Post by Avenging Eagle on Apr 14, 2008 4:01:31 GMT -6
Readers air views on new twist in D204 high school site
April 14, 2008
Unneeded high school will be a boondoggle
Now that Midwest Generation has told District 204 it will not sell its property to the district, it is time to once again step back and review the facts.
In the last two years, District 204 elementary school enrollment declined by 284 students.
The 850 student Peterson Elementary School is still half empty even after the district closed another elementary school.
Enrollment at Neuqua Valley High School will peak in 2010. Districtwide, high school enrollment will peak in 2011 and then decline.
More than 600 students expressed interest in taking course at COD Frontier instead of the two main high school campuses. There is no issue with capacity at the elementary or high school level.
The district needs to accommodate some extra students at the middle school level.
To accommodate these students the district should either get some additional portable classrooms or build a middle school on the Brach-Brodie property.
The third high school was and will never be needed.
If built, it will be a $150 million boondoggle and an ongoing burden to taxpayers for years and years to come.
Paul White
Naperville
D204 officials should all be fired or resign
As a District 204 taxpayer I have been silent about the District's third high school land purchase exercise - until now.
This entire process has been grossly mismanaged from absolutely every aspect.
Every Board member, administrator, attorney, consultant, etc. should resign or be fired for their part in this embarrassing, costly and damaging fiasco. Stubborn, intractable positions, poor negotiating and flawed opportunity assessment have caused a great toll in time, money and confidence.
This is not what I expect from my taxes, leaders and very well compensated administrators. It's time to fold the tent and head into the sunset.
Please say good bye and turn off the lights on the way out.
Richard Weiss
Naperville
Balanced, abundant community needed
I must say that the Metea Valley land deal associated with Midwest Generation and District 204 coming to a screeching halt is no surprise to me.
The reason it is no surprise to me may be somewhat of a surprise to others.
Folks, this has nothing to do with the quality of the land.
This has everything to do with a group of parents and citizens that are "upset" about the boundary changes and their kids potentially going to a high school that they turn their noses up to. Period.
Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous?
Our two high schools are overcrowded with 8,200 students. This land deal and third high school is for those kids. Not the parents that are concerned with boundaries and what school their child may have to attend.
Listen, I have faith in District 204. I believe in the schools in this area. That is why I moved here. This is common knowledge that boundaries can change at any time due to expansion and overcrowding.
If you love the community in which you live (not just your little bubble that surrounds you), you would support all healthy, positive growth. Growth in a community that supports all children in that community to thrive is what is important here. Do you get my point?
Things should be balanced. We have the wonderful Neuqua Valley to the south, Waubonsie Valley centrally located and Metea Valley to the north.
Seems to me the district did a fine job in locating the proper land deal.
I get very frustrated when important, life changing decisions are made for the wrong reasons.
I was born and raised in Naperville. This debacle that is going on today is very reminiscent of years ago when White Eagle citizens complained that their address would be Aurora? Its unfortunate that what really matters most is tossed aside because of certain citizens altered sense of reality of what is important.
Let's not be fooled by smoke and mirrors once again. Let's make good decisions that will positively impact lives of our children for generations to come.
Let's foster a community that is diverse and abundant for all whom live in it.
Proud parent in District 204 and supporter of Eola land deal,
Dara K. Hudson
Aurora
D204 should consider school year-round
In all of the articles in your paper regarding the site location for the new District 204 high school, I have never seen any discussion of a year round school system as an alternative that was considered. Understanding that "out of the box" thinking is not compatible or welcome, with a Republican, conservative community, it would seem to me to have merit for the following reasons:
1. The present facilities would be expanded by 25 percent immediately without a dime of expenditure of public finds to expand physical plants. To go completely off the deep end you could even work out a facility sharing arrangement with District 203 for the quarter in the summer for additional space. Those who want to continue with the traditional "summer off" concept could be accommodated, while those who were willing to try something new could be rewarded with tax credits for the years their children attended the summer quarters. This certainly be financed from the proposed expenditure of monies to build the new school.
2. A survey could be made immediately of how many parents would be willing to adopt the three quarter system for the 180 days of education as opposed to the two semester system. This would allow students to complete their high school requirement in three years if they desired, and also allow for winter vacations to escape the Chicago weather for those with the independence and affluence. Think of it as a long "Spring Brake Ritual" that everyone in the area seems committed to take.
3. It would allow for the smoothing of demographic trends as communities and land builds out and enrollments start to decrease, which is occurring in 203 at a significant rate. If that occurs, and the public wanted to revert back to the semester system, that could happen.
4. Teachers that wanted to earn additional income could teach all four quarters, with holidays and vacation breaks comparable to the rest of us who have worked in commercial world. Likewise, accommodations could be made for those teachers who might to want work only 1-2 quarters because of family considerations.
It's our understanding that this concept is working in other areas of the country who have faced population explosions similar to Naperville, and the kids haven't suffered any irreparable harm from the experience. Certainly it wouldn't take to long to find out.
Mary Lou and Fred Bricketto
Naperville
April 14, 2008
Unneeded high school will be a boondoggle
Now that Midwest Generation has told District 204 it will not sell its property to the district, it is time to once again step back and review the facts.
In the last two years, District 204 elementary school enrollment declined by 284 students.
The 850 student Peterson Elementary School is still half empty even after the district closed another elementary school.
Enrollment at Neuqua Valley High School will peak in 2010. Districtwide, high school enrollment will peak in 2011 and then decline.
More than 600 students expressed interest in taking course at COD Frontier instead of the two main high school campuses. There is no issue with capacity at the elementary or high school level.
The district needs to accommodate some extra students at the middle school level.
To accommodate these students the district should either get some additional portable classrooms or build a middle school on the Brach-Brodie property.
The third high school was and will never be needed.
If built, it will be a $150 million boondoggle and an ongoing burden to taxpayers for years and years to come.
Paul White
Naperville
D204 officials should all be fired or resign
As a District 204 taxpayer I have been silent about the District's third high school land purchase exercise - until now.
This entire process has been grossly mismanaged from absolutely every aspect.
Every Board member, administrator, attorney, consultant, etc. should resign or be fired for their part in this embarrassing, costly and damaging fiasco. Stubborn, intractable positions, poor negotiating and flawed opportunity assessment have caused a great toll in time, money and confidence.
This is not what I expect from my taxes, leaders and very well compensated administrators. It's time to fold the tent and head into the sunset.
Please say good bye and turn off the lights on the way out.
Richard Weiss
Naperville
Balanced, abundant community needed
I must say that the Metea Valley land deal associated with Midwest Generation and District 204 coming to a screeching halt is no surprise to me.
The reason it is no surprise to me may be somewhat of a surprise to others.
Folks, this has nothing to do with the quality of the land.
This has everything to do with a group of parents and citizens that are "upset" about the boundary changes and their kids potentially going to a high school that they turn their noses up to. Period.
Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous?
Our two high schools are overcrowded with 8,200 students. This land deal and third high school is for those kids. Not the parents that are concerned with boundaries and what school their child may have to attend.
Listen, I have faith in District 204. I believe in the schools in this area. That is why I moved here. This is common knowledge that boundaries can change at any time due to expansion and overcrowding.
If you love the community in which you live (not just your little bubble that surrounds you), you would support all healthy, positive growth. Growth in a community that supports all children in that community to thrive is what is important here. Do you get my point?
Things should be balanced. We have the wonderful Neuqua Valley to the south, Waubonsie Valley centrally located and Metea Valley to the north.
Seems to me the district did a fine job in locating the proper land deal.
I get very frustrated when important, life changing decisions are made for the wrong reasons.
I was born and raised in Naperville. This debacle that is going on today is very reminiscent of years ago when White Eagle citizens complained that their address would be Aurora? Its unfortunate that what really matters most is tossed aside because of certain citizens altered sense of reality of what is important.
Let's not be fooled by smoke and mirrors once again. Let's make good decisions that will positively impact lives of our children for generations to come.
Let's foster a community that is diverse and abundant for all whom live in it.
Proud parent in District 204 and supporter of Eola land deal,
Dara K. Hudson
Aurora
D204 should consider school year-round
In all of the articles in your paper regarding the site location for the new District 204 high school, I have never seen any discussion of a year round school system as an alternative that was considered. Understanding that "out of the box" thinking is not compatible or welcome, with a Republican, conservative community, it would seem to me to have merit for the following reasons:
1. The present facilities would be expanded by 25 percent immediately without a dime of expenditure of public finds to expand physical plants. To go completely off the deep end you could even work out a facility sharing arrangement with District 203 for the quarter in the summer for additional space. Those who want to continue with the traditional "summer off" concept could be accommodated, while those who were willing to try something new could be rewarded with tax credits for the years their children attended the summer quarters. This certainly be financed from the proposed expenditure of monies to build the new school.
2. A survey could be made immediately of how many parents would be willing to adopt the three quarter system for the 180 days of education as opposed to the two semester system. This would allow students to complete their high school requirement in three years if they desired, and also allow for winter vacations to escape the Chicago weather for those with the independence and affluence. Think of it as a long "Spring Brake Ritual" that everyone in the area seems committed to take.
3. It would allow for the smoothing of demographic trends as communities and land builds out and enrollments start to decrease, which is occurring in 203 at a significant rate. If that occurs, and the public wanted to revert back to the semester system, that could happen.
4. Teachers that wanted to earn additional income could teach all four quarters, with holidays and vacation breaks comparable to the rest of us who have worked in commercial world. Likewise, accommodations could be made for those teachers who might to want work only 1-2 quarters because of family considerations.
It's our understanding that this concept is working in other areas of the country who have faced population explosions similar to Naperville, and the kids haven't suffered any irreparable harm from the experience. Certainly it wouldn't take to long to find out.
Mary Lou and Fred Bricketto
Naperville
