all the 204 students.
Hmmm....sounds like White Eagle may be redistricted to WVHS? (if bounderies were to make sense)
This is the best option. Let's get the boundaries done and get past all of the anger and start focusing on the kids again
Just when you thought the SB couldn't do anything more stupid, they top themselves. This recommendation by the administration is great cover for this egotistical, arrogant and simply communist, school board. Now they can say, "Well, we asked our people and this is what they recommended, we are only following their recommendation, we really didn't want it".
Tell me JH, what's in this decision for you? Is it a higher property value, a new job for your company, a political position for you somewhere in the district administration?
And Brad204, normally I agree with approximately 85% of what you write, but do you really find happiness in the SB's decision for the sake of making a decision? Or do you think we should "just move on" and everybody will forget about the last two years of struggle? Is this how you live your life, compromise, compromise, compromise? Have you no bedrock principles?
This decision is strictly to aggravate, annoy and cajole the people in the southern end of the district to begin to beg for the BB property instead of this stupid location. There is no good reason to put this school in this location other than to benefit the new superintendent, as his home appears to be located nearby, and the fact that the majority of the SB are residents of this northern area.
Less than 20% of the student population lives anywhere near the area, so why in God's name would you build a school there? Just for starters your transportation costs will be incredible; and you'll have safety issues by having to cross railroad tracks of a railroad whose daily traffic will be increasing.
So tell me JH and Brad204, what are the benefits? There are none.
But Brad204 I do agree with you wholeheartedly with one thing you stated. This will just be the beginning of lawsuits and headlines and a protracted building timeline. Many people who voted for the third high school did so specifically because they were led to believe by our SB that the BB property would be the location for Metzger's and Clark's monument to themselves. Now that that has changed, many former allies will be the biggest opponents.
It will be interesting to see who opposes this plan. Those of us on the South side were constantly told how D204 was catering to us. Brookdale subdivision representatives went so far as to question why they have to keep paying for the South Siders. Now that the "Northerners" will be getting a new school I'm sure they will be all for it! Ironic isn't it?
Let's not forget about the Brach-Brodie party. Do you really think that they will just walk away? They could have the district in court for years on top of the lawsuit(s) that will probably be filed from the White Eagle Homeowners association. D204 handled this poorly from the beginning and here we are again going thru the same process. If we think the first time around was bad, wait until this time (and no, I do not live in White Eagle or Tall Grass).
They should rename SD204 to the Aurora School System. It does seem that White Eagle and Tall Grass look to be headed to WVHS.
Ah, Dough Boy nice to see you again :) It is so boring without being eviscerated from time to time. I think you are right to call me out on my comment. My comment was unclear and a bit sarcastic. I am glad to have the SB's current decision so we can move from the current state of limbo to the next.
It will get interesting now because I do believe that 85% of voting public has no idea what has been going on. Most think the school is still going on BB and opening in 2009. I mean that is what the 204 web site said right?? Now, people are going to hopefully wake up and see what a complete mess has been made. My point here is this is long from over.
I imagine when the folks of White Eagle, Tall Grass, and Tamarack and other sub divisions west of 59 realize they are going to join Ashwood Park as the newest members of WVHS there will be uproar. (If they draw boundaries East/West that is. Or if they do them North/South I imagine White Eagle will still go to WVHS.)
And please everyone save me all the community comparison drama that was in the last thread. I am fine with diversity, blah, blah.. Heck I am diversity in my own way... Gangs do not follow city boarders, blah, blah..
As I stated along time ago, the concept of equal facilities between WVHS and NVHS is total lie. Ask anyone in IT or facilities and they will tell you there is absolutely no parity between the two schools. Been there have volunteered my time in both. I have seen it for my own eyes. No one will convince me otherwise.
How do you like me now? :)
I have a son in HS and another 8th grade. The 8th grader will likely be disrupted, so be it. We need a third high school, so hats off to the SB for finally making a decision that solves the over crowding problem.
This is only going to add to the nightmare that is traffic on Eola road in the mornings. I hope the can work with the county and the cities (is this thing in Naperville or Aurora?) to figure out what to do about the traffic issue.
Now to see how much more the building (excluding land) is going cost than what Oswego spent on Oswego East.
DoughBoy,
There is nothing "in it for me" besides hopefully, a more reasonable boundary setup for ALL subdivisions. It's attitudes like yours that really get the process messed up.
Your post is hilarious. Less than 20% of the students live "anywhere near" the area? Again, look at the map provided by the district. There are many feeder schools close by this new property. You think it makes sense to have all 3 High Schools at or below 75th street?
Perhaps since you live in close proximity.
It will be intereting to see the boundries. I agree that logic would have White Eagle go to WV ut I am sure they will fight. It seemed that Tall Grass did not fight as hard as White Eagle last time and they moved away from NV.
Looking at the current student numbers you can see a pattern where the North and far Eastern Middle (May Watts and Owen) sections go to MV. The Middle (including White Eagle) and southwest (Ashwood) go to WV and the south east goes to NV.
Not sure how the lines will work out but I agree that White eagle will be the sqweeky wheel.
Brad204,
Can you expand on this:
'As I stated along time ago, the concept of equal facilities between WVHS and NVHS is total lie. Ask anyone in IT or facilities and they will tell you there is absolutely no parity between the two schools. Been there have volunteered my time in both. I have seen it for my own eyes. No one will convince me otherwise.'
Starting to look like I'll need to find out more about WV...
Living in Century Trace, going to WV is double the distance to NV.
I never go around WV, mostly up 59 to commuter station, making NV very easy to fit into my schedule.
Thanks....
The district's estimate of 250K an acre for Brach/Brodie was never correct. Everyone knew that was lowballed to keep the estimate of the referendum as low as possible. I remember that CFO said it would be 500K an acre or more. Now the district is budgeting $146,340,000 for this supposed $124.6 million high school (both ridiculous amounts of money). The district purposely lied about the price in order to try and pass the referendum since it failed in 2005. CFO warned the boundary exercise was a charade and the district could later change the boundaries. CFO said there were better options to handle the bubble of students since enrollment had peaked. In the last 2 years, elementary school enrollment has dropped by 284 students. You have to wonder, if there is such an overcrowding issue, why hasn't the district added any portable classrooms in the 2 years since the referendum passed?
The reason...extra classroom space isn't needed and neither is a $146,3000,000 empty 3rd high school.
The district can not be trusted and I hate to admit it but CFO was right.
I will NEVER help to pass a district 204 referendum again.
What was the final cost of Oswego East? I know it was pretty cheap and it is a really nice school. Specifically their pool and Commons area are top notch.
I believe Oswego East came in at 65 million.
Oswego also has a brand new Junior High in Plainfield and brand new grade school in Oswego ready to open next fall, that they want to shutter and not open next year because enrollment is much less than previously expected. I believe the grade school was built for 750 students, if opened next year only 145 would attend.
Oswego East needed a new school.
District 204 is almost completely built out and enrollment is declining; we don't need another high school and closing WVHS gold campus to find students, any students to help fill the $146,340,000 empty 3rd high school is a joke.
It is Peterson Elementary school all over again.
They had only 40 students to attend a school that holds 850.
They had to close Wheatland to try and find some kids to go to the empty school. Peterson still sits half empty and unused. Meanwhile, schools like May Watts and Brookdale have tons of empty classrooms.
Do you think Jeanette Clark will finally learn how to count and do trend analaysis in those college course she is taking?
$225 million (principal and interest) too late for the taxpayers...
Kudos to the district for taking the time to use our $124M wisely. I've read the details a few times to make sure I'm not missing anything. Why didn't we look at this site in the first place?
Especially with the placement of the school, the boundaries have got to make sense.
Good job!
What's important here is that when it comes to boundaries we all act civilized. Because no matter what the magazines say about Naperville, when word gets out that their is turmoil, mud slinging and name calling it makes us all look uncivilized. Lets show people that we can come to the table and agree in a respectful manner and not like a bunch of spoiled brats.
In no way would we tolerate a room filled with children acting the way adults did last year. Please lets not let that happen again.
And remember SD 204 is not a "Naperville" district. It is Indian Prairie School District 204 which feeds into Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield & Naperville.
Hope everybody likes going to school right next to a MAJOR high voltage subatation...
The Oswego East High school cost $70M for a school to hold 24oo students on 102 acres. See the link
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:sajjTqc5_6sJ:midwest.construction.com/features/archive/0401_cover.asp+Oswego+East+construction+cost&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us
Despite my opinion that I do not think a third high school is needed, placement on the north side of Naperville makes sense if the boundaries are drawn to reflect this division of North, Central and South..
Ultimately, it should mean those neighborhoods south of 87th attend Nequa. Those north to NY attend Wabounsie and then everything north of NY attends Metea...period. Let the map speak for itself.
If you live in White Eagle you should have realized that this HS was in your backyard...YOU should go there.
The South neighborhoods should go to Nequa. Think about how it will affect those children if they attend one middle school and then are separated from their friends and go to another high school. It is not logical and no lawyer can argue that.
Dough Boy wrote; "and you'll have safety issues by having to cross railroad tracks of a railroad whose daily traffic will be increasing."
What safety issue? As long as the buses and parents don't stop on the tracks or go around the gates that isn't an issue.
Anonymous wrote; "Hope everybody likes going to school right next to a MAJOR high voltage subatation..."
More junk science.
Pleases, if you don't have any valid reasons the school shouldn't be built on the site chosen, leave the rhetoric and baseless scare tactics out of it.
Dough Boy wrote; "and you'll have safety issues by having to cross railroad tracks of a railroad whose daily traffic will be increasing."
What safety issue? As long as the buses and parents don't stop on the tracks or go around the gates that isn't an issue.
Anonymous wrote; "Hope everybody likes going to school right next to a MAJOR high voltage subatation..."
More junk science.
Please people, if you don't have any valid reasons the school shouldn't be built on the site chosen, leave the rhetoric and baseless scare tactics out of it.
You cannont compare what it will cost to build this HS vs. Oswego East. It would be like trying to compare building the same size house 4 years later. We all know that prices have gone up from everything from milk to lumber because of the high fuel prices.
It's basic economics. Just like every households budget has changed with gas prices over $3 a gallon.
Correct me if I'm wrong but what stand would any of us have on trying to sue the SB as far as boundaries go. Boundaries are not set in stone and districts can change them as need be. And don't cry over the RR tracks. Buses do it all the time. Even the buses from the preschool go over RR tracks.
As I have already sent this same comment to the 204 SB I'd like to say "finally the SB has waken up!"
I am located in the central part of the district. Under the Brach-Brody boundaries my kids would go to WV. Under the new proposed boundaries my kids will still likely go to WV. (I am therefore, inpartial!)
It seems that the SB has finally come-up with a solution that makes sense financially & geographically! Even though though the largest population growth is in the south the new location makes sense because it can serve the majority of the upper portion of the residence thus alleviating overcrowding at both WV & NV. All parts of the district will now be able to travel a reasonable distance to their local high schools. This district includes property even north of I-88. It did not seem to make sense to bus everyone to 1 of 3 schools all located in the southern half of the district.
The location of each of the 3 schools now makes sense!
Food for thought... If the district already owns 25 acres by the Brach-Brody land would it not make sense to sell that property at the price the Courts put on it ($564,000 per acre)? That would bring the district $14,100,000. At $191,000 per acre at the Eola location they can buy 75 of the 86+ acres using the revenues from that land sale of property they already own (hence, has already been paid for.) That provides 88% of the land needed for the Eola site vs.31% of the land near the Brach-Brody property! Sounds like the right business decision to me!
Can we expect to see some of these saving in the overall cost of the project? That still remains to be seen.
A lot of good food for thought so far. Now that we've had a few hours to digest the news, I would first want to commend the school board for finally moving forward by negotiating the purchase of an alternate site. I hear what brad204 is saying, though, and I share his concerns that this may not be the end of the matter. I'll breathe easier once the school opens its doors and there is no outstanding litigation to be resolved.
In my opinion, the big questions at this point are:
What will be the boundaries for all three high schools, and how much public input will there be in that decision this time around?
What will become of the 25 acres the district owns at Brach-Brodie?
How much will the legal fight over the remaining BB acreage end up costing the district?
How are both Metea Valley High School and a new middle school going to open by August 2009?
Note, I was never a supporter of the referendum and fought against it myself. And I also think the school still isn't needed.
But for the first time, I think the board did at least something that wasn't totally upside down. I think the location makes sense, and I believe other posters indicating there are a lot of feeder schools nearby are correct; there are.
This will redistribute the school population northward. If you are in the central part of town and don't care for WV, then I suppose that's life in the big city. Best to pursue the school board about ensuring parity at the schools which someone else has already commented on.
As for the Brach estate, I thought there had been comments elsewhere (long ago) that they are eligible for damages because of the legal hell the school district put them through. This comes at a cost, which coincidentally is just about the value of the 16 acres that the school board had already purchased years ago. So once again millions wasted. Not stellar fiduciary responsibility.
The question I would ask any board member is why the heck this proposal wasn't on the table and seriously considered from the beginning. The school would be built by now if they had been realistic, and we could have saved tens of millions of dollars instead of pursuing the Brach-Brodie boondoggle.
Good luck everyone in 204 (of which I am one, but I live in the shadow of NV).
Now that the SB has again divided the district...will be extremely difficult to pass the necessary referendum that is going to be needed to operate MV.
MV will be lucky to open by 2011...
I think it is rather funny or ignorant (can not decide which) that people believe we will get $564,000/acre from selling the 25 acres we have at BB to someone.
Find a buyer at that price. Until then, one can not count *ANY* of that money for anything because it is just sitting there with no buyer for an indefinite amount of time. BB supposedly does not even want to buy it back at $250,000/acre. That should tell you something right there.
The court only set 'our' price for the condemnation lawsuit. It did not set a 'market' price for the land. That only gets determined when there is a willing seller and a willing buyer.
There is so much other 'garbage' being posted in this blog already that it's not even worth the time to slice/dice it and set the information correct.
I do what to ratchet my rhetoric down a bit. Maybe I have had some time to think about it and spend some time swimming some laps pondering it. Maybe a north, central (err central but a tad west), and southern school make sense. That is not really how the population falls so there is a bit of a hole there.
Right now my sub-division is absolutely not in a “continuous boundary”. It is more like a hopscotch mess. So if they unify the boundaries so all my neighboring sub-divisions go to the same place and the kids are not being split as they go from elementary, and then split again to middle school, and oh yeah split again when they go to high school it will not be so bad. I have plenty of time to push my agenda to get any parity issues worked out.
I am still hot and angry about what I perceive to be a complete manipulation of the facts to get us where we are currently. I wish someone (for instance) Dr. D just had the guts to come forward and say “I believe” this is the best solution for the district. Instead they are hiding behind amateur hour analysis.
Honestly, the sparse bullet points about the pros and cons for each parcel are insulting and well inconsistent. Hello, the AME site needs remediation just like that Macom site needs. Oh and gosh did anyone notice they did testing at only the AME site? Whatever. I am sick to death of this side show of lame facts. And the financial analysis that includes costs savings (not using modular buildings) as revenue sources. Err, hmm again whatever.
The 2009 date is a joke. That seems to be the fact that holds up the whole AME selection. One labor strike, material shortage, injunction/lawsuit, act of nature, etc can derail that. Let’s say the land is remediated and ready to go for an initial grade in March. (Please that is being generous) That gives us basically 16 months to get the initial components of the school ready to go. Oh, and inspected with an occupancy permit. That is total horse manure. There is no way. Absolutely no way that school will be ready for occupancy on time. Let me say it again, “No Way”. And keep in mind that is not a fished school either so whatever kids are lucky enough to go to class in a construction zone should really enjoy it. And has been said by so many the school is a 30 year commitment. Does it really matter what year it opened?
So, yes I am hot because I feel like once again we are being lied to and the facts are being manipulated. Just be honest Dr. Dash/SB about why you are doing this. You have a gut feeling this is the best way to go. Stand by the decision and for gosh sakes do not act surprised or to over worked when the entire community comes a knocking and wants some real answers. I hear Dr. Dash’s behavior at the PTA meeting tonight was hostile and angry when questioned. There is a lot more where that came from.
And please, do not once again lead us down a path with false facts and act surprised when it does not work out… I did notice you are going to open the school without the operational referendum. I think is a masterful way to ensure it opens. But unless you want to shut it down a year later we should all find a common ground so the referendum does not become a tool for showing you ultimately who is boss.
"Food for thought... If the district already owns 25 acres by the Brach-Brody land would it not make sense to sell that property at the price the Courts put on it ($564,000 per acre)?"
Anonymous, I believe one of the stipulations when 204 bought the 25 acres from BB was if they don't build a school it must be sold back to BB at the price that 204 paid for it.
"What will become of the 55 acres the district owns at Brach-Brodie?"
Ted, isn't it 25 acres?
NOTE from Ted: Yes, you're right. Thanks, RJ, I fixed.
2009? Hello, people. Does anybody get that they are rushing to open that thing before enrollment declines by a couple hundred AGAIN and it become even more apparant that it wasn't needed in the first place!!! So they'll rush to open and cut corners and the qualilty will suck and they'll end up tearing it down in 30 years.
In my view, this is excellent news. The people who wanted the SB to choose a different site will find other reasons not to be happy.
It's a good thing there are so many lawyers in South Naperville because according to the comments already posted, there will be a lot of suing going on. Why should BB sue SD204? They didn't want to negotiate. Now, they can keep their land. Or, since the courts established the opening bid for their land, they can sell for a higher price and allow it to be used for commercial purposes.
If the Brodie Brach estate stipulates that the property is now worth twice it was assessed for by the Naperville township in 2006 lets make sure that the Naperville Township Assessor re assesses the property for 2008 at the new market value of the property which should be double the amount,and double the taxes that this parcel is now paying,, how is that for a payback for winning the court case .
Aside from the inevitable civil war which is about to erupt due to the boundary movements, and aside from the very valid debate as to whether the student population of the future will justify having the third school, and aside from the very valid observations that the SB has manipulated the pros/cons of each site to cast a good light on the site they've now chosen, I have one additional question:
Is it prudent to make a decision now based on the (dubious) ability to deliver the (partially complete) building in 2009? Is "building at site X wouldn't be ready until 2010" really a reason to not pursue site X? Aren't we making a decision regarding a massive amount of taxpayer money which will impact Naperville, Aurora, and the surrounding communities (props to all non-Napervillians!) for the next 50+ years? Is 2009 versus 2010 the end-all be all? Especially when 2009 gets you a hastily rushed partially completed building, if you're lucky?
In my opinion, delivering the building in 2009 serves one purpose: to keep further egg off the collective faces of the SB. They proposed a referendum to build a school at Brach-Brodie for delivery in 2009. They've already crashed and burned on the first half of that proposal. They're just trying to not crash and burn on the second half, even if it means that they have to Jedi-mind-trick us into thinking that the Eola location is the best site notwithstanding their obsession with the 2009 delivery.
To me, the best criteria for determining which kids feed into which high schools is to set the lines so that the average travel time to/from school per kid is minimized. To me, if the lines are drawn any other way then there is pandering going on. To me this is the best way of acknowledging your population centers and doing the right thing with that information. Is it really going to be equitable to ask a kid in Tamarack (where I do NOT live!) to travel more than 5 miles to WV when NV is less than 3 miles away? Is that equitable? Obviously in my scenario some kids would have to travel an "above average" number of miles but, at least the solution would be transparent to the community and I think completely defensible.
So in summary: (1) Are being given the straight dope on a 2009 delivery date, and do we (i.e. the community, not the SB) CARE if it is 2009? and (2) Are we going to get the straight, non-politicized, dope on the boundary lines?
Just a hunch: Nope. And Nope.
They must think I'm a dope.
Who cares if the White Eagle people whine about going to an Aurora school? They are, after all, living in Aurora.
Nick, I believe the land you wanted 204 to steal would be taxed at the unimproved land rate, not an imagined punish the land owners for what they might sell their property for rate.
Brad204 wrote :
> Anonymous, I believe one of the stipulations when 204 bought the
> 25 acres from BB was if they don't build a school it must be sold
> back to BB at the price that 204 paid for it.
Brad - I believe you are correct. So they sell the land back for 5 or 6 million, then pay the 5 to 6 million in legal fees, and the money they spent to buy the original 25 acres goes down a rat hole.
As I stated, not exactly stellar fiduciary responsibility.
I think a lot of good comments on the choice have been posted regarding issues with the site; it will be interesting to see if this is in fact a "done deal". In either case, it looks like the question of BB is probably settled though. The new school, if it ever gets built, won't be at BB.
BigMike,
I think they closed down Wheatland and moved the kids to Peterson to keep the ggg off their face in that case too...
Seems like they are in a hurry to get something done instead of worring about getting it right...
With the great potential for litigation, the 2009 timeframe may well be dream under any scenario.
Without any boundaries being proposed for the Eola site it is hard to evaluate it. Seems like they have a good idea about them givin the comments on transportation times being the same as BB.
As both an employee and graduate of D204 I am glad to see that a location has finally been recommended by school board. A forum such as this is a breeding ground for opinion misrepresented as fact. I have only one comment to make. To Aurora Resident, Taxpayer and Mother with regards to her statement about “MAJOR high voltage substation…” The Midwest Generation substation was shut down nearly 7 years ago. So I implore those reading this and any other forum to double check for facts before railing on something.
Clearly the rush to open looks higly questionable as does the need for the school altogether. If ES enrollment declinded the last 2 years in a row and they have not added any portables in 2 years, where is the problem?
If they need a little more MS space, get a couple portable classrooms for a few years.
I drove by Glenbrook North recently (Silver Star winner in US News Best HS in America) and they had a couple portable classrooms in use.
These small issues are solved so easily by other school districts and they rank higher than 204.
http://tinyurl.com/2l6dkl
I need to make a correction to my previous comment...I guess that is a bit of Karma coming back to bite certain parts. It is not that the station had been closed 7 years ago, the use has been decreased and will be removed.
Thom,
There is a peaker plant to the east that is slated for removal, then there is the substation just north/north-east of the property which I believe will remain in place, will it not? I think that substation is what people are referring to.
Thom another correction...
"I am glad to see that a location has finally been recommended by school board."
Actually, it has been recommended by the administration and not the School Board. Although based on the fact Dr. D basically silenced Alka from answering a question at the PTA last night I am not sure who is in control of who. The members of the board will approve, change, or reject the recommendation.
Anon 9:00AM, I did in fact say that about the BB land. I left out a small fact. Sorry for that. I do not believe BB has to buy the land back. They, BB, can force the district to sell it to the trust (for the purchase price) if the district plans on selling it. The district can not force BB to buy it if BB does not want it back. I assume that was done to ensure the district does not profit from the sale of the land. Seems reasonable stipulation since BB probably thought it was giving that district a deal on the price.
So, the land transaction is far from a done deal until the closing is finished and checks are cashed. I might be treading out of my depth but I believe that is how it works. If it is not please someone correct me.
I am leaving my when, where, and what slogan behind and switching to... Land Price Promise of 2006 = AME Site 2009 School Open Promise of 2008 :) Not as catchy but I think both promises are equal on the fact both require factors to fall into place that are beyond the admin's/sb's control.
I was not a supporter of the referendum and have since lost respect for and trust in the SB. Despite these facts, can we act rationally and with maturity? Our children are listening and watching us.
There are some pretty ignorant people in this district. Not all residents of White Eagle, Tall Grass, Tamarack and who ever else was mentioned are going to fight going to WVHS. Sure, there will be some. You know what, we just want what everyone else wants, a good education for our children. It matters not which high school we go to and my children just want to go to high school with their friends. So before you go bad mouthing subdivisions, why don't you get to know some of the people who live in them. We may surprise you and turn out to be normal, down to Earth people. Try it, you might actually like it.
Hello everyone - I'd like to clear up any confusion on these threads "EagleDude" is not "EagleDad". I'm the genuine EagleDad (always have been) and not the same as EagleDude (it is a nice nickname choice though).
Anyways I'd like to invite everyone who is interested in an ongoing discussion of the issues and challenges District 204 is facing to participate on this discussion board which has been going on for 2 years. It is sometimes referred to as the "ProBoards"
http://ipsd204.proboards76.com
It's been running for over 2 years and has hundreds of your fellow community residents participating in healthy debate.
All are welcome
EagleDad (not EagleDude)
What happens if the referendum (for the funds to operate the HS) fails?
Then what?
I generally with Brad's posts, but I have to question the school board claim that an operating referendum won't be needed because of improved financial projections. What projections? If a new school is opened, there will be real operating costs. Is the school board saying that they are already collecting those taxes? If so, why? Of course, there's also the magic investment that has generated $13 million in interest on $65 million in bond proceeds. how are we supposed to believe anything we are told?
I think the reality is that a 2009 referendum would be on the ballot in the early spring of 2009 and the school won't be open yet -- and the timing is too close to the outrage over the current fiasco. I think it unlikely that a 2009 referendum would pass. If they wait until 2010, the new school will be open. They'll have an extra year to send out puff news releases about what a great job they do and everyone will be happy.
If the White Eagle and Tall Grass people wanted a Naperville school district, then they should have bought a home there. SD204 serves only part of Naperville. Get over yourselves and focus on the kids and their education! SD204 offers great teachers/curriculum at all the schools.
GetOvertheJones': please stop your routine WE and TG bashing. SD204 serves kids from Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Bollingbrook, etc, and by the way, I live in TG and my mailing address has Naperville in it. I can criticize or support SB for their recommendation as a tax-paying resident. I was against referendum, but live with the result and am ready to move on. Now this boundary issue comes up again, and even before we have serious study and dialog on the options, you already started mud sling and name calling, shame on you.
The new location certainly seems to make sense based on the map. Personally, I was disappointed that a North side location was chosen, as the Brach-Bodie site is much closer to home. I can't argue with the logic, though, or the price, so I support the district's decision.
I do have one request of the district - please do not open up the boundary issue for public commentary. I have lived in Naperville for more than 20 years and have taken great pride in sharing our beautiful and progressive (I thought) city with friends and relatives from other places. I was shocked and appalled, though, with the outrageous and bigoted behavior so many residents displayed during the boundary discussions of 2 years ago. That's ugliness I don't care to see again. So district - make the executive decisions, using sound judgment. Avoid the temptation to pander to elitist prejudices.
I am not happy that the school is not being built at BB. However, I am glad that yet another government entity wasn't allowed to steal private property for less than it is worth. We should all be glad of the win for private property owner's rights.
Also, with the north-side location of MV, I hope the boundary decision is not just north/middle/south. It would be much more beneficial to the district, and homeowners, to split north/southwest/southeast. All of the schools would have a similar mix of students, making all of them more equal in reputation, rather than the current feeling of elitism towards NV.
If the boundaries do come out this way, I hope White Eagle and Tall Grass focus on making their school the best it can be, rather than complaining and possibly holding up the process.
By the way, my kids would switch from WV to NV in the above scenario. I am excited about WV's future and wouldn't mind staying there. I just think the scenario above would be best for all of the kids in the district.
Actually, this is wonderful news. Now GET ON IT 204! Do it soon.
As I resident of Brookdale (N-W city) I have felt like the red headed orphan since Naperville, the park district, and distrrict 204 continually propose spending my taxes on South side ammenities. This is a welcomed development. Please 204, refrain from the tripe you professed in the last boundary fiasco, namely that "although Brookdale is farthest from Wabonsie the close relation between Brookdale parents and this school makes it worthwhile to bus our kids farther than anyone else". Nobody is buying that garbage. The only better thing would be to forget the school all together since we will never need the space.
I think everyone will find out that a North site was one the SD should have been going for all along. In the end it will be just fine. There a plenty of students in the North end to fill the school.
Yes WE will most likely go to WVHS again, Maybe even TallGrass.
I do feel some pain for the May Watts area as they most likely are going north. Should not be that bad, as they already go north to Hill MS.
If you don't like it....there are many homes for sale in Stonebridge, Butterfield and Ginger Woods.
Wake up!We do not need another high school in 204! A updated analysis of projected population trends needs to be done in light of the current real estate market. Demand for district 204 housing is not what it was and will likely never return to the same level during its hot period of several years ago. The future tax burden and mothballed facilities will only drag on future real estate values for the area.
Enough about this 3rd high school, this has been talked about for 4 years and in all that time we never saw the flood of students District 204 claimed.
I want to know 2 things:
when will my taxes go up again?
when can we start to talk about the 4th and 5th high schools?
Here we go again. I agree and applaud those who are keeping there comments mature and focused. The rush to judgement and venom against TG and WE is quite alarming. I am a Tall Grass resident with a 4th and 6th grader who will be impacted by the boundary change. Everyone I speak to in TG has the same attitude- that we are in it together and wherever the boundaries are set, so be it. We've told our kids that the building is not important, its the teachers and students who are and they should stop listening to the bashing of WVHS. I know plenty of kids who go there and love it. The label that WVHS as a 'bad' school is ridiculous. It's a building and the student body will be altered as will all of the schools so why are we bashing a building?
Sure, having my kids go to the school closest to us that will soon have a cross walk over 59 to walk to would be most desirable (construction IS underway) but it has nothing to do with anything except convenience. I for one will not go crying to the board. It's a wasted effort. PLEASE STOP MAKING KIDS FEEL BAD ABOUT WVHS. This is hurting our kids (all of our kids) so get over it already. THIS is the opinion of an actual TG resident and not those who want to label and prejudge us. And you know who you are.
Dear Active 204 Dad,
Since you are so "excited about WV's future and wouldn't mind staying there" why not trade your potential new slot at NV for staying at WV?
I mean, come on, either put up or shut up!
If WV is as good as all of the people who will be LEAVING it say it is, then why not ask the SB to allow you to trade with someone who wants to stay at NV? Seems simply to me.
When I bought my home less than a mile from the front door of NV, it never occurred to me that some day a communistic SB would truck my kids to WV or any other school. And to those who say it's a "school district" and not a school, please, get your collective heads out of your collective you know what!. No sane, educated, astute homebuyer with kids, buys a home just anywhere. They scope out the school and area which will be the best fit for their kids and budget. And if they are fortunate enough to be able to afford a better school than you or me, well then TOO DAMN BAD!
If I had wanted my kids to go to WV I would have bought a house less than a mile from that front door.
So how about it, are your willing to put your kids future and your home equity up for trade so that you can stay at WV?
Wait, what's that you say? Oh, I didn't think so.
And, by the way, your comment "If the boundaries do come out this way, I hope White Eagle and Tall Grass focus on making their school the best it can be, rather than complaining and possibly holding up the process," really shows what a phony YOU ARE! Give me a break!
You were probably crying and yelling just as loud as everyone else to get your way (or you should have been), the last time around. I hope that the good people of White Eagle and Tall Grass, who were stupid enough to believe the SB's lies during the last two go arounds, will finally now wake up and fight with everything they have through the courts, media and whatever else they have at their disposal.
Finally, to Brad 204, your stock has risen to its former heights!
If I wanted my kids to go to WV instead of NV I would have bought a house that was zoned into WV and saved myself at least $50,000.
Don't call me a whiner. I'm just speaking the truth. You know it and I know it.
DB did you take your meds today because you are sounding like one crazy lunatic. You are not any more important than the rest of us. You need to find something else to take up all your free time.
Dear NormalTG,
I'm not sure who you are talking to, maybe your imaginary friend, but of the folks I talk to who live in Tall Grass couldn't disagree with you more.
Your comment,"PLEASE STOP MAKING KIDS FEEL BAD ABOUT WVHS" would be laughable if it weren't for its idiotic nature. People are trying to give their kids the best (I hope) possible school and lifestyle than can. Are you really seriously saying that WV is just as good as NV? Please stop, you're making me laugh again.
I have experienced both schools firsthand, and there is simply no comparison. NV is many times better than anything WV has to offer. Sorry, but those are the facts.
If you are so sure that it's the people in the school and not the school's location or reputation that is what really matters, then why not offer to buy one of your neighbor's homes for the value it had before the referendums?
I mean, if, as you say, WV is just as good as NV, then you would be willing to put your money where your mouth is and buy your neighbor's house for a FMV of say, three years ago, and then try to sell it today (at today's depressed price) telling the prospective buyers that their kids will be bused to WV. I mean, everything is the same, right?
Just ask the poor folks in Ashwood who built their homes thinking their kids were going to NV, but are now going to be bused hundreds of miles to WV. Do you think their home values have gone up? What does your imaginary friend have to say about that?
The time has come finally for the people to be heard and this school board to be put in its rightful place, as a group charged to do the bidding of the taxpayers, and not the other way around. Too much money has been spent, too many ulcers created and too many hard feelings been suffered for this mess to be cleared up now that "the SB has made a decision". If you are dumb enough to be happy just because they SB finally made a decision, (an incredibly bad one at that) than maybe you should have all of your future voting privileges revoked for the crime of public stupidity.
DB if you are as smart as you think you are you would of realized that you moved into an area that was one of the fastest growing in the country. And with that brings change. Some for the good and some not. And when it comes to school boundaries nothing is set in stone.
I thought Naperville was a town where everyone was educated. Well sir, your bring this town down with your out of control blogs.
Is this the best thing for me and my kids no. But I will tell my children that at times disppointments are a part of life and you better get used to it so when you grow up you don't sound like DB.
And please don't wine about distance from school. How many residents drive all over town or western suburbs for soccer games, etc. That doesn't seem to bother you. But you will complain because they have to for school.
Give me a break!
Hundred's of miles away. Wow, didn't realize that MV was out of state now. DB you need to find a new hobby. I live in the WV area right now and I can tell you that those kids are just as important as any kid at NV. What's upsetting about this whole thing is that the kids are acting more like adults than the adults are.
The kids hear what is being said about them and they read it all too. They know their school and will let all this negative stuff roll off because they are smart enough to know that people like you are not worth yesterday's newspaper.
Why in God's name they let you post is beyond me. It's one thing to attack an adult but to go and attack innocent kids who have no control over the situation is wrong.
Let me guess you were the one who was least likely to succeed in HS and still can't get over it so your now picking on teenagers.
GET A LIFE
DB is DB. If you have not noticed he is a bit inflammatory by now.. welcome to the party :) He represents a view point that does exist.
I find it a bit amazing how a lot of the posts (okay filter out the subdivision bashing. I am with all of you I do want this to be civilized but I do want to be heard as well.) are very okay with the new plan. At a high level, I can see people feel good about possibly ending this and people see light to a fair and equitable set of borders. (Well until they get announced :) ) So we are just all going to show-up and slap the district on the back and say good job can’t wait to see the new school..
Put all the boundary emotion aside. Everyone saying, “right on” feels good about the districts timeframe, its analysis, and its ability to deliver. I would not let your happiness about a shorter commute blind you.
These are the same people who just wasted three years and I do not know pick a number 5 or 7 million on legal costs. The same people who were wrong about every fact they have put forth. The same people who got the state legislature involved!?! The same people who say the school is on budget at 140M. Wasn’t that supposed to be 124M? The same people who just went and negotiated with just one site. (Yeah, its pretty obvious form the analysis that no one really talked with the other owners)
Someone mentioned before that the SB will have to eat their previous site selection report when they are voting. That is a pretty good visual. But that was back when the peaker plant was an environmental concern. Now its just a simple remediation issue.
If I was a member of the school board I might just want to get it close to right this time. Elections for JS, JC, BG, and CV are due in 2009. MM, CB, and AT were able to side step back lash since all this drama happened after the election. These four will come up for a vote in the eye of the storm. Good luck to you.. Choose well and wisely.
Dough Boy,
Your rantings are exactly what we do not need in D204. You make it sound like you are entitled to this and that just because you bought your house in a certain area. It's your elitist attitude makes me sick.
You are giving the good folk in the south Naper area a bad rep.
Sorry Doughboy, but I too have experienced both schools first hand, and you are right the aren't anywhere near the same. NV is an elitist institution with a entitlement chip on their shoulder. WV is a diverse school which is saddled with the lowest scoring elementary schools in the district by our wonderful school board, is located in an older building, but still manages to churn out some pretty amazing accomplishments. Sorry but marble halls and a newer building don't make a school. Seriously, get over yourself. If you cared so much about the schools, perhaps you should have moved to 203 - their scores are consistently higher than 204. And by the way - I live in Stonebridge and I'm fairly certain that my house cost just as much if not more than yours.
Dear Anonymous,
As a matter of fact I did take my medication today, not that it is any of your business! You should read me when I am really mad!
Nice try on the leftist, liberal trick, to attack the speaker when the the truth comes out. Some people might fall for it, but I suspect most won't.
I would not expect someone as liberal and ignorant as yourself to understand much of what I say, but the people who are most affected know full well that I am dead on with the truth, in spite of your vicious attacks.
Why don't you and the rest of your liberal, Communist brethren all join hands and start a rousing chorus of kumbaya!
The vast majority of comments I've read are not evaluating the proces that got 204 where they are today. The 1st referendum was voted down because the SB did not provide boundary information. The 2nd referendum passed because the SB provided boundary information. I believe the SB should be forced to hold another referendum based on the new boundaries.I for one purchased a home believing my children would go to the new school, now that appears to be in significant doubt.
If anyone on this blog is attacking it's you. I'm just defending the students of WV that you insulted. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Your blog shouldn't have been posted given that you attacked the students of WV.
Oh by the way why do you think everyone is a leftist liberal. Well guess what your wrong.
I feel sorry for your wife and kids.
Anonymous wrote; "Hope everybody likes going to school right next to a MAJOR high voltage subatation..."
More junk science.
What junk science are you refering to.. EMF form the 345KV transmission lines to the North and East of the school.. Or the PCB's that have been used for about sixty years at the substation. Or the millions of gallons of fuel oil that were delivered to the peaker site (remember when the creek was on fire??) or maybe the hundreds of gallons of TCE used to clean everything... Remember NIKE park???
It seems to us that Dough Boy is upset because he promoted the 3rd HS because he was greedy and thought he would personally benefit but in the end he did not; many of us made the same mistake. We had no real idea if the 3rd high school was needed but greed blinded our judgement.
In reading these posts we were surprised to find out that in the last 2 years IPSD 204 elementary school enrollment has declinded by 284 students; that is something the district never tells you. The talk about enrollment peaking appears to be true.
It is embarrassing when you are made out to be a sucker but that is what happened.
Our apologizes to seniors and other who will be unnecessarily taxed out of their homes due to the skyrocketing property taxes which are sure to be just around the corner.
Please forgive our ignorance and greed.
Thank you! to the school board for keeping your contract with the taxpayers of the district. Your fiscal responsibility should be applauded.
As I see it, the only thing legally binding from the referendum was how much money could be spent to build the new school. The fact that the board is doing th