Beacon columnist north site comment

[gatordog]

Not much new here....but something to pass the time with


Patience is good when it comes to schools, Wi-Fi and the Cubs

January 13, 2008
I'll jump on the New Year resolution bandwagon and resolve to be more patient:


• When I hear rumors about a northern site for Indian Prairie School District's third high school. As a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended the district construct the high school, I still stand behind that recommendation. District report cards reinforced that the third high school is needed. The six middle schools have average class sizes in the high 20s and the two high schools they feed into have class sizes in the low 20s. Without the third high school, graduating middle school students will create severe overcrowding at the current high schools. It's really that simple.

Until every piece of vacant land within the district is built on or preserved, the student body will increase. To think otherwise conflicts with my common sense. I wish to thank the school board for considering alternate sites, and for working expeditiously on this important matter.





• When street lights on Bilter Road, between DuPage Parkway and Eola Roads, get run over. As frequently as this happens, re-erecting the lights takes way too long. There are also 38 trees along this same stretch of roadway that must be replanted due to reckless drivers and drought that have been neglected for two years. The city of Aurora should consider installing safety guardrails to protect the dog walkers, lighting and landscaping along the curves of this thoroughfare.

• About the non-existent free wireless Internet service that was supposed to be installed citywide. I can't remember what the promised completion date for this project was but it has definitely long lapsed. My Comcast bill that comes every month is a constant reminder of Aurora's false promise.


• Because 2008 is an election year, and the mudslinging commercials will undoubtedly dominate the airwaves soon. I want candidates to tell me about their plans should they get elected. Forget about telling me what other candidates did wrong: If it was that bad I probably already heard it and I have a good memory.


• When I read about the lack of a contract for Aurora's police and firefighters. Our police have proved the high quality of service they provide time and again by making gigantic drug busts, squashing prostitution, and recording record-breaking street gang sweeps. Our firefighters are not as high profile, but they are not forgotten and are just as important for the safety and well being of this city. Please unite both sides and secure a fair contract for these hardy men and women who risk their lives for us every day.

Lastly, cheering for the Cubs takes great strength and proven patience, but 100 years is long enough. The Cubs have Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, fearless Lou Piniella to manage the bunch, and a solid group of young talent such as Ryan Theriot. A lot can still happen before March 31, and I challenge the Cubs to get it done in 2008. Cubs fans deserve it. If for nothing else, Cubs fans must silence White Sox fans that abandoned their team a couple short days after the World Series victory rally in...what year was it again?

[EagleDad]

FYI, This article was written by Bryan Scherer, a former school board candidate, regular columnist, northern resident and someone who spoke out via his position as a columnist against Brach Brodie and in support of a northern site vocally in the past:

January 28, 2007
Let's talk third high school. More specifically, the construction of the Indian Prairie School District's Matea Valley High School. While I support the construction of Matea -- and voted for it twice -- I have a problem with the location. The Brach-Brodie property along 75th Street immediately west of Route 59 is, in my opinion, a poor choice.

In 2005, when I was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended to the School Board a third high school be built, the district administration made it clear that we had absolutely no say about the location. That was a mistake. The committee, comprised of nearly 50 district residents, should have had some responsibility to choose a site, or at least recommend one.

Prime acreage adjacent to Route 59, such as Brach-Brodie, has strong tax-generating power and is best suited for retail, not schools. Cities depend on it. Schools traditionally are tucked away in sleepy residential neighborhoods with little traffic, and away from surrounding schools within the same district. Constructing schools in residential neighborhoods allows less land for homes and prevents overcrowding. Because Brach-Brodie is so close to Waubonsie Valley High School, drawing boundary lines is also a problem.

Earlier this month, School Board Vice President Bruce Glawe said, "Brach-Brodie is very centrally located, and that is very important (because) it serves both the north and south portions of the district."

I don't see the advantage of another centrally located high school, and I wonder why that is considered important. My daughter attends Waubonsie and seldom has the need to go to Neuqua. In fact, we've only been there a handful of times. Should Matea be constructed in the northern part of the district, Waubonsie would be centrally located and provide a much easier and sensible method of drawing boundaries verses the squiggly lines currently proposed. Busing would not be an issue because kids are going to be bused no matter where the school is built. And contrary to reports there is no available land to the north, there are parcels near the tollway that can accommodate a high school and may very well be cheaper than the Brach-Brodie property.

I propose to cut the cord on the condemnation lawsuit, abandon the Brach-Brodie parcel and sell the adjacent 25 acres the district already owns. I don't like my tax dollars paying attorneys for condemnation proceedings, and there's no reason for a lawsuit. There are other available sites.

Secondly, take another serious look at parcels near the tollway that don't need to be condemned, are away from the existing high schools, and buy one. Let the public have input. If the administration and the board are afraid that land costs may suddenly escalate due to district consideration, then buy without public input.

Next, redraw horizontal boundaries through the district. The northern part of the district would go to Matea, the central portion would go to Waubonsie, and the southern part of the district would go to Neuqua. To spread out the student population, simply adjust the horizontal lines up or down.

This district should break ground soon so my younger daughter isn't going to school with 35 other kids in a trailer. And tell Paul Lehman, developer of the slow-selling Ashwood subdivision, to either donate land for a school or take a long walk off a short pier.

In this latest column, he is thanking the school board for giving him what he always wanted.

[gatordog]

eagledad said:

FYI, This article was written by Bryan Scherer, a former school board candidate, regular columnist, northern resident and someone who spoke out via his position as a columnist against Brach Brodie and in support of a northern site vocally in the past:

thanks Eagledad, for including the author. I didnt catch my mistake, that his name wasnt included with the byline.

It was useful to recite Scherer's previous position as background. As I said, definitely nothing new out of this.

[doctorwho]

eagledad said:

FYI, This article was written by Bryan Scherer, a former school board candidate, regular columnist, northern resident and someone who spoke out via his position as a columnist against Brach Brodie and in support of a northern site vocally in the past:

January 28, 2007
Let's talk third high school. More specifically, the construction of the Indian Prairie School District's Matea Valley High School. While I support the construction of Matea -- and voted for it twice -- I have a problem with the location. The Brach-Brodie property along 75th Street immediately west of Route 59 is, in my opinion, a poor choice.

In 2005, when I was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended to the School Board a third high school be built, the district administration made it clear that we had absolutely no say about the location. That was a mistake. The committee, comprised of nearly 50 district residents, should have had some responsibility to choose a site, or at least recommend one.

Prime acreage adjacent to Route 59, such as Brach-Brodie, has strong tax-generating power and is best suited for retail, not schools. Cities depend on it. Schools traditionally are tucked away in sleepy residential neighborhoods with little traffic, and away from surrounding schools within the same district. Constructing schools in residential neighborhoods allows less land for homes and prevents overcrowding. Because Brach-Brodie is so close to Waubonsie Valley High School, drawing boundary lines is also a problem.

Earlier this month, School Board Vice President Bruce Glawe said, "Brach-Brodie is very centrally located, and that is very important (because) it serves both the north and south portions of the district."

I don't see the advantage of another centrally located high school, and I wonder why that is considered important. My daughter attends Waubonsie and seldom has the need to go to Neuqua. In fact, we've only been there a handful of times. Should Matea be constructed in the northern part of the district, Waubonsie would be centrally located and provide a much easier and sensible method of drawing boundaries verses the squiggly lines currently proposed. Busing would not be an issue because kids are going to be bused no matter where the school is built. And contrary to reports there is no available land to the north, there are parcels near the tollway that can accommodate a high school and may very well be cheaper than the Brach-Brodie property.

I propose to cut the cord on the condemnation lawsuit, abandon the Brach-Brodie parcel and sell the adjacent 25 acres the district already owns. I don't like my tax dollars paying attorneys for condemnation proceedings, and there's no reason for a lawsuit. There are other available sites.

Secondly, take another serious look at parcels near the tollway that don't need to be condemned, are away from the existing high schools, and buy one. Let the public have input. If the administration and the board are afraid that land costs may suddenly escalate due to district consideration, then buy without public input.

Next, redraw horizontal boundaries through the district. The northern part of the district would go to Matea, the central portion would go to Waubonsie, and the southern part of the district would go to Neuqua. To spread out the student population, simply adjust the horizontal lines up or down.

This district should break ground soon so my younger daughter isn't going to school with 35 other kids in a trailer. And tell Paul Lehman, developer of the slow-selling Ashwood subdivision, to either donate land for a school or take a long walk off a short pier.

In this latest column, he is thanking the school board for giving him what he always wanted.

Okay Bryan -- Cowlishaw is Central - Watts is Central - Owen is Central - Gombert is Central Mc Carty is Central -- so by your magical lines - we all go to Waubonsie -- WHO GOES TO MV ?--

Gee, I wonder where Bryan lives ?

[d204mom]

I don't totally blame this guy. People want to go to a high school that is close to them. Putting the high school up north will make the school close to a few and increase the commute for most, when you consider backfilling WV as well; but I don't blame this guy for being happy that the school may be going in his back yard.

Nobody wants to drive across tarnation to go to high school. North site has more losers than winners but the winners will be happy about it.

[doctorwho]

d204mom said:

I don't totally blame this guy. People want to go to a high school that is close to them. Putting the high school up north will make the school close to a few and increase the commute for most, when you consider backfilling WV as well; but I don't blame this guy for being happy that the school may be going in his back yard.

Nobody wants to drive across tarnation to go to high school. North site has more losers than winners but the winners will be happy about it.

This decision is extremely short sighted -- if a planner for McDonalds for instance put a restaurant where 15% of the population is instead of 50- 60% - they would be fired.

I believe this will fracture 204 at a much deeper level than NV opening did - that is my prediction based on the last week or so. I wish it wasn't so , and maybe somehow it won't be, but I believe that is the path we are on. Even the Taj Mahal rhetoric didn't generate lawsuits --
For areas like mine-- almost all sense of community is lost --

For the Bryan Sherer's of the world - hey you hit the proverbial jackpot -- congratulations.

I am writing the Beacon because I want him to explain how he draws line that sends central schools to Waubonsie.....

[momto4]

doctorwho said:

d204mom said:

I don't totally blame this guy. People want to go to a high school that is close to them. Putting the high school up north will make the school close to a few and increase the commute for most, when you consider backfilling WV as well; but I don't blame this guy for being happy that the school may be going in his back yard.

Nobody wants to drive across tarnation to go to high school. North site has more losers than winners but the winners will be happy about it.

This decision is extremely short sighted -- if a planner for McDonalds for instance put a restaurant where 15% of the population is instead of 50- 60% - they would be fired.

I believe this will fracture 204 at a much deeper level than NV opening did - that is my prediction based on the last week or so. I wish it wasn't so , and maybe somehow it won't be, but I believe that is the path we are on. Even the Taj Mahal rhetoric didn't generate lawsuits --
For areas like mine-- almost all sense of community is lost --

For the Bryan Sherer's of the world - hey you hit the proverbial jackpot -- congratulations.

I am writing the Beacon because I want him to explain how he draws line that sends central schools to Waubonsie.....

Agreed - regardless of where the school is it will be better for some and worse for others.

I think Scherer's boundary plan is in the magical world where the population is evenly distributed throughout the district.

[casey]

Yes and if those magical boundaries are drawn horizontally, how can a school south of 95th not be considered a south school? Heck, I live almost at 103rd and you're going to tell me that wouldn't be considered south?

With his boundary lines, who's north? There'd be about 1000 kids! But you know what? At this point, I think there'd be many that would say "what the heck" build a smaller school and leave NVHS and WVHS the way they are. Let NVHS stay crowded, WVHS will lose the northerners to that site (1/3? of the school), and MVHS can open with those that want to be there. I'm not saying that's what I want but I bet there'd be many that would go for it.

How come our SB can't come forward and ask us what we think? Do we want to just pay the extra for BB? Skip the 09 start date and the $10M cost associated with a compressed building schedule? Use the extra $10M that they must have lying around to buy the land? Pay less for the north site and open in 09 (incurring major issues IMO)? Move ahead on MACOM even if it wouldn't open until 10? Scrap it all and make MVHS a magnet school? Other wild ideas?

IMO, they should be coming back to the public for input. Let us have a say. Do not chastise us every time that we send an email to them (basically saying we've already heard that!). Organize a Citizen's Advisory Council to add input to decisions.....Bottom-line is to give us a voice!!!! Where are you School Board???

[proschool]

Was bryan the memr obef the referendum committee that was asked by Howie to "sell" the first referendum to the public at Still?

[EagleDad]

I don't blame Bryan for wanting a school near him.

I do blame him for writing a newspaper article about how great it is that he's made a resoultion to wait for what he wanted all along.

[wvhsparent]

eagledad said:

I don't blame Bryan for wanting a school near him.

I do blame him for writing a newspaper article about how great it is that he's made a resoultion to wait for what he wanted all along.

You could always sic JHB on him...Deuling columns.

Or write a LTE...

[EagleDad]

Or I could leave well enough alone - which I will do. This column does not mean anything and soon will be flattened under a roar from the community.

It is insignificant - like Paul White.