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Post by doctorwho on Apr 20, 2008 11:59:37 GMT -6
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 12:03:06 GMT -6
I'm from Owen West and while I don't speak for all of us, by any means, I haven't yet heard from any of my neighbors who are vehemently opposed to this site, especially after seeing/hearing the envioronmental reports. I have talked to several of my neighbors here and the overwhelming response of those I've talked to has been one of simple disappointment. The BB land would have made it so much more convenient for us as it is "right on the corner" from us. However, no one that I've talked to is lined up to sue the district. The goal has been the same - build a 3rd high school. The fact that it is now at Eola is just a small inconvenience for those I've talked to. So when I hear all this talk of "the north gets their new school" and calling it "Brookdale High" is a slap in the face to the rest of us who will be attending this school. It is no one's school - it is the district's school. Before this whole mess, I didn't hear of anyone calling Neuqua "Tallgrass High" or Waubonsie "Aurora High". This is District 204 and all of our 31, soon to be 33 schools, are part of it. They belong to no one subdivision and it is time we start addressing Metea Valley High School as Metea - not the names it's been called. This would be a start in our efforts to end the name calling. Thanks for your perspective eb204. Apparently the perspectives of myself and other people who are not being moved don't matter because "we got our way". (BTW: Let's add that to the further name calling and dividing still being perpetuated on this board). I'm very glad to hear that someone who has been disappointed by this decision is taking steps to accept it. This whole theory about the SB personally taking it out on subdivisions and not knowing where they are located are ludicrous. ETA: Fence, I like your thinking too. Can we please use this board to improve our schools instead of just complaining? |
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Post by Avenging Eagle on Apr 20, 2008 12:17:51 GMT -6
I'm from Owen West and while I don't speak for all of us, by any means, I haven't yet heard from any of my neighbors who are vehemently opposed to this site, especially after seeing/hearing the envioronmental reports. I have talked to several of my neighbors here and the overwhelming response of those I've talked to has been one of simple disappointment. The BB land would have made it so much more convenient for us as it is "right on the corner" from us. However, no one that I've talked to is lined up to sue the district. The goal has been the same - build a 3rd high school. The fact that it is now at Eola is just a small inconvenience for those I've talked to. So when I hear all this talk of "the north gets their new school" and calling it "Brookdale High" is a slap in the face to the rest of us who will be attending this school. It is no one's school - it is the district's school. Before this whole mess, I didn't hear of anyone calling Neuqua "Tallgrass High" or Waubonsie "Aurora High". This is District 204 and all of our 31, soon to be 33 schools, are part of it. They belong to no one subdivision and it is time we start addressing Metea Valley High School as Metea - not the names it's been called. This would be a start in our efforts to end the name calling. Thanks for your perspective eb204. Apparently the perspectives of myself and other people who are not being moved don't matter because "we got our way". (BTW: Let's add that to the further name calling and dividing still being perpetuated on this board). I'm very glad to hear that someone who has been disappointed by this decision is taking steps to accept it. This whole theory about the SB personally taking it out on subdivisions and not knowing where they are located are ludicrous. ETA: Fence, I like your thinking too. Can we please use this board to improve our schools instead of just complaining? Why "take steps" to accept something that hasn't even happened yet? This is just the mantra of the week by the spin-meisters to try to calm the natives and bring the lemmings in-step and ready to walk over the cliff. The only thing that has happened is that we own land on BB and now also on Eola, with 3 lawsuits hanging over our head, which is a stupid and unnecessary position for us to be in. Can you predict what will happen next in our district? Nobody could have predicted much of what has happened up to this point. Also, you state that nobody agrees with some points you made only because you think you are "unaffected". Did you ever consider that they may not agree with you because you are simply wrong? |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 12:23:39 GMT -6
Also, you state that nobody agrees with some points you made only because you think you are "unaffected". Did you ever consider that they may not agree with you because you are simply wrong? Well then people need to respectfully disagree with me, not try to insinuate I have a motive or agenda because I "got my way" and also keep pointing out where I live. |
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Post by fence on Apr 20, 2008 12:26:49 GMT -6
Yes we can move on. But the first thing we need to do is agree on the problems we need to solve. That means admitting that we have some. Not acting like there are people that are simply being unwilling nitwits bent on being difficult.
So, there is a problem at WV. What are we going to do to fix it? Do we plan to just sit here and mock those who don't want to attend? Do we plan to continue saying "WV is a great school" and happily move on to a new MV? Or do we plan to admit that there's work to do?
Do we plan to overstuff WV for the first 2 years and say get over it? Or do we plan to develop an interim plan that doesn't make matters worse?
Do we plan to rush MV at AME and call it our plan for "WV restructuring" or do we plan to build an innovative curriculum at WV that addresses the needs of all students? Could we turn it into a charter school? Is it possible? Or is just shuffling kids and principals around going to be the end of our attempt at improvments?
And then there's the problem financially if we end up having to pay BB. Are we going to continue to rejoice at the SB's excellent decision-making and call opposers unpatriotic morons, or are we going to ask for some accountability if we end up paying $60M because we had to sign another contract before BB was settled?
I think that moving on requires getting on the same page. Talking in extremes on either side is where we're having problems.
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Post by d204mom on Apr 20, 2008 12:29:42 GMT -6
I went by the AME site Friday and the engineering company was out surveying the property. I couldn't believe they were working without the proper protection required for a toxic wasteland like that. Someone should call OSHA or something, those guys are all going to die horrible deaths from exposure to all those hazardous substances that are in the ground. At the least they should have had asbestos fire suits on to protect them from the imminent threat of pipeline failure.  How proud would you be of this post if something happens along these lines in the future? I believe it's called TEMPTING FATE. I'm surprised there was not an additional comment regarding an EARTHQUAKE. |
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Post by eb204 on Apr 20, 2008 12:31:17 GMT -6
I didn't say "I" was personally offended. I'm not. My point was that many have expressed an end to the name calling. I'm suggesting it start with the school itself. Call it Metea Valley High School. Period. Yes, it may be the furthest school from your house - that does suck. I know. It's the furthest one from my house too. As for the Owen East folks, well, they threw Owen West under the bus (my opinion only) and didn't even ask the entire Owen community what everyone thought or even if Owen west would support their efforts. That was a shock for many Owen West parents (not only my opinion). They were a vocal group that had the ear of a board member. I don't agree with that. I'm sorry Watts is left with a long commute - I truly am. I know several parents in the Watts community and this commute will suck. I know. I think of this as I have about 5 other ES closer to me currently, yet I drive all the way to Owen. My fellow neighbors have been through 2 other ES boundary school changes taking them from White Eagle ES (across the street) then to McCarty (still closer than Owen) and now to Owen, exactly 12 min according to Yahoo maps, but about 15-18 in real traffic. Our calculated distance to Metea will be 13 min. per Yahoo maps and using Eola/Diehl as the intersection. So, again, no real difference from what we are used to. The calculated distance from Watts to Eola/Diehl is 13 minutes as well. Now, while I don't know your specific address of that of your neighbors, I had to use the school's address, so I don't know if this is accurate. It certainly wouldn't be accurate to use Owen's school address in my situation. My point is you and I have about the same distance time wise. You and your neighbors are upset by this commute and I understand that. You are not used to it as the folks in Owen West are. Maybe that is why we are less vocal. But to say this is "such a long commute" really bothers me (maybe that isn't the right word, but I don't know what is, really). The folks here at Owen West have been used to long commutes, save the middle school. And we were looking forward to such a short commute, maybe even some walkers, at BB. But it didn't happen. We're not calling MVHS "the northern school" or "Brookdale High". We're calling it Metea and embracing a new school inour district, just as the residents in Owen West did when Owen was built. Again, my suggestion is that we stop the name calling by calling Metea what it is. Metea Valley High School. Not "the furthest school from my home" or anything else. Can we do that? Calling it anything else is prejudical, just as calling TG or WE residents "elitist". There are some wonderful people in those neighborhoods and we shouldn't be lumping everyone who lives there in that category. Nor should we be lumping those that go to or support MVHS "northerners". I am not a northerner and there will be many other "non-northerners" at MVHS. Can we just call it Metea Valley High School? |
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Post by d204mom on Apr 20, 2008 12:34:14 GMT -6
I do think the SB and district are more concerned about the lawsuit than they have postured. Could it be that they believe it has merit? Why are they bringing in additional legal help if they think it's a slam dunk? |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 13:25:06 GMT -6
I do think the SB and district are more concerned about the lawsuit than they have postured. Could it be that they believe it has merit? Why are they bringing in additional legal help if they think it's a slam dunk? After the last jury verdict, do you even have to ask that?  I don't know the qualifications of our current group of attorneys but there is nothing wrong with calling in a specialist, even if you think it is a slam dunk. Many would be upset at the SB if they did not call in a specialist. |
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Post by fryfox on Apr 20, 2008 15:07:20 GMT -6
I appreciate and understand your comments. I just wish it could be done in a way that doesn't divide our community. What suggestions do you have to accomplish this? The District and SB have turned a deaf ear to concerns - over and over again. Were you at the boundary meeting where they were asked by at least 15-20 speakers to slow down? Did they listen then? What about last Monday's meeting with the revised EOLA site - I heard the same request but their answer was that we can't wait another minute. What will it really take to get that accomplished? Sleepless - I really want to hear your thoughts on this. If you have a good suggestion, I'm being sincere that it would be nice to have another way. |
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Post by Arch on Apr 20, 2008 15:19:31 GMT -6
eb204,
13 minutes from Watts to Eola/Diehl in the morning commute? You VERY LUCKY to get to Hill from here in that amount of time, let alone Eola/Diehl.
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Post by eb204 on Apr 20, 2008 15:34:06 GMT -6
eb204, 13 minutes from Watts to Eola/Diehl in the morning commute? You VERY LUCKY to get to Hill from here in that amount of time, let alone Eola/Diehl. That is by Yahoo's calculations, not mine. I even stated as much when I compared our commute to Owen. Yahoo states 12 minutes, but in reality it can be up to 18 - call it an even 20 min. on some days. I know the commute from Owen West to Metea will be more than what Yahoo says. I acknowledged that. Again, my point is that Watts is not the only one with a long commute and will have to deal with traffic. I've taken my child to softball games at the fields at Brooks and I've gotten hung up for 10 min. alone at the intersection of Indian Trail/N. Aurora Rd. and Eola. I know it will be more than 13 minutes! Why do you want to pick apart everything single sentence when someone has a different opinion? I've dealt with a long commute to ES and will deal with a long commute to Metea when it could have been so much less. Yet, my desire to have a 3rd high school without overcrowding was more important on my list. Also, my point in my post was to start calling Metea what it is - and I'll say it again - Metea Valley High School. Not the other names it's been called. Did anyone call Neuqua "<insert subdivision> High" when it was being built? That's what I was asking. Again, the name calling should stop by calling MVHS what it has been named, nothing else. |
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Post by d204mom on Apr 20, 2008 16:09:58 GMT -6
Thanks for your perspective eb204. Apparently the perspectives of myself and other people who are not being moved don't matter because "we got our way". (BTW: Let's add that to the further name calling and dividing still being perpetuated on this board). I'm very glad to hear that someone who has been disappointed by this decision is taking steps to accept it. This whole theory about the SB personally taking it out on subdivisions and not knowing where they are located are ludicrous. ETA: Fence, I like your thinking too. Can we please use this board to improve our schools instead of just complaining? Why "take steps" to accept something that hasn't even happened yet? This is just the mantra of the week by the spin-meisters to try to calm the natives and bring the lemmings in-step and ready to walk over the cliff. The only thing that has happened is that we own land on BB and now also on Eola, with 3 lawsuits hanging over our head, which is a stupid and unnecessary position for us to be in. Can you predict what will happen next in our district? Nobody could have predicted much of what has happened up to this point. Also, you state that nobody agrees with some points you made only because you think you are "unaffected". Did you ever consider that they may not agree with you because you are simply wrong? Thanks for the reminder AE. The only thing that's changed in the last week is that we may soon own 2 properties big enough for a high school instead of only one. Right now our only loss would be the difference between $225/acre for Eola and what we could get someone else to pay for it. |
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Post by macy on Apr 20, 2008 16:14:01 GMT -6
Why "take steps" to accept something that hasn't even happened yet? This is just the mantra of the week by the spin-meisters to try to calm the natives and bring the lemmings in-step and ready to walk over the cliff. The only thing that has happened is that we own land on BB and now also on Eola, with 3 lawsuits hanging over our head, which is a stupid and unnecessary position for us to be in. Can you predict what will happen next in our district? Nobody could have predicted much of what has happened up to this point. Also, you state that nobody agrees with some points you made only because you think you are "unaffected". Did you ever consider that they may not agree with you because you are simply wrong? Thanks for the reminder AE. The only thing that's changed in the last week is that we may soon own 2 properties big enough for a high school instead of only one. Right now our only loss would be the difference between $225/acre for Eola and what we could get someone else to pay for it. Too bad we didn't get the AME land appraised. |
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 20, 2008 16:30:01 GMT -6
What suggestions do you have to accomplish this? The District and SB have turned a deaf ear to concerns - over and over again. Were you at the boundary meeting where they were asked by at least 15-20 speakers to slow down? Did they listen then? What about last Monday's meeting with the revised EOLA site - I heard the same request but their answer was that we can't wait another minute. What will it really take to get that accomplished? Sleepless - I really want to hear your thoughts on this. If you have a good suggestion, I'm being sincere that it would be nice to have another way. I wish I knew that answer fryfox. I feel the pain on the 'slow down' thing myself sometimes. This is my opinion on the way the school board thinks. Disclaimer: I'm not saying it is right, and I am not saying I agree with it. I also don't know them that well to say this is true or not. I think they are like a parent whose children want to change some rules. In my house, whenever a rule is to be changed, my kids write a persuasive letter to me. I then hear that letter and decide if something will be changed. Sometimes I would like to change things, but it won't make anything better so I stick with what I had originally proposed. I think this is the case with the boundaries. They had to move 2.5 schools into WV, and it made the most sense to move them in a contiguous group. Also, IMO they could have moved Steck etc. and let Watts and Owen stay. People may think that is because of favoritism but I also think it has to do with the fact that these schools (Watts, Owen, Fry, WE, etc) were already pulled to move. In a twisted way, the board was trying to keep the 5A boundaries as much as possible. It was totally impossible to keep them 100% the same, so they did the minimal movement necessary. In the SB's eyes, Fry/WE voted to leave NV and go to another HS so they weren't seeing it as much different. Watts too. They voted, knowing they were leaving WV. AGain, just my opinion of why things went the way they did. It's my opinion that the SB is functioning as a parent and doing what they think is best for the district. They are not buddies with us like everyone would like for them to be. If a group of CFO's came in and wanted to talk and they listened to everyone and did what everyone wanted, we wouldn't have a school. This might be more possible in a smaller district but again, even districts like Oswego don't ask for parental input on the boundaries. Our SB listened (even if you don't think they did, they gave everyone multiple opportunities to voice concerns) and in the end, went ahead with what they thought was best for our residents. BTW: My children don't always like my decisions either.  As far as the rush, I can't explain that although it is clear they want to open this school by 2009. They don't see a problem. I hope they are right. Maybe there is pressure from someone else to get the school built. They have heard your pleas but again, feel that the risk of not opening in 2009 is greater than the risk of a huge payout. Again, I don't like the gamble with our money but at this point, all I can do is hope. As for suggestions, I have suggested to the board to have those coffees again, and I do like the individual members coming to the PTA meetings althought it doesn't seem like it was productive in Fry's case. I just think their hands are tied because of the lawsuits. And God forbid any more emails go around from anyone that can be used against them. So I'm afraid that avenue is shut. There has been a communication gap between us and the board and I don't know if it can be rectified anytime soon. |
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