NOTE: This letter was sent to CFO on 2/27. I have received no responses to points 1) or 2), nor has any of the false & misleading information that I’ve pointed out in 3) been updated on their site. In the meantime, they’ve had time to add other information to their site.
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To CFO@Voteno204.org
I have some questions about some of the information on your site. I'd appreciate a response to as many of these as possible:
1) You predict that 9,200 high school students is the 'worse case' scenario:
then, claim that the current high schools have a capacity above 10,200:
and then, present some lower-cost options to the referendum
If you really believe that the max enrollment in HS will be 9200, and you really believe that the current high schools can house 10,200, then why are you proposing spending at least $15M to add on to Neuqua? Given your numbers, this sounds like an unnecessary expense.
2) How can you predict an enrollment peak in highs school of 9200 when there are 9200 kids in 2nd-5th grade, and plenty of undeveloped residential land in 204?
3) Regarding the “Counterpoint” page…
- "the District is now merely contemplating housing a projected ‘bubble’ of 9,200 students"
This is False - The school board has stated that there are 9200 real kids in 2nd-5th grade, with more houses to be built:
www.ipsd.org/3rdHS_enrollment.asp. Can you please correct this fact on your site?
- "Even if one were to use the District’s preference for 90% utilization (“optimal”), each freshman campus could comfortably accommodate 1,463 students"
Have you contacted the principal's of the school to see what the realistic capacity of the schools are?
- "However, the historical record shows that Waubonsie has operated at 3,600 enrollment and Neuqua at 3,200"
The historical record also shows that these enrollments were handled on a temporary basis, with a permanent solution coming the following year. Please add this fact to your site, in order to provide the complete set of facts surrounding this enrollment peak.
- "The proposed new HS would be located near the corner of Rte 59 and 75th Street. This is not only a congested area, but some of the most expensive land in the district which would be better suited for commercial uses."
The proposed location for the 3rd HS is zoned residential, NOT commercial (so, if a school is not built there, then houses - that will produce more kids for 204 - will be built there). Please update your site with this information.
The 3rd HS would be buffered from 59 by business/commercial, just like NV. The entrances to the school would be off of Commons, and perhaps a right-in, right-out off of 75th. The location would be approximately the same distance from 59 as NV is. Please update your site with this information.
- "our real estate taxes are already approximately 20% higher than homes in neighboring school district 203"
203 is a much older district, and is basically built-out. They have different problems than 204 - some overcrowding, and many older buildings to maintain & repair. This is like comparing apples & oranges. Many other nearby districts actually have higher taxes. Please update your site to either remove this unfair comparison or add comparisons with other nearby school districts.
- "additional high school capacity of 250-600 students (with “room to grow” according to Crouse) will be available in the Fall of 2006 thanks to a partnership between the District and College of DuPage. "
This will be a volunteer program, so there is no way to know how many students will participate. This is also not a day-long program, so even if 600 students participate, this does not reduce the needed HS capacity by 600. Please update your site with this fact.
- "Thus, the ‘sky is falling’ argument should be discarded. The District said if voters approved it, approx $1.3M would be spent to fix up Waubonsie. Amazingly, the District found the money to fix Waubonsie up despite the failed referendum!)"
The district was fortunate - they got money from the state after the 2005 referendum failed, and part of the $ was put toward the WV renovation. Without the grant, the renovation would not have been done on its current schedule. Please update your site with this fact.
I believe that voters deserve to have the complete facts on BOTH sides of the referendum. That way, they can make an informed decision. I hope that you feel the same way & are willing to provide accurate, complete information on your site.
Thanks
