Post by doctorwho on Mar 4, 2008 8:31:31 GMT -6
In the spirit off full disclosure - I know several people have been asking if anyone has heard anything on this topic. Several people have referenced this Sun Blog post so I thoughtI would post it here...
"Dear District 204 Residents,
As most of you are already aware, on February 19th, the school board passed a new boundary proposal to go with the sudden change to the new Eola/Rt.88 school site - to go along with a higher cost yet to be determined. As we expected, the school board had already made up their minds as signified by the prepared statements they read.
Officials summarily dismissed rational and logical arguments from many individuals, ranging from pleas to follow their own criteria to requests to slow down and reconsider their planned actions. Many thanks to all concerned 204 residents and groups who showed up and/or spoke at the meeting. You have patiently waited for some action and next steps. You may have thought it was all over. It's not over.
Next steps. Legal firms have been interviewed (mostly by District 204 resident attorneys and business people familiar with the details). The Collins Law Firm has been selected as lead counsel and, pending your collective voice and support, action will be taken to force the Board and District to slow down the due diligence process relating to the environmental issues at the new Eola site, and to account for the representations that were made during the second referendum process (specifically promises that the third high school would be built on the BB land). Good relationships with other national firms and legal foundations are being maintained in the event they need to step in and help.
Several resident groups have reached out to join forces with our organization as a show of unity, and in recognition that inclusive actions by concerned parents across District 204 trump exclusive interests every time. We have also combined, and will continue to expand forces, with other neighborhoods in district-wide unity.
As you may know we are forming a non-profit organization to look after the interests, health and safety of our children and their right to attend the nearest schools to their neighborhood. Neighborhood Schools for our Children (NSFOC) is an umbrella organization, non-neighborhood specific, made up of District-wide members. NSFOCs main focus is overturning poor decisions made by the School Board.
Please pass this information on to interested parties who are unhappy with the decision-making in our district. We have setup a web site (http://www.nsfoc.org) that we encourage you to visit and register with your contact information for newsletters and other flash communications that we send periodically as we make progress towards achieving our common goals.
To help volunteer and to become a member click on the REGISTER button, To help fund the effort, please click on the DONATE button. In order to proceed, we need the support of as many caring parents and citizens as possible. Although we have raised thousands of dollars, we will need thousands more to enforce our rights against an out of control process.
Please consider making a donation if you support moving forward for our children and our community! Numbers are powerful and we need to show that, contrary to the Board's assertions, there are more than a few isolated residents who are not satisfied with their sudden change in direction.
The first rally is on Tuesday 3/4/08 at 7 PM, at White Eagle Club House, 4265 White Eagle Drive (take Route 59, turn west on 83rd street/Montgomery and left at first entrance by the pool - suggested way) Attorney Shawn Collins will attend.
Join us! By registering right away you can keep up with other events, news and information.
Sincerely,
Neighborhood Schools For Our Children
newsletters@nsfoc.org
blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/newsblog/2008/02/your_turn_suggest_a_topic.html#comments
"Dear District 204 Residents,
As most of you are already aware, on February 19th, the school board passed a new boundary proposal to go with the sudden change to the new Eola/Rt.88 school site - to go along with a higher cost yet to be determined. As we expected, the school board had already made up their minds as signified by the prepared statements they read.
Officials summarily dismissed rational and logical arguments from many individuals, ranging from pleas to follow their own criteria to requests to slow down and reconsider their planned actions. Many thanks to all concerned 204 residents and groups who showed up and/or spoke at the meeting. You have patiently waited for some action and next steps. You may have thought it was all over. It's not over.
Next steps. Legal firms have been interviewed (mostly by District 204 resident attorneys and business people familiar with the details). The Collins Law Firm has been selected as lead counsel and, pending your collective voice and support, action will be taken to force the Board and District to slow down the due diligence process relating to the environmental issues at the new Eola site, and to account for the representations that were made during the second referendum process (specifically promises that the third high school would be built on the BB land). Good relationships with other national firms and legal foundations are being maintained in the event they need to step in and help.
Several resident groups have reached out to join forces with our organization as a show of unity, and in recognition that inclusive actions by concerned parents across District 204 trump exclusive interests every time. We have also combined, and will continue to expand forces, with other neighborhoods in district-wide unity.
As you may know we are forming a non-profit organization to look after the interests, health and safety of our children and their right to attend the nearest schools to their neighborhood. Neighborhood Schools for our Children (NSFOC) is an umbrella organization, non-neighborhood specific, made up of District-wide members. NSFOCs main focus is overturning poor decisions made by the School Board.
Please pass this information on to interested parties who are unhappy with the decision-making in our district. We have setup a web site (http://www.nsfoc.org) that we encourage you to visit and register with your contact information for newsletters and other flash communications that we send periodically as we make progress towards achieving our common goals.
To help volunteer and to become a member click on the REGISTER button, To help fund the effort, please click on the DONATE button. In order to proceed, we need the support of as many caring parents and citizens as possible. Although we have raised thousands of dollars, we will need thousands more to enforce our rights against an out of control process.
Please consider making a donation if you support moving forward for our children and our community! Numbers are powerful and we need to show that, contrary to the Board's assertions, there are more than a few isolated residents who are not satisfied with their sudden change in direction.
The first rally is on Tuesday 3/4/08 at 7 PM, at White Eagle Club House, 4265 White Eagle Drive (take Route 59, turn west on 83rd street/Montgomery and left at first entrance by the pool - suggested way) Attorney Shawn Collins will attend.
Join us! By registering right away you can keep up with other events, news and information.
Sincerely,
Neighborhood Schools For Our Children
newsletters@nsfoc.org
blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/newsblog/2008/02/your_turn_suggest_a_topic.html#comments
