Post by wvhsparent on Mar 16, 2007 7:05:25 GMT -6
District 204 challengers want backup for Metea
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, March 16, 2007
Challengers for three open Indian Prairie board of education seats said Thursday that they want a backup plan for constructing Metea Valley High School while waiting for a condemnation suit to play out in the courts.
The seven candidates spoke before about 40 people at the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation candidate forum at the municipal center.
Incumbents Curt Bradshaw, Mark Metzger and Alka Tyle stand by the district’s efforts to obtain the additional acreage it needs from the Brach-Brodie property off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive through an ongoing condemnation suit.
But, in the meantime, challengers Leanne Lyons, Michelle Davis, Kevin Knight and Steven Calcaterra said the district needs a contingency plan for constructing the $124.7 million, 3,000-student school.
Officials have said the entire building may not open by the fall 2009 deadline.
The district includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.
Metzger, a father of three from Aurora, said a judge already ruled that the district is legally entitled to the land.
“The only questions that are left are when and for how much,” said Metzger, who has served on the board since 1991.
But Lyons, 43, of Naperville, said the community shouldn’t be waiting on those answers.
“There should have been an option b and because of it our students will suffer,” she said.
Lyons is a school administrator in Valley View Unit District 365.
“It’s not acceptable to be in a building that’s in construction while students are there. I’ve been in a situation like that and it’s completely disruptive,” she said.
The district may get the land, but at what cost, asked newcomer Calcaterra, 37, a Naperville lawyer and father of three.
“It’s important to realize that the potential price of this property might be as much as two times what the board is prepared to pay,” said Calcaterra, who lives in the Spring Brook Elementary attendance area. “We have to keep our options open.”
When a jury establishes the price following a hearing in September, incumbent Tyle said she doesn’t expect that value to be beyond what the district is willing to pay. The 43-year-old homemaker and mother of two cited two comparable parcels that sold for a similar amount.
“Certainly our offerings are in the ballpark,” said Tyle, who was appointed in May 2006. “And the interest that we’re earning will help with any increased costs.”
Meanwhile, Davis, 47, a mother of three from Naperville, said she’d like the board to outline some of the other options.
“I am of the belief that this is probably a good time right now to be thinking about a plan, whether it’s plan b, or plan c or plan d or any other options out there,” said Davis, a local Realtor who lives in the Tall Grass subdivision.
Knight, 37, of Naperville, who lives in the Ashbury subdivision, would like the district to seriously consider the Macom property in southwest Naperville that was recently proposed by the developer as a viable alternate site.
“There are options out there,” said Knight, a stay-at-home father of three with a background in engineering and financial analysis.
Incumbent Bradshaw, 34, a father of two from Naperville, said switching properties now would delay the start of construction on Metea Valley.
“The trial date for September gives us reasonable certainty that the building is going to be able to open on time in 2009,” said Bradshaw, who was appointed in June 2005. “Changing course to another property would guarantee that the building would not open in 2009.”
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By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, March 16, 2007
Challengers for three open Indian Prairie board of education seats said Thursday that they want a backup plan for constructing Metea Valley High School while waiting for a condemnation suit to play out in the courts.
The seven candidates spoke before about 40 people at the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation candidate forum at the municipal center.
Incumbents Curt Bradshaw, Mark Metzger and Alka Tyle stand by the district’s efforts to obtain the additional acreage it needs from the Brach-Brodie property off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive through an ongoing condemnation suit.
But, in the meantime, challengers Leanne Lyons, Michelle Davis, Kevin Knight and Steven Calcaterra said the district needs a contingency plan for constructing the $124.7 million, 3,000-student school.
Officials have said the entire building may not open by the fall 2009 deadline.
The district includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.
Metzger, a father of three from Aurora, said a judge already ruled that the district is legally entitled to the land.
“The only questions that are left are when and for how much,” said Metzger, who has served on the board since 1991.
But Lyons, 43, of Naperville, said the community shouldn’t be waiting on those answers.
“There should have been an option b and because of it our students will suffer,” she said.
Lyons is a school administrator in Valley View Unit District 365.
“It’s not acceptable to be in a building that’s in construction while students are there. I’ve been in a situation like that and it’s completely disruptive,” she said.
The district may get the land, but at what cost, asked newcomer Calcaterra, 37, a Naperville lawyer and father of three.
“It’s important to realize that the potential price of this property might be as much as two times what the board is prepared to pay,” said Calcaterra, who lives in the Spring Brook Elementary attendance area. “We have to keep our options open.”
When a jury establishes the price following a hearing in September, incumbent Tyle said she doesn’t expect that value to be beyond what the district is willing to pay. The 43-year-old homemaker and mother of two cited two comparable parcels that sold for a similar amount.
“Certainly our offerings are in the ballpark,” said Tyle, who was appointed in May 2006. “And the interest that we’re earning will help with any increased costs.”
Meanwhile, Davis, 47, a mother of three from Naperville, said she’d like the board to outline some of the other options.
“I am of the belief that this is probably a good time right now to be thinking about a plan, whether it’s plan b, or plan c or plan d or any other options out there,” said Davis, a local Realtor who lives in the Tall Grass subdivision.
Knight, 37, of Naperville, who lives in the Ashbury subdivision, would like the district to seriously consider the Macom property in southwest Naperville that was recently proposed by the developer as a viable alternate site.
“There are options out there,” said Knight, a stay-at-home father of three with a background in engineering and financial analysis.
Incumbent Bradshaw, 34, a father of two from Naperville, said switching properties now would delay the start of construction on Metea Valley.
“The trial date for September gives us reasonable certainty that the building is going to be able to open on time in 2009,” said Bradshaw, who was appointed in June 2005. “Changing course to another property would guarantee that the building would not open in 2009.”
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