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Post by d204mom on Jun 5, 2008 17:56:12 GMT -6
D204 residents need to pull together over Metea Valley
June 5, 2008
THE ISSUE: A ceremonial groundbreaking for Metea Valley High School took place Tuesday.
OUR VIEW: We hope this will bring an end to the bickering and bitterness about the site decision, but realize that aspiration is perhaps too much to hope for.
It was perhaps ironic for the long-awaited ceremonial groundbreaking for Metea Valley High School that Indian Prairie School District 204 officials would be faced with uncooperative weather.
As a consequence, Tuesday's ceremony was held inside the gymnasium at Indian Plains Alternative High School until the rain stopped, the sun shone and everyone could move outside to, as Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said, "throw a little dirt" in recognition of the occasion.
The real earth moving at the actual site began several weeks ago, in keeping with the district's long-held plan to get the school built and open by autumn 2009, no matter what.
It's been a tough go of it for the district, with three lawsuits over the site selection. The one filed by the NSFOC parents group attempting to force the district to buy the Brach-Brodie site has been dismissed, with a judge Wednesday officially putting an end to it. The suits filed by the Brach and Brodie trusts seeking damages also were in court Wednesday, seeking a total of $5 million in damages for an eminent domain lawsuit the district dropped.
Though the long, contentious battle over the district's third high school has yet to come to a close, it is good to see the district forging ahead.
At Tuesday's ceremony, School Board President Mark Metzger, addressing the controversy about the school site, said he hopes this beginning "is also the end to all of the acrimony, back biting and infighting."
Giving his school board president's take on the often geographical component of the struggles over the site, Metzger added that the district is not composed of people from Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, but rather that "we are 47 square miles of us and nothing else. As a community what we do best is provide for the education of our young people."
In essence, he is right - the district provides the same fine educational opportunities for all those within its boundaries, regardless of what city they live in or what high school they attend.
We echo Metzger's sentiment that the "acrimony, back biting and infighting" come to an end, but it comes with the knowledge that, given the passions involved, they probably will not.
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Post by overtaxed on Jun 5, 2008 18:04:49 GMT -6
D204 residents need to pull together over Metea Valley
June 5, 2008 THE ISSUE: A ceremonial groundbreaking for Metea Valley High School took place Tuesday. OUR VIEW: We hope this will bring an end to the bickering and bitterness about the site decision, but realize that aspiration is perhaps too much to hope for. It was perhaps ironic for the long-awaited ceremonial groundbreaking for Metea Valley High School that Indian Prairie School District 204 officials would be faced with uncooperative weather. As a consequence, Tuesday's ceremony was held inside the gymnasium at Indian Plains Alternative High School until the rain stopped, the sun shone and everyone could move outside to, as Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said, "throw a little dirt" in recognition of the occasion. The real earth moving at the actual site began several weeks ago, in keeping with the district's long-held plan to get the school built and open by autumn 2009, no matter what. It's been a tough go of it for the district, with three lawsuits over the site selection. The one filed by the NSFOC parents group attempting to force the district to buy the Brach-Brodie site has been dismissed, with a judge Wednesday officially putting an end to it. The suits filed by the Brach and Brodie trusts seeking damages also were in court Wednesday, seeking a total of $5 million in damages for an eminent domain lawsuit the district dropped. Though the long, contentious battle over the district's third high school has yet to come to a close, it is good to see the district forging ahead. At Tuesday's ceremony, School Board President Mark Metzger, addressing the controversy about the school site, said he hopes this beginning "is also the end to all of the acrimony, back biting and infighting." Giving his school board president's take on the often geographical component of the struggles over the site, Metzger added that the district is not composed of people from Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, but rather that "we are 47 square miles of us and nothing else. As a community what we do best is provide for the education of our young people." In essence, he is right - the district provides the same fine educational opportunities for all those within its boundaries, regardless of what city they live in or what high school they attend. We echo Metzger's sentiment that the "acrimony, back biting and infighting" come to an end, but it comes with the knowledge that, given the passions involved, they probably will not. [/color] Do ya think this may because it is thrown at us at every chance by the rags um newspaper? Did M2 ever say sorry? No ,he just wants it to end, there is a large group of taxepayers that are waiting Metzer.  |
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Post by fence on Jun 5, 2008 19:50:36 GMT -6
FTLOG can one public spokesperson in this district read a motivational leadership book..... Editors, school board members, supers, whoever - seriously you SUCK at being agents of change.
"We hope <the groundbreaking> will bring an end to the bickering and bitterness about the site decision, but realize that aspiration is perhaps too much to hope for."
You hope the GROUNDBREAKING will bring an end to it? Really? Maybe you should also buy everyone here a pony. That might work too.
For heaven sake - the only thing that's going to bring an end to it is for our freaking leadership to sit down with people and have a real conversation, and try to mend the fence the old fashioned way. With a RELATIONSHIP.
It isn't going to be solved with backhanded quotes by m2 in the paper, Daesher ignoring the destruction he left in his quest for progress, or OpEd "hoping" that things improve.
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Post by slp on Jun 5, 2008 19:53:49 GMT -6
FTLOG can one public spokesperson in this district read a motivational leadership book..... Editors, school board members, supers, whoever - seriously you SUCK at being agents of change. "We hope <the groundbreaking> will bring an end to the bickering and bitterness about the site decision, but realize that aspiration is perhaps too much to hope for." You hope the GROUNDBREAKING will bring an end to it? Really? Maybe you should also buy everyone here a pony. That might work too. For heaven sake - the only thing that's going to bring an end to it is for our freaking leadership to sit down with people and have a real conversation, and try to mend the fence the old fashioned way. With a RELATIONSHIP. It isn't going to be solved with backhanded quotes by m2 in the paper, Daesher ignoring the destruction he left in his quest for progress, or OpEd "hoping" that things improve. I couldn't agree more. A concerted effort needs to be made to bring the district together and that is the DUTY of the school board. This is their opportunity to take the high road and show some class. Some have said that nothing will be good enough, but you won't know until you try and IMO the school board has not made a whole hearted attempt at mending this district .....yet. eta: up to now the school board has continued to fan the flame in my opinion. that has to stop! |
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Post by Arch on Jun 5, 2008 22:13:00 GMT -6
The first step is to admit that one has a problem. They are not to step 1 yet.
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Post by capecod on Jun 11, 2008 12:24:51 GMT -6
Sorry, but M2 is an idiot and always will be. His ego will not let him say sorry to our district. He needs to be voted out of office along with the rest of them.
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Post by overtaxed on Jun 11, 2008 12:51:23 GMT -6
Sorry, but M2 is an idiot and always will be. His ego will not let him say sorry to our district. He needs to be voted out of office along with the rest of them. I agree ( but CV can stay). You also forgot to say that M2 is a bully.  He may of gotten what he wanted but he paid a price he will regret, he lost any respect he had in district 204. |
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Post by Arch on Jun 11, 2008 13:05:44 GMT -6
people have short memories if not reminded.
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Post by researching on Jun 11, 2008 13:27:08 GMT -6
people have short memories if not reminded. That is exactly what I was thinking. I am absolutely not an M2 fan (actually I have a hard time thinking of anyone around here I dislike more) but he has been on the SB for how many years? Didn't he also win some award recently? How that happened I will never know. Unless it was an award for the most mistakes made by the most arrogant/rude SB President. |
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Post by sluggo on Jun 11, 2008 14:39:18 GMT -6
capecod, researching and overtaxed,
I couldn't agree more with your sentiments on Mark Metzger. He needs to go. Too bad he's not up for election in 2009. I don't think he'd stand a chance at being reelected. Arch, unfortunately, you are correct that people have short term memories. However, I do think many people will remember this latest chapter in 204. I know very many people that are very angry.
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Post by doctorwho on Jun 11, 2008 15:51:29 GMT -6
people have short memories if not reminded. Which is why, in my humble opinion, forums like this need to stay active. |
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Post by anteater on Jun 12, 2008 7:32:45 GMT -6
I am absolutely not an M2 fan (actually I have a hard time thinking of anyone around here I dislike more) but he has been on the SB for how many years? Didn't he also win some award recently? How that happened I will never know. Unless it was an award for the most mistakes made by the most arrogant/rude SB President. He is active in the state school board association - in fact, I think he is the president this year - and largely as a result of that he recently became an officer in the national school board assocation. I think a lot of this activity stems mainly from his longevity coupled with the district's accomplishments/reputation. |
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Post by specailneedsmom on Jun 12, 2008 7:50:32 GMT -6
If you look at the thread I started about qualities to look for in a SB member, the issue of term limits came up. I don't know if it is part of the SB spectrum to have term limits, but if you read Doc's post you will undertand why M2, or anyone else who has been around that long, needs to move on. M2 is a very knowledgeable person and he has been around for much of the growth of this district. So has JC. They have contributed a lot. But he wields too much power on the SB and in the district.
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Post by rew on Jun 12, 2008 11:10:45 GMT -6
I think longevity has a lot to do with his appointment. I don't know if term limits are needed.
I feel many of the incumbents, from the 2005/07 elections were voted in because of their support for the third high school. I voted in 05 for JC because of that and for JS (non icumbent) because he was on the ref comm. and supported a third HS. Many voted for CV because she was a NO 3rd HS candidate.
Certainly the 07 election was all about "seeing us through BB". The incumbents were the 3 who said "no Plan B". I was not happy voting for MM or AT, I voted for them because I wanted the site and boundaries as decided. I just didn't anticipate that they would change course.
Honestly, if the board had dealt with the recent issues (3rd HS, new super) differently, I would probably not be as unhappy with them as I am. This is what elections are for...I am unhappy with their decisions and will work to oust them at the next election. I don't really know that it has to do with term limits.
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Post by slp on Jun 12, 2008 11:16:42 GMT -6
I think longevity has a lot to do with his appointment. I don't know if term limits are needed. I feel many of the incumbents, from the 2005/07 elections were voted in because of their support for the third high school. I voted in 05 for JC because of that and for JS (non icumbent) because he was on the ref comm. and supported a third HS. Many voted for CV because she was a NO 3rd HS candidate. Certainly the 07 election was all about "seeing us through BB". The incumbents were the 3 who said "no Plan B". I was not happy voting for MM or AT, I voted for them because I wanted the site and boundaries as decided. I just didn't anticipate that they would change course. Honestly, if the board had dealt with the recent issues (3rd HS, new super) differently, I would probably not be as unhappy with them as I am. This is what elections are for...I am unhappy with their decisions and will work to oust them at the next election. I don't really know that it has to do with term limits. well said. I too voted based on the 'promises/platform' of each candidate. Whether or not term limits would have changed the outcome , I don't know. |
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