Disappointment - Cont'd Part3

[tina]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

tina said:

I personally know the people who backed out of the Jan. contract in Tall Grass. They definitely did not want to move here because of the "expected" boundary being Waubonsee. In fact they used to live in TG and wanted to move back, but changed their mind after talking to their TG friends and reading the blogs.
The same people also backed out of a contract in TG a few weeks before that, but it wasn't due to the boundaries.

And I personally know people who are looking in TG and have no problem if the school goes to WV. That area will always have beautiful new homes and people like that. And it's not like the school is a leper school...it's great. I don't see a problem.

Sleepless, I hope you are right that our housing market in TG will not be affected. I also know of another house that sold on Friday in 1 day and the buyers are not afraid of going to WV. Of course their children are very young. I guess we'll have to wait and see, although with a slow market it will be a challenge to see how the boundaries effect anything.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

moo said:

tina said:

I personally know the people who backed out of the Jan. contract in Tall Grass. They definitely did not want to move here because of the "expected" boundary being Waubonsee. In fact they used to live in TG and wanted to move back, but changed their mind after talking to their TG friends and reading the blogs.
The same people also backed out of a contract in TG a few weeks before that, but it wasn't due to the boundaries.

Those people went "under contract" on January 3, 2008, the contract was not cancelled until January 16th.. what about the school district changed in that period of time?

They cancelled two contracts in the same neighborhood.. within a short period of time...perhaps they have commitment isuues... Did they purchase somewhere else?

When was the new site even announced? (How sad is that when I can't even remember when that was) Wasn't it the end of January? So this contract was cancelled before any recommendation was made, and there was a chance the school could have been in Ashwood or still at BB? I'm confused......do I have my dates right?

[sleeplessinnpvl]

tina said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

And I personally know people who are looking in TG and have no problem if the school goes to WV. That area will always have beautiful new homes and people like that. And it's not like the school is a leper school...it's great. I don't see a problem.

Sleepless, I hope you are right that our housing market in TG will not be affected. I also know of another house that sold on Friday in 1 day and the buyers are not afraid of going to WV. Of course their children are very young. I guess we'll have to wait and see, although with a slow market it will be a challenge to see how the boundaries effect anything.

Tina, you have nothing to worry about. TG and Ashwood and WE are great communities. I don't know of one single community that currently goes to WV as ever having problems with resale. It's probably the home itself that has problems and then someone blames it on the schools. We are blessed to live in a great community with great schools and great property values which have held up better than other areas in the country.

[Dad204]

tina said:

kmjone said:

So, Macy, what say you?

I personally know the people who backed out of the Jan. contract in Tall Grass. They definitely did not want to move here because of the "expected" boundary being Waubonsee. In fact they used to live in TG and wanted to move back, but changed their mind after talking to their TG friends and reading the blogs.
The same people also backed out of a contract in TG a few weeks before that, but it wasn't due to the boundaries.

So the point here seems to be that, if anything, some TG people are talking down their property values.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

letsgo said:

tina said:

I personally know the people who backed out of the Jan. contract in Tall Grass. They definitely did not want to move here because of the "expected" boundary being Waubonsee. In fact they used to live in TG and wanted to move back, but changed their mind after talking to their TG friends and reading the blogs.
The same people also backed out of a contract in TG a few weeks before that, but it wasn't due to the boundaries.

So the point here seems to be that, if anything, some TG people are talking down their property values.

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

[confused]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

letsgo said:

So the point here seems to be that, if anything, some TG people are talking down their property values.

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

Unfortunately, it appears it won't be dying down any time soon. The site and the proposal cause way too much upheaval in the district.

[lacy]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

letsgo said:

So the point here seems to be that, if anything, some TG people are talking down their property values.

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

This is all so transparent. Especially with all the new "posters" who came on board in the last few hours. It would be kinda funny if it wasn't such a serious issue.

With all due respect, I think you want to silence the opposition coming out of TG (probably for your own selfish purpose). So you're trying to create this very transparent "concern" for TG.

Maybe you should go get some much needed "sleep", because I think the horses have left the barn.

We got dealt a very raw deal:

1. the only area south of 95th (aside from 7 Ashwood kids) to be sent to WVHS.

2. The second longest commute in the district - and a very dangerous route to follow if we want to shorten it.

3. Complete disregard for the pedestrian bridge (and erroneous info included in the memo)

4. Split middle school (the only elementary feeder going to WVHS).

So people in this neighborhood are rightly upset. I don't think you're going to be able to change that.

The truth is that pretty much the entire neighborhood is engaged. I've watched this whole process for the last few years - and I have been very involved. At this point, I'm not really involved at all. It's gone WAY beyond a few people (and I don't think most of them know this message board even exists).

[204parent]

bbc said:

gatormom said:

Do you have high school students bbc? I only ask because once our children go to high school, students who are struggling are in classes where they can get that attention. Other students who are brilliant are in classes designed for them.

Really, attending school with students who are under-achieving should not impact your child at all. They might get a gym class together.

I have kids that have graduated and a kid currently there. They take/have taken regular classes and some AP classes. Obviously under-performing students are not in AP classes but do take the regular/required courses. I knew I would get some heat on my comments but I stand by them. IMO, the under performing students require additional teacher time that, by definition, must be diverted from other students to them. If the teacher is not spending a bit more time with students who need the additional help, it could be argued they aren't doing their job. If WV has more students who need more help, doesn't it stand to reason that the resource allocation at WV is slightly more skewed to these students than it might be at NV who doesn't have these students? These students DO deserve the attention but maybe WV deserves more resources to counteract it. Don't just ship them away.

I agree with you 100%. MM talked about this at a SB meeting about two years ago. He said that, until just a few years ago, the district's policy was to equalize the 'input' for each school (each school got the same amount of resources). The current policy is equalize the 'output' from each school by directing more resources to the schools that require them.

I'd like to believe that's why some of the previously under performing schools have shown improvements in the past year or so.

This is also why I don't understand the concept of putting MVHS on the AME/MWGEN site so they can create a "New WVHS".

We should improve the image of WVHS by helping the students achieve better test scores.

According to JS, if you ignore the lowest 50 test scores at WVHS, the average scores for NVHS and WVHS are equal. That means if we just worked with the bottom 50 students at WVHS to improve their scores, we could make NVHS and WVHS equal. Better yet, if work with the bottom 100-200 students, WVHS could have a higher average than NVHS. That would solve the image problem!

[doctorwho]

confused said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

Unfortunately, it appears it won't be dying down any time soon. The site and the proposal cause way too much upheaval in the district.

again for those who have to live with the results FOREVER - of course it is not going to die down. Will my commute get any shorter next week or next year - no. Will my MS suddenly move into my neighborhood instead of also being 1/2 across the district ? no Will parents suddenly be allowed to leave work at 3:30 so they can get to the HS to volunteer - no. WHen someone looks at a house in my area- will we still have to tell them they will go to the 3rd closest MS and 3rd closest HS -- but hey -- look at how shiney that HS is ? Yes

so no, I don't expect this to die down soon, and if anything I expect the resentment to deepen as more people wake up to the facts around them. The clueless have yet to be outraged - wait until a few weeks before school they realize we're not going to WV ( willing to bet there are some who didn't know we were going to BB in between) -

[lacy]

doctorwho said:

confused said:

Unfortunately, it appears it won't be dying down any time soon. The site and the proposal cause way too much upheaval in the district.

again for those who have to live with the results FOREVER - of course it is not going to die down. Will my commute get any shorter next week or next year - no. Will my MS suddenly move into my neighborhood instead of also being 1/2 across the district ? no Will parents suddenly be allowed to leave work at 3:30 so they can get to the HS to volunteer - no. WHen someone looks at a house in my area- will we still have to tell them they will go to the 3rd closest MS and 3rd closest HS -- but hey -- look at how shiney that HS is ? Yes

so no, I don't expect this to die down soon, and if anything I expect the resentment to deepen as more people wake up to the facts around them. The clueless have yet to be outraged - wait until a few weeks before school they realize we're not going to WV ( willing to bet there are some who didn't know we were going to BB in between) -

This is what I'm talking about - the clueless are waking up - and they are not one bit happy. I think their anger exceeds those of us who have been watching for awhile. We're kinda numb at this point.

[sleeplessinnpvl]

lacy said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

This is all so transparent. Especially with all the new "posters" who came on board in the last few hours. It would be kinda funny if it wasn't such a serious issue.

With all due respect, I think you want to silence the opposition coming out of TG (probably for your own selfish purpose). So you're trying to create this very transparent "concern" for TG.

Maybe you should go get some much needed "sleep", because I think the horses have left the barn.

We got dealt a very raw deal:

1. the only area south of 95th (aside from 7 Ashwood kids) to be sent to WVHS.

2. The second longest commute in the district - and a very dangerous route to follow if we want to shorten it.

3. Complete disregard for the pedestrian bridge (and erroneous info included in the memo)

4. Split middle school (the only elementary feeder going to WVHS).

So people in this neighborhood are rightly upset. I don't think you're going to be able to change that.

The truth is that pretty much the entire neighborhood is engaged. I've watched this whole process for the last few years - and I have been very involved. At this point, I'm not really involved at all. It's gone WAY beyond a few people (and I don't think most of them know this message board even exists).

Lacy, I will ignore the personal insults. Please review my posts and see that I do sympathize with the TG folks and everyone else that is being moved out of their school. I am just stating facts that I have heard from everyday people about the TG community and the district in general. And you know what? I care enough about that community to try and warn them that what they say and do CAN be misinterpreted by many folks around here. I don't have a personal hate for TG. I have many friends there. They too are concerned about all of the negative publicity surrounding their community. I am not trying to silence anyone. I have said before that if anyone can be substituted for TG without making the situation worse, then I will support that. Same as I have said I would support a switch for Owen and Watts if it makes sense.

[lacy]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

lacy said:

This is all so transparent. Especially with all the new "posters" who came on board in the last few hours. It would be kinda funny if it wasn't such a serious issue.

With all due respect, I think you want to silence the opposition coming out of TG (probably for your own selfish purpose). So you're trying to create this very transparent "concern" for TG.

Maybe you should go get some much needed "sleep", because I think the horses have left the barn.

We got dealt a very raw deal:

1. the only area south of 95th (aside from 7 Ashwood kids) to be sent to WVHS.

2. The second longest commute in the district - and a very dangerous route to follow if we want to shorten it.

3. Complete disregard for the pedestrian bridge (and erroneous info included in the memo)

4. Split middle school (the only elementary feeder going to WVHS).

So people in this neighborhood are rightly upset. I don't think you're going to be able to change that.

The truth is that pretty much the entire neighborhood is engaged. I've watched this whole process for the last few years - and I have been very involved. At this point, I'm not really involved at all. It's gone WAY beyond a few people (and I don't think most of them know this message board even exists).

Lacy, I will ignore the personal insults. Please review my posts and see that I do sympathize with the TG folks and everyone else that is being moved out of their school. I am just stating facts that I have heard from everyday people about the TG community and the district in general. And you know what? I care enough about that community to try and warn them that what they say and do CAN be misinterpreted by many folks around here. I don't have a personal hate for TG. I have many friends there. They too are concerned about all of the negative publicity surrounding their community. I am not trying to silence anyone. I have said before that if anyone can be substituted for TG without making the situation worse, then I will support that. Same as I have said I would support a switch for Owen and Watts if it makes sense.

Sleepless, when you say things like this:

"If I were a SB member (and thank God I am not), I would just vote to keep the boundaries the way they are now. I would put my selfish face forward and say, "Screw you, you are now all going to suffer because of what a few people did."

I have never met a more thick headed group of people that live in this community. Other districts just pick some land and put a school on it and the folks are happy. But WE in Dist. 204 are so special that we deserve to vote on where that school should be. Other districts just send you a card in the mail and tell you where your child should go and the folks there accept that. But WE in Dist. 204 are so much better than them that we deserve to tell the board where they should send our kids.

I have tried to be so supportive of the Owen/Watts/Fry people and I have tried to make things better for them. I don't believe I can be supportive of you all anymore. I'm sorry to label you guys in with the people that published that ad. And I don't know who put that article out there but I am so embarrassed to be part of this district when I see things like that. Let's just try and divide the district more than it already is. I would love to meet the kids of the parents who published this letter. I hope they are not as selfish as their parents. How is this letter helping the kids?

I think this ad will backfire on the people that wrote it. "

it makes me think that opposition from the Fry community is not something you want to see. Even if it is based on valid and legitimate concerns. I sense that somehow Fry organizing to voice their displeasure is a threat to you. Where do you live?

I'm not buying your current spin - I see you're trying real hard to sell it - but I'm not buying.

[d204mom]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

Can anyone with a little time on their hands do some Googling? I am curious. How many school districts besides the ones around here with their very concerned parents actually listen for feedback and change boundaries based on the input of 10% of the public? I think it is incredible that our school board even listens. There is no law that says that they have to.

My earlier comment referred to Superintendent Leis meeting with Will-O-Way parents to discuss Mill Street redistricting. It happened before the referendum.

I think in most communities at or approaching build out; they listen for feedback. If we had taken the 3rd high school route in 2000 instead of the fateful freshman center path, we wouldn't be having this discussion today. I think it would have been far less contentious back then. The district was "newer" and still growing quickly. I don't think it's fair to compare us to Plainfield or Oswego. We were there 10 or maybe 15 years ago.

My house is 26 years old as are most in my subdivision. I don't think people that buy in established areas like mine expect to be uprooted and shipped across the school district. I'm preparing for the "well then you were a naive idiot" comments, and yes, when I voted for the freshman centers I believed the administration when they said it would accomodate us through build out. I think Brach Brodie was palatable for most because it didn't create the painful commutes for so many that MWGEN will create. GOM and FRY got increases but not the kind of commuting pain Fry, Pet, Owen, Watts, Cowlishaw, and half of Gombert are getting now.

[tina]

moo said:

tina said:

I personally know the people who backed out of the Jan. contract in Tall Grass. They definitely did not want to move here because of the "expected" boundary being Waubonsee. In fact they used to live in TG and wanted to move back, but changed their mind after talking to their TG friends and reading the blogs.
The same people also backed out of a contract in TG a few weeks before that, but it wasn't due to the boundaries.

Those people went "under contract" on January 3, 2008, the contract was not cancelled until January 16th.. what about the school district changed in that period of time?

They cancelled two contracts in the same neighborhood.. within a short period of time...perhaps they have commitment isuues... Did they purchase somewhere else?

The folks that backed out of Tall Grass purchased in a neighborhood that will more than likely stay a Neuqua feeder. As Macy stated previously there have been rumors from reliable sources (which turned out to be true) flying around about the boundaries since December or maybe even before. The buyers became aware of these rumors after Jan. 3rd and didn't want to take a chance that they might be true.
(Just answering your question, not saying it was the right or wrong thing for them to do.)

[tina]

lacy said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

That is a big concern of mine. I heard from a friend that he knew someone that didn't even want to move to Naperville because of all the fighting that was going on in the district. Then there was the lady I overheard at lunch who didn't want to move to TG because she thought they were snobs. I know it's only 2 people that think that way but how many others are there I don't know about? I wish we could end this soon for the good of the district.

This is all so transparent. Especially with all the new "posters" who came on board in the last few hours. It would be kinda funny if it wasn't such a serious issue.

With all due respect, I think you want to silence the opposition coming out of TG (probably for your own selfish purpose). So you're trying to create this very transparent "concern" for TG.

Maybe you should go get some much needed "sleep", because I think the horses have left the barn.

We got dealt a very raw deal:

1. the only area south of 95th (aside from 7 Ashwood kids) to be sent to WVHS.

2. The second longest commute in the district - and a very dangerous route to follow if we want to shorten it.

3. Complete disregard for the pedestrian bridge (and erroneous info included in the memo)

4. Split middle school (the only elementary feeder going to WVHS).

So people in this neighborhood are rightly upset. I don't think you're going to be able to change that.

The truth is that pretty much the entire neighborhood is engaged. I've watched this whole process for the last few years - and I have been very involved. At this point, I'm not really involved at all. It's gone WAY beyond a few people (and I don't think most of them know this message board even exists).

What is so funny about new "posters" coming onto this blog? Aren't we allowed to get in on the discussions we have been reading for months?
Not everyone in Tall Grass is upset about going to Waubonsee. Some I have talked to are happy to go to a smaller, less competitive school. They might not be voicing their opinion as loudly as those who are against it.
But I do think most are upset about the middle school split. If we could solve that problem, there would not be quite as many angry parents.