School District 203: October 2008 Archives

Naperville School District 203 and the community got its first look this week at architectural renderings showing how the exterior of Naperville Central High School will appear when an $87 million renovation project is completed in December 2011.

Susan Crotty, school board vice president, said she's concerned that the modern look that's heavy on steel and glass will clash with existing architecture predominent in downtown Naperville, namely, some of the older historic structures that lend Naperville its charm.

The Sun Wednesday printed a color illustration showing the new look, and a gallery of additional images can be viewed at napersun.com. (Some images show the district's planned Early Childhood Center.)

What do you think of the new look? What do you think of Crotty's concerns that the modern look will clash with historic features downtown? Now that these renderings are out there, how excited are you about the Central renovation project, which voters made possible when they approved a tax-increase referendum?

Sunday's Sun features the results of a Sun study about Naperville's highest-paid public servants. We used the Freedom of Information Act to ask the city, school districts and park districts for lists of their highest-paid workers, then combined the findings into one list.

In a moment, you'll be able to share your observations. First, here's a couple of thoughts from us:

Why are administrators in Indian Prairie School District 204 paid so much more than their counterparts in Naperville School District 203?

The highest-paid public servants work in schools, not the city. Why is that?

The park district's highest salaries don't even register in the top 20 citywide.

The findings reported in The Sun are simply base salaries. You gotta figure another, what, 20 percent in costs borne by taxpayers for health insurance and other benefits, then add whatever retirement contribution taxpayers are making, not to mention auto allowances, etc.

Now, your turn. What do you think of the salaries paid to public servants in Naperville? What would you change, if you could?