Post by soon2bwvhs on Oct 19, 2007 6:16:06 GMT -6
District 203 not stuck to planned boundaries
Board pursuing new land option
October 19, 2007
By BRITT CARSON Staff Writer
The attendance boundaries for Metea Valley High School are decided, but not set in stone.
Even though residents approved a tax-hike referendum in 2006 based on boundaries determined by the school board, the board is not legally required to keep those boundaries and could change them.
Voters in 2005 rejected a referendum to build a third high school in Indian Prairie School District 204.
When asked why, residents told board members in a community survey and in a flurry of e-mails that one reason was they wanted to know the boundaries for the new school before they voted. Board members were reluctant at first, since boundary decisions are often emotional and heated, but agreed and in late 2005 started the process to hammer out new boundaries for the district's high schools.
In February, after months of late-night meetings and public comment from thousands of residents, the board decided on a new set of boundaries for the district based on the premise that the third high school would be located on the Brach-Brodie property off 75th Street, near the future extension of Commons Drive in Aurora.
Voters approved the $124.6 million referendum in 2006. District 204 residents, however, approved the funds to construct a third high school and purchase land - not a specific location or boundary plan.
"The referendum question simply requests the authority to issue up to $124.6 million for building and for equipping a third high school," said Mark Metzger, school board president.
Metzger said although board members are keeping the current boundaries in mind, the price of the Brach-Brodie land at $518,250 an acre has led them to consider other options as well.
After a special board meeting earlier this week, Metzger said the board is considering proposals for four sites for Metea. He would not discuss details of any of the sites or proposals, but said staff felt they were all viable locations for a third high school.
The board is not legally set to abide by either the boundaries or locating the school at Brach-Brodie. However, they do have to use the funds specifically for a third high school.
"We tightened up the language after the 2005 referendum so in 2006, the referendum was tied exclusively to a high school," Metzger said. "Building a middle school or an addition with the funds is not an option for us. In an effort to appease people that thought the ballot language was too loose, we have now eliminated that option."
The board is scheduled to hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday and will discuss the land negotiations in executive session. No decision is expected. A regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday.
The board has until Oct. 27 to decide whether to purchase additional acres of the Brach-Brodie property. If the board decides to buy the land, the district also would have to pay owners $2.5 million for damages to the remaining property that faces Route 59.
Contact Britt Carson at bcarson@scn1.com or 630-416-5269.
Board pursuing new land option
October 19, 2007
By BRITT CARSON Staff Writer
The attendance boundaries for Metea Valley High School are decided, but not set in stone.
Even though residents approved a tax-hike referendum in 2006 based on boundaries determined by the school board, the board is not legally required to keep those boundaries and could change them.
Voters in 2005 rejected a referendum to build a third high school in Indian Prairie School District 204.
When asked why, residents told board members in a community survey and in a flurry of e-mails that one reason was they wanted to know the boundaries for the new school before they voted. Board members were reluctant at first, since boundary decisions are often emotional and heated, but agreed and in late 2005 started the process to hammer out new boundaries for the district's high schools.
In February, after months of late-night meetings and public comment from thousands of residents, the board decided on a new set of boundaries for the district based on the premise that the third high school would be located on the Brach-Brodie property off 75th Street, near the future extension of Commons Drive in Aurora.
Voters approved the $124.6 million referendum in 2006. District 204 residents, however, approved the funds to construct a third high school and purchase land - not a specific location or boundary plan.
"The referendum question simply requests the authority to issue up to $124.6 million for building and for equipping a third high school," said Mark Metzger, school board president.
Metzger said although board members are keeping the current boundaries in mind, the price of the Brach-Brodie land at $518,250 an acre has led them to consider other options as well.
After a special board meeting earlier this week, Metzger said the board is considering proposals for four sites for Metea. He would not discuss details of any of the sites or proposals, but said staff felt they were all viable locations for a third high school.
The board is not legally set to abide by either the boundaries or locating the school at Brach-Brodie. However, they do have to use the funds specifically for a third high school.
"We tightened up the language after the 2005 referendum so in 2006, the referendum was tied exclusively to a high school," Metzger said. "Building a middle school or an addition with the funds is not an option for us. In an effort to appease people that thought the ballot language was too loose, we have now eliminated that option."
The board is scheduled to hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday and will discuss the land negotiations in executive session. No decision is expected. A regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday.
The board has until Oct. 27 to decide whether to purchase additional acres of the Brach-Brodie property. If the board decides to buy the land, the district also would have to pay owners $2.5 million for damages to the remaining property that faces Route 59.
Contact Britt Carson at bcarson@scn1.com or 630-416-5269.
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