MV update for students 8.10

[Arch]

Now you know why I was shocked at your comment, SSM.

[brant]

Aug 18, 2010 23:29:58 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Aug 18, 2010 8:35:30 GMT -6 casey said:

OK so what's the deal? How many freshmen are going to be at Waubonsie? Is it 775 or 660 (big difference)? Wouldn't you think the principal would have the correct number? I'm surprised to hear an assistant principal is saying differently. However, nothing would surprise me.

Yes, moving AT's Springbrook gang to Waubonsie would definitely make things interesting but I'll be honest, I don't want that to happen. I'm quite happy with the way WV is right now thank you very much. That being said, I think that our HS boundaries/population is a complete mess. Neuqua is still very crowded, Waubonsie crowded for the facility space available, and our new flagship $150M high school is still VERY underutilized. We all know the reason is because they chose such an ignorant location for that high school and that's ultimately the whole problem. IMO they have to move more kids out of Neuqua and more kids out of Waubonsie. Metea has to increase its numbers and there's no iffs ands or buts about it.

The mold thing in the auditorium doesn't really bother me that much. Do I like it? Of course not but I applaud the WV staff for at least putting the information out there rather than hiding it under the rug (poor pun intended ). I hope they can get the clean up and renovation completed quickly.

I agree casey - don't move Springbrook to WVHS -- move them to MVHS then have their SB member explain to them like they did to me- that the ride 'isn't THAT bad

The ride isn't THAT bad? My ass. It will be interesting to see MW and CW having to go thought the mall traffic and rush hour traffic. I expect there will be alot of pissed off parents who thought the ride 'wasn't that bad'. I predict CP is going to have ringing ears after this year.

[doctorwho]

Aug 19, 2010 0:38:35 GMT -6 Arch said:

Now you know why I was shocked at your comment, SSM.

sometimes there's a need to be able to recognize sarcasm - as well as just plain statement of facts from someone being one step from a clocktower.

As far as being a part of 204, I have moved on totally..( except from a taxpayer standpoint) - and am very happy with my choices as is my student, not even part of the equation.

SSSM - you've been here long enough to know where I ( and others ) stand here.
Do you dispute the 1775 number for MV or 2250 max next year ? If so then please contact your local SB or SD rep as these are their numbers.Do you dispute the fact thqat they spent nearly $150M when they continually told people $124M until they had to file tax forms ?

Do you disagree that once again the promised increase in communication has turned inward in most locations and on most ites- with decisions that affects students and parents schedules for instance being made without any notice or input - ? How long are you OK with this treatment for your $10K a year or so in school taxes ?

I will continue to inform people about this, focusing a lot lately on local pols - including those running for offies in the fall. You'd be surprised at what they know - or don't know...but know now.

[doctorwho]

Aug 19, 2010 9:51:41 GMT -6 brant said:

Aug 18, 2010 23:29:58 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

I agree casey - don't move Springbrook to WVHS -- move them to MVHS then have their SB member explain to them like they did to me- that the ride 'isn't THAT bad

The ride isn't THAT bad? My ass. It will be interesting to see MW and CW having to go thought the mall traffic and rush hour traffic. I expect there will be alot of pissed off parents who thought the ride 'wasn't that bad'. I predict CP is going to have ringing ears after this year.

I hear it all the time here now, and all I can tell people is " I told you so, you chose not to listen "

and although I don't want anyone else yo go thru it, people who think they are not going to be affected by the very low attendance numbers at taj Mahal North - better think again...remember they have already said boundaries are not set forever... they won't let that continue

[southsidesignmaker]

Doc, I will be the first to note that business and family commitments have kept me out of the loop for the last 3-4 months.

That said I guess I am looking for a fresh approach as we enter both a new school year and a bit of a turn on the economic front. As for high taxes I am happy to report that the Will county assessor has finally agreed with my endless tyrant (5 years of fighting over assessments) and finally reversed course and lowered my assessed value by a bit over 10%. With this action I figure the assessed value has another 15-20% to go before the property is at true market rate. On another positive note with the mortgage rates at all time low rates it might be a perfect time to convert to a 10 or 15 year mortgage at a considerable total cost savings.

Of course the downside of lower assessed values will be higher net tax rates for things like EDUCATION. I am sure there will be many on this board putting only a "POSITIVE spin" on this situation and not going the typical route of assigning blame to any board member or school entity.

Sorry folks but it has become too hard to hang on to the negative tidbits of the past, I would rather focus on a bright future.

More importantly I will act on making a bright future a reality!!!

[Arch]

I thought they were pretty limited in any rate increases (if any) due to GDP or something like that. Macrockett knows this far better than I do and I would defer to his knowledge.

...which (if true) would mean even less money coming in. . .

[doctorwho]

Aug 19, 2010 20:30:20 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Doc, I will be the first to note that business and family commitments have kept me out of the loop for the last 3-4 months.

That said I guess I am looking for a fresh approach as we enter both a new school year and a bit of a turn on the economic front. As for high taxes I am happy to report that the Will county assessor has finally agreed with my endless tyrant (5 years of fighting over assessments) and finally reversed course and lowered my assessed value by a bit over 10%. With this action I figure the assessed value has another 15-20% to go before the property is at true market rate. On another positive note with the mortgage rates at all time low rates it might be a perfect time to convert to a 10 or 15 year mortgage at a considerable total cost savings.

Of course the downside of lower assessed values will be higher net tax rates for things like EDUCATION. I am sure there will be many on this board putting only a "POSITIVE spin" on this situation and not going the typical route of assigning blame to any board member or school entity.

Sorry folks but it has become too hard to hang on to the negative tidbits of the past, I would rather focus on a bright future.

More importantly I will act on making a bright future a reality!!!

that is your option - and you are correct the lowering of the value of your home ( except for the fact that it is closer to becoming more accurate)- does little to affect the hit you will take to support the schools...
--I am glad you are OK with moving forward with sunshine as the same people who put this district in this debt are still making the decisions for you. I agree the past cannot be changed- but to walk blindly into the future thinking the financial decisions made comng up are going to be any beter than the ones that got us here to me seems foolish.
If you somehow feel they are not responsible for spending $150M to fix a 600 student temporary issue, and that thought process gets you trhru the day, more power to you. They used the sledge hammer to put the nail on the back of the picture frame.


btw- I too have moved into many bright futures going forward- the one blinding rainstorm issue remains the tax burden put upon this community for no logical reason -- so I will make sure I continue to bend everyone's ear possible, from Springfield to Naperville on the attrocity that occurred here.

--and if you are also OK with the eventual closing of WVHS and even more movement to the 'feature' school - again your call. However I will continue to call 'em as I see em also.

I did notice however you did not disagree that I was correct about the number of students - not what we were told for MVHS-- also I was correct in the cost of MVHS - not what was published ad nauseum by their lackeys @ the Herald until finally having to come clean when the financials had to be filed. I also was not wrong on the transportation cost increases for MVHS- with more to come, nor was I wrong on the bus ride times...
but feel free to show me why with the above agreed to, I'd want to trust the curent bandits with even a nickle of my tax monies going forward ?
With the recent monies from the Feds, 203 will be running with a surplus - ask yourself why when you get the pitch for the operating referendum next November ( after the April elections) - and if you think my info on this is bad- please reference track record above.

[Arch]

The sad part is that even with the boondoggle up in the NW part of the district, current boundaries could have been made to reduce the transportation costs year to year than they currently are. They had a plan for sending no one to the furthest school from their area... and dismissed it with a bullshit reason. It would have saved money every single year, would have balanced enrollment more evenly and would have gotten the bank-shot of bringing the achievement gap closer together between the 3 HS's. But, that plan did not fit the socio-economic agenda that was cooked up 6 years prior to the opening. . . so it was ignored; as expected.

Enjoy the future

[doctorwho]

Aug 19, 2010 22:36:32 GMT -6 Arch said:

The sad part is that even with the boondoggle up in the NW part of the district, current boundaries could have been made to reduce the transportation costs year to year than they currently are. They had a plan for sending no one to the furthest school from their area... and dismissed it with a bullshit reason. It would have saved money every single year, would have balanced enrollment more evenly and would have gotten the bank-shot of bringing the achievement gap closer together between the 3 HS's. But, that plan did not fit the socio-economic agenda that was cooked up 6 years prior to the opening. . . so it was ignored; as expected.

Enjoy the future

It will be interesting to see if they got the 'results' they wanted when the test scores are released - rumor has it maybe not...

anyone thinking only distance went into the boundary decisions hasn't been paying attention

[rew]

I have some prelim numbers for NVHS...4200 total enrollment for the three campuses (includes Frontier), a little over 1000 for the incoming freshman class

[doctorwho]

Aug 21, 2010 10:35:55 GMT -6 rew said:

I have some prelim numbers for NVHS...4200 total enrollment for the three campuses (includes Frontier), a little over 1000 for the incoming freshman class

so 4200 for Blue (3000) - Gold(1200) - Frontier (600) 4800

MV 1775 ( give or take a handful) for (3000)

(capacity numbers @ 80% or 90% depending on whose numbers one wants to use)

where is WVHS ?

[rew]

WVHS is at 2900

[casey]

Let's look at it altogether:

NV 4200 (not including Frontier kids)
WV 2900
MV 1800 (F, S, Jr only)

So..... keeping that trend, Neuqua will be over 4000, Waubonsie just under 3000 and Metea about 2400. Anyone think that seems right?

I'll say it again, more kids need to be moved to Metea! More kids have to come out of Neuqua but they should not be moved to Waubonsie as there just isn't room. Remember how we were told that all schools should be under 3000. With the current enrollment and school boundaries how is that going to happen?

I think a good number of kids must be moved FROM Waubonsie TO Metea. The enrollment at Metea will never justify the $150M cost but right now the school is so underutilized and both Neuqua and Waubonsie are too crowded. More kids must be moved FROM Neuqua TO Waubonsie.

I'm still amazed at the number of parents who sit back and are complacent with Neuqua being so overcrowded. Wake up people! You should be demanding more from our school district. No high school should be busting at the seams like Neuqua is when we just spent all that money on a new high school to alleviate overcrowding. How has Metea helped the overcrowding at Neuqua? It hasn't but some fools are so hell-bent on staying at Neuqua at all costs that they can't see the logical solution. Somehow I just don't see Springbrook or Stillwater standing up and looking for a boundary change to move their kids to Waubonsie. They don't know what they're missing at Waubonsie that's for sure.

[doctorwho]

Aug 21, 2010 15:31:15 GMT -6 casey said:

Let's look at it altogether:

NV 4200 (not including Frontier kids)
WV 2900
MV 1800 (F, S, Jr only)

So..... keeping that trend, Neuqua will be over 4000, Waubonsie just under 3000 and Metea about 2400. Anyone think that seems right?

I'll say it again, more kids need to be moved to Metea! More kids have to come out of Neuqua but they should not be moved to Waubonsie as there just isn't room. Remember how we were told that all schools should be under 3000. With the current enrollment and school boundaries how is that going to happen?

I think a good number of kids must be moved FROM Waubonsie TO Metea. The enrollment at Metea will never justify the $150M cost but right now the school is so underutilized and both Neuqua and Waubonsie are too crowded. More kids must be moved FROM Neuqua TO Waubonsie.

I'm still amazed at the number of parents who sit back and are complacent with Neuqua being so overcrowded. Wake up people! You should be demanding more from our school district. No high school should be busting at the seams like Neuqua is when we just spent all that money on a new high school to alleviate overcrowding. How has Metea helped the overcrowding at Neuqua? It hasn't but some fools are so hell-bent on staying at Neuqua at all costs that they can't see the logical solution. Somehow I just don't see Springbrook or Stillwater standing up and looking for a boundary change to move their kids to Waubonsie. They don't know what they're missing at Waubonsie that's for sure.

actually did the number a week or so ago here and if 100% of the eligible 8th graders went to Metea next year -- they will be about 2260. We all know they aren't getting 100% any more- or close to it.

Had an interesting disucssion today at Benet volleyball parents day-- with some families from Owen and another Mom from Granger who car pools with a number of people from her area in Stonebridge. The Taj Mahal did not impress everyone there is what I found out....even those close by.

I know I said I wouldn't wish it on anyone- but Owen East and either Springbrook or McCarthy will have to go north to even get to 2500 -- what a logicitical joke


Of course if they close Waubonsie after the bubble goes thru then a lot of people will be moving

[macrockett]

Aug 19, 2010 20:41:08 GMT -6 Arch said:

I thought they were pretty limited in any rate increases (if any) due to GDP or something like that. Macrockett knows this far better than I do and I would defer to his knowledge.

...which (if true) would mean even less money coming in. . .

I commented on this a month or so ago. The taxes are capped but the rate is not. So what will happen is as assessments go down, especially in south Naperville, the tax rate will go up so that assessed value x tax rate = the cap. The real killer is that I and similarly situated homeowners are going to get big relief on our taxes while those with assessments that remain about the same will pick up the slack in 2011 tax bills. The significant impact will be in Du Page county.

By the way, if you think things are bottoming out... I'm not quite there yet, it might be a good time to borrow. I originally paid cash for my home but recently took out a 3.75% fixed 5 yr. max conforming loan (max amount you can get before jumbo rates kick in) because the best time to borrow is when you don't need the cash.

I figured that if home prices are going to fall further, as some are continuing to predict, it will be harder to get the same amount, so why not take it now even if I don't have an immediate use for it. ... I am currently looking for places to spread it around to approximate my cost of funds.

Some of the places I have put our assets (mostly for yield) are REITS, utilities, various closed end bond funds (called CEFs), MLPs (master limited partnerships, mostly natural gas pipeline companies and like ETFs), developing country bonds (Asia, latin america)

Equity investments are almost all in ETFs in precious metals, energy, and SPY (sp500 basket), DIA (Dow30 basket), DVY (another Dow basket) and a few others.

I try to use Vanguard ETFs whenever possible but not always (such as DVY has a better yield than the Vanguard ETF).

We should probably start a financial thread to toss ideas around.

Anyway, reallocating has consumed a significant part of my time in the last 60 days and will continue to require quite a bit. As Pimco likes to say, we are in a "new normal" and I believe we will continue to have a volatile environment. Buy and hold, imo, is long gone.

One bright spot is there is significant saving going on again by households, there is also significant deleveraging going on as we unwind the borrowing and spending binge of the last 20-30 years. But there is no quick fix for what we have gotten ourselves into. Especially, as I have said many times, with the public employee pensions. The 8+ percent return assumptions just isn't going to happen, meaning state and employee contributions aren't enough.

Sorry for getting off on a tangent.