Viable alternatives to Law Suit

[doctorwho]

Okay, I am opening this thread to hear what the viable alternatives are to a law suit to get the district to slow down and review all data - environmental as well as financial, and seriously consider what the best alternative is.

Now is the chance for all ticked about the law suit to tell everyone else how this should be handled.

NOT viable solutions:
1/ This has already been done -
2/ sut down and shut up ( accept it already etc.)

[fence]

I kind of think that the lawsuit was pretty much the only way and I don't think at this point there is a way to go backwards. THIS is the democratic process actually. When an elected body doesn't listen, you get the Boston Tea Party.

I think that if the SB had presented the change differently, communicated thoroughly, exhibited good will towards those affected, outlined ad nauseum their plan for testing and presenting the results, you might still have a few people squacking but they'd be getting no support.

I guess my suggestion would be to try something that encourages the above. What that is, I have no idea.

Hire a mediator?
Full page ads in the Herald?
1-800-FLOWERS?

[macy]

fence said:

I kind of think that the lawsuit was pretty much the only way and I don't think at this point there is a way to go backwards. THIS is the democratic process actually. When an elected body doesn't listen, you get the Boston Tea Party.

I think that if the SB had presented the change differently, communicated thoroughly, exhibited good will towards those affected, outlined ad nauseum their plan for testing and presenting the results, you might still have a few people squacking but they'd be getting no support.

I guess my suggestion would be to try something that encourages the above. What that is, I have no idea.

Hire a mediator?
Full page ads in the Herald?
1-800-FLOWERS?

Fence,

Your posts are so eloquent. I wish I could put my thoughts into words as well as you do.

I agree that the lawsuit was the only viable avenue left for some of us.

You are dead on with what many of us are feeling in this quote:

"I think that if the SB had presented the change differently, communicated thoroughly, exhibited good will towards those affected, outlined ad nauseum their plan for testing and presenting the results, you might still have a few people squacking but they'd be getting no support."

Thank you for so eloquently posting what many of us feel.

I too believe that we are only left with the lawsuit. Although, I haven't tried 1-800-flowers.

I'm on that right now.

Flowers for all!!!

[rural]

The Judge Kilander ruling tha the SB must by the BB property.
However, unlikely I think this may be, it would work.

ETA: At this point, I don't think anything short of that will slow this process down.

[Arch]

I think the Administration is too focused on the bullet point on the PowerPoint presentation and doesn't care anymore about any of the details. If the bullet point says HS in 2009 then that's what they are shooting for.. facts or reasons to the contrary be d**ned.

I wonder if they've talked with any of the architects on the project yet to get their professional opinions....

[rural]

Do you think a very strong letter from their attorney would have had the same effect as the nsfoc lawsuit? Maybe with a petition attached?

[Arch]

rural said:

Do you think a very strong letter from their attorney would have had the same effect as the nsfoc lawsuit? Maybe with a petition attached?

Nope. The statement "There's nothing to react to" rings over and over. Short of a lawsuit, they were not responding to anything.

[rural]

Well, I guess, technically, they haven't responded to their lawsuit either. However, I do think it got their attention.

[concerned2]

As I said before, very frustrating to sit by three individuals at the NSFOC meeting and listen to them laugh at people's real concerns. No answers from them, just laughs and angry looks. Even trying to get the Board of Education to look into our SB actions is like hitting a brick wall. No one wants to get involved. It would open a whole can of worms. Heck, maybe it would change how a SB would work. The SB needs more check and balances. They need to be held accountable by someone, but no one wants to get involved. Good old politics in Illinois.

Now the only way taxpayers feel they can get heard is with a lawsuit. To me this is terribly sad and it is destroying a very good district.

[WeBe204]

I reposting something I posted awhile back. It sort of fits...

I had a rather spirited conversation last night with someone who worked (past tense) in the board offices for many years . (Yes, its official I need a life.) We went around and around the same list of talking points. One point that was reinforced was the district does not operate like a corporation. When I apply my logic such as being risk adverse in this case (lawsuit) adverse the analysis fails. The district is bound by a different set of rules and operating principles. I'll admit I still have not really got an handle on these rules or opertaing principles.

Their point was if you assume for a moment, that the administration and board are truly acting in good faith and they truly believe the current site is the right site, then the execution speed is heroic. Now, I know there are plenty of people out there who think the board/admin has side agendas or they are acting without all the information or worse disregarding certain information. If that is true, then it’s within the public’s right to sue the district.

Actually there was really no emotion on the other side of conversation about the lawsuit. Again their point was lawsuits against the district are not unique. Parents will take legal action when they think their child is not receiving the proper education or if they think their child’s first amendment rights were violated. Net, net it is what it is.

This conversation gave me a different perspective. If you assume the admin/board are operating above board and doing what they think is right and also assume the nsfoc group also is operating in a manner they believe is right then what we have here is a difference of opinion. That difference is following its natural course which is a lawsuit. (Yes, I have left myseilf wide open for the standard assume one liners)

The reason I am posting this is because thinking this way has helped take a lot of the emotion out of the conversation for me. For some it will be complete bs and maybe for others it will help. At this point, I have no idea…

[bbc]

doctorwho said:

Okay, I am opening this thread to hear what the viable alternatives are to a law suit to get the district to slow down and review all data - environmental as well as financial, and seriously consider what the best alternative is.

Now is the chance for all ticked about the law suit to tell everyone else how this should be handled.

NOT viable solutions:
1/ This has already been done -
2/ sut down and shut up ( accept it already etc.)

Nothing. Even the good doctor has stated previously that he pushed the YES vote hard and was behind the election bids of some current sb members. You are now seeing the fruits of your hard work. As they say, be careful what you wish for.

[Arch]

rural said:

Well, I guess, technically, they haven't responded to their lawsuit either. However, I do think it got their attention.

An Exocet below the waterline would too.

[JB]

fence said:

I kind of think that the lawsuit was pretty much the only way and I don't think at this point there is a way to go backwards. THIS is the democratic process actually. When an elected body doesn't listen, you get the Boston Tea Party.

I think that if the SB had presented the change differently, communicated thoroughly, exhibited good will towards those affected, outlined ad nauseum their plan for testing and presenting the results, you might still have a few people squacking but they'd be getting no support.

I guess my suggestion would be to try something that encourages the above. What that is, I have no idea.

Fence wants to start a Boston Tea Party? I think it would be more of a skinny tall half-caf mocha latte party around these parts

I actually suggested a rally-type event in another post, but given the general populace's apathy to most issues, I don't see how that would work. Even if we jammed the board room, the SB has shown an amazing resillience to public input lately.

[steckmom]

Now that the lawsuit has begun, there are no other viable alternatives.

I'm slowly getting over my anger and I do actually hope that it stops the Eola site.

My other hope now is that CFO was actually right about not needing a third high school.

How difficult is it, really, to get into IMSA? The kid's a fairly good bubble filler....

[doctorwho]

jb said:

fence said:

I kind of think that the lawsuit was pretty much the only way and I don't think at this point there is a way to go backwards. THIS is the democratic process actually. When an elected body doesn't listen, you get the Boston Tea Party.

I think that if the SB had presented the change differently, communicated thoroughly, exhibited good will towards those affected, outlined ad nauseum their plan for testing and presenting the results, you might still have a few people squacking but they'd be getting no support.

I guess my suggestion would be to try something that encourages the above. What that is, I have no idea.

Fence wants to start a Boston Tea Party? I think it would be more of a skinny tall half-caf mocha latte party around these parts

I actually suggested a rally-type event in another post, but given the general populace's apathy to most issues, I don't see how that would work. Even if we jammed the board room, the SB has shown an amazing resillience to public input lately.

maybe seeking public attention from an Ed Begley type - anything as it is clear from today's article - nothig will slow this train wreck down - our SD-and SB just became more knowledgeable than the IEPA -