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Post by JB on Apr 12, 2008 12:12:39 GMT -6
I know... I need to see what happens Monday so that the 'off the deep-end fanatical witch-hunters' don't come after me with buckets of paint or a lawsuit regarding Tortious_interference  Heaven forbid someone steps up and says "Hey, stop trying to stick the fork into the outlet". It's been rather pathetic watching people devolve this into a "We have to win or we have to make sure THEY don't win" scenerio. There is no place in a fanatic's head where reason can enter. - Napoleon Bonaparte |
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Post by doctorwho on Apr 12, 2008 14:23:36 GMT -6
I know... I need to see what happens Monday so that the 'off the deep-end fanatical witch-hunters' don't come after me with buckets of paint or a lawsuit regarding Tortious_interference Heaven forbid someone steps up and says "Hey, stop trying to stick the fork into the outlet". It's been rather pathetic watching people devolve this into a "We have to win or we have to make sure THEY don't win" scenerio. You mean like residents of an area trying to play the 'poor us' card when they live in a neighborhood with a mean residential value 3 times the national average. What a damn joke that is. Nice to be teaching kids that anyone in a 'ritzy' house is an elitist. It's just unbelievable they can get away with that type of discriminatory comment ..... I keep reading about a****** this and that relating to those trying to force the SD to honor what it said it wa going to do... the a*******s from where I stand are those trying to create some class warfare out of the discussion, I find that appalling. |
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Post by doctorwho on Apr 12, 2008 14:27:40 GMT -6
Dr Who...a vote would merely represent the will of the people...come on, this site represents the will of God. Invoking the will of God for this site, it there nothing they will not do to put a school on this site? ( it's a rhetorical question ) |
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Post by fryfox on Apr 12, 2008 14:28:57 GMT -6
For those of you emailing the board with your concerns, please PM me for a name to forward a copy of your emails to - someone else who will be interested in hearing what is communicated to the board and Dr. Daschner. Thanks.
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Post by macy on Apr 12, 2008 14:29:47 GMT -6
APRIL 2007
Jennifer Streder, of Napervile's Brookdale neighborhood, said Friday she hopes the district finds a way to build along Eola.
"People are appalled, shocked and hurt that elitism wins in this case," she said. "And that's what they are, a small group of parents who believe they got a deed to a seat in a school, sitting next to whoever they want, when they bought their ritzy homes.
"Well they've woken and disgusted a silent majority here and we're tired of their unacceptance of certain aspects of our community and Waubonsie Valley High School."
Sometime in 2006
“Referring to the process as political gerrymandering, many Brookdale residents said they feel sold out by the entire board. “We feel dismissed, disenfranchised.”, parent Laura Steffak said.”
"There's a chance that for an entire day she might not know anyone," said parent Jennifer Streder of her daughter, who would be first class affected. "When you're asking me to say yes to the referendum, you're asking me to throw her into that situation."
Quite a change in opinion, I'd say! I guess now that we know it's God's will to punish the heathens it's okay to feel differently.
ETA: Oh boy, now I'm in trouble with the Big Man! Forgive me father because I have sinned.
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Post by doctorwho on Apr 12, 2008 14:31:48 GMT -6
Some quick AM math, but using this AME number and the budget costs you can calculate that our original bid for the MWGEN land was $121.3K/acre. If we now have to buy 37.5 acres at AME's price of $245k/acre, our land costs at AME just went up about $4.6MM I found this on Potluck. If this is true is it the "will of God" or a great business transaction the nets the church a huge windfall. By A Gift For Arch on April 12, 2008 7:26 AM Last night the real estate transaction history was looked up for Eola site, and we found out that the AME church bought their 83 acres from Midwest Gen (yes, the same guys) in 2004. They also paid only $2.9 million for those 83 acres ($35,000 per acre). The district was offering AME about $12 million for 49 acres (that's $245,000 per acre). That's 7 times the price AME paid in 2004 in just 4 years - 700%! - for the same industrial type property that may be polluted as well. This brings into question the seven secret reports of environmental results. Were those reports perhaps from some of the AME property??? How reckless can our district be with our money! Somebody tell me this ain't so!!!! I am calling my lawyer savings mean absolutely nothing as lkong as Brooks and Brookdale get their HS -- with a max of 8931 students in HS over the next 5 years -- why doesn't the SB release that number ( btw that chart I promise you will be shown on Monday ) - build a 500 student HS for Brooks and Brookdale since they want it so badly - so none of the rest of us have to go there. I'm afraid my house may be to 'ritzy' to attend there...... Hell they can have their own SB ( oops forgot - they already have one) - own district - own buses and whatever else they want. |
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Post by sashimi on Apr 12, 2008 14:31:50 GMT -6
I was obviously disappointed to see that the AMES Church leadership has decided to invoke God's Will into its justification for now considering selling the entire 84 acres to the District. It is also troubling that the Church leadership has come to the conclusion that building a school on any land other than the EOLA site would be an injustice to the children of 204. It seems that Dr. Daeschner and the Brookdale community have been active in helping shape the AMES church's leadership's beliefs about the motives of those who do not believe that the EOLA site is the right solution for the District. I would hope that the leadership will be as open to listening to the perspective of those who believe they have been mistreated in this process.
It certainly is the Church's right to protect and expand the growth of the Church (which obviously has been impacted as much as any other group in the continuing District 204 debacle). The AMES leadership undoubtedly has the interests of serving is members with the grace of God as its first priority. I truly hope that God continues to bless this historical and wonderful church.
However, I too believe in God (I attend Calvary Church and we can yell hallejuia as loudly as any congregation out there!). Yet, I do not believe that God has chosen sides in regards to the site location for Metea high school.
I do however believe that he has provided us with guidance in regards to treating your neighbor as you would like your neighbor to treat you, which I think we can all agree has been lost over the past months by folks on both sides of the aisle (residents, Board members and administration officials alike).
As we continue to try to come to the proper resolution for the District, I would implore the leadership of AMES to remember that it is okay to endorse God in everything you do, but that is very dangerous to assume that God endorses you (especially at the expense of other good and righteous people).
Finally, it is also worth noting that God's work usually does not work as well behind closed doors as it does when it is demonstrated openly before his people. Thus, I hope that the Administration, Board and Church proceed very openly and deliberately in land discussions/negotiations so that both God's will and the will of the 204 electorate are properly protected.
Best regards
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Post by WeBe204 on Apr 12, 2008 14:33:32 GMT -6
Dr Who...a vote would merely represent the will of the people...come on, this site represents the will of God. Invoking the will of God for this site, it there nothing they will not stoop to ? ( it's a rhetorical question ) I can not even begin to tell you how much I hate politics and religion being combined. (Moral Majority) Although, I am not faulting the Reverend for saying such things. Heck if I got 700% return on my land I would be the first to say, "The Lord Provides". |
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Post by macy on Apr 12, 2008 14:34:05 GMT -6
Amen to that Sashimi!
Well written!
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Post by concerned2 on Apr 12, 2008 14:36:59 GMT -6
I have a deep faith in God and what the Rev. said deeply offended me. I don't think God appreciates name calling.
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Post by doctorwho on Apr 12, 2008 14:45:37 GMT -6
I have a deep faith in God and what the Rev. said deeply offended me. I don't think God appreciates name calling. I must not be paying attention in church, not sure when Heaven opened a real estate department. |
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Post by Arch on Apr 12, 2008 14:50:34 GMT -6
Let's hope God's Will does not include Fire and Brimstone.
There must be 50 good men left in the district....
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Post by sashimi on Apr 12, 2008 14:58:34 GMT -6
Thank you Macy. The info you provided is great and have reached out to the subject to seek their help...
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Post by sashimi on Apr 12, 2008 15:43:21 GMT -6
From the Herald...If the District is now going to look towards negotitation with AMES with tens of millions of dollars in exposure from the three pending lawsuits, how many more pages will the timeline accumulate before a third school is built:
Metea Valley timeline
A look at Indian Prairie Unit District 204's lengthy, and so far unsuccessful, pursuit of land for Metea Valley High School:
May 2005: District purchases 25 acres of the Brach-Brodie property off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive in Aurora.
December 2005: District files condemnation suit to obtain the remaining 55 acres of the Brach-Brodie site it needs for an 80-acre high school campus.
February 2006: Attorneys for Brach-Brodie file motion to dismiss case, saying district didn't bargain in good faith.
March 2006: Voters approve $124.7 million tax increase to pay for high school.
November 2006: Judge grants district permission to continue its quest for the land and denies the trust's motion to dismiss.
November 2006: State lawmakers refuse district's request for "quick-take" powers to obtain access to the land.
January 2007: State Rep. Joe Dunn again files a request that state lawmakers consider giving the district immediate access to the site.
March 2007: Judge sets a Sept. 17 court date for a jury to determine the Brach-Brodie land's cost.
March 2007: Without a vote to spare, the Illinois House approves quick-take legislation for the district.
June 2007: After Dunn's quick-take proposal stalls, state Sen. Randall Hultgren, a Winfield Republican, takes the reins in trying to get a similar proposal passed.
August 2007: School board President Mark Metzger accuses state Sen. Linda Holmes, new sponsor of the quick-take proposal, of delaying the legislation unless the district changes its high school boundaries for two subdivisions. The legislature, locked in an overtime session budget battle, never votes on the measure.
September 2007: The condemnation trial includes testimony from experts as to the value of the land. School district: $250,000 an acre; Brodie trust: $540,000 an acre; Brach trust: $650,000 an acre.
September 2007: A jury unanimously sets the price of the 55 acres at $28.5 million plus an additional $2.5 million in damages. The cost is more than double what the district believes the property is worth.
October 2007: The district begins negotiations on four possible sites for Metea, which it does not disclose.
October 2007: The school board announces it cannot afford the Brach-Brodie property and asks the court for a new trial.
November 2007: The Brodie trust files a motion asking the courts to force the district to either buy their property or pay additional fees.
January 2008: A judge denies the district's request for a new trial.
January 2008: District administrators recommend building Metea on 87 acres off Eola Road just south of the Illinois Prairie Path. The parcel, owned by St. John AME Church and Midwest Generation, would cost $16.5 million.
February 2008: District officially abandons the Brach-Brodie land in court.
February 2008: District approves new school boundaries based on "logic" and "geography" in a 5½-hour meeting attended by about 450 residents.
February 2008: Waubonsie Principal Jim Schmid is tapped to be principal of Metea.
March 2008: A newly formed group, Neighborhood Schools for Our Children, meets to discuss its opposition to the Eola Road site, calling it a "bait and switch" on voters who approved the tax increase.
March 2008: The group files a lawsuit against District 204. That night, the school board moves forward in approving $8.6 million in pre-construction contracts for Metea.
March 2008: Brodie attorney Steve Helm says he plans to ask the court for $13 million in legal fees and damages
March 2008: Shawn Collins, an environmental attorney representing Neighborhood Schools for Our Children, releases a six-page position paper outlining reasons the Eola Road site is unsafe, including a former power plant on the site, power lines and gas pipelines.
March 2008: School board approves $9 million in steel bids for Metea and an annexation agreement with the city of Aurora while waiting for permission to release environmental reports on the site.
March 2008: The Aurora City Council approves the annexation agreement for the Eola Road site.
April 2008: District 204 releases environmental reports that show only 15.5 acres of the 87-acre site are contaminated with diesel fuel and PCB contaminants and can be remediated. NSFOC attorney Shawn Collins says the tests are inadequate. Brodie attorney Steve Helm files a complaint saying both a previous settlement agreement and a successful referendum request require the district to purchase the Brach-Brodie land. The district denies any such obligation.
April 2008: Midwest Generation announces it is stepping away from negotiations to sell roughly 37 acres to the district, citing "serious public opposition and a deep division within the community."
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Post by specailneedsmom on Apr 12, 2008 15:50:23 GMT -6
Nobody's supreme power has any place in this discussion. This is a public school where children of all faiths and some of no faith at all will attend. It is a secular argument.; the best thing anyone can do is leave religion out of this discussion. This is in no way a faith based argument or a faith based decision. If it is, we have a much larger problem on our hands, that being separation of church and state. We should just think of AME as a business entity that is selling it's land and the well intended Reverend should check his views at the door as well.
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