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Post by sushi on Mar 18, 2008 5:17:40 GMT -6
Letters to the Editor
March 18, 2008
Trust in District 204 brought into question
Although our society is entirely too litigious, I can't help but empathize with residents who have chosen to pursue a lawsuit over Metea Valley's new Eola Road location.
No doubt there are numerous motivations behind the legal action against District 204, but the fact remains the district is pursuing a course of action entirely different from what was promised when the 2006 referendum was approved.
At the time, the district and school board were crystal clear that should the referendum pass, Metea Valley would be built at the Brach-Brodie property with enrollment boundaries already settled. A 2005 referendum without these specifics failed.
Making the assumption that the Brach-Brodie land could be acquired for less than fair market value was a miscalculation made by District 204 and its legal counsel, not those currently pursuing the lawsuit. When a governmental body goes to referendum for a specified purpose, and then opts to use those funds for something different without once again seeking voter approval, trust in that governmental body comes into question.
What has happened in District 204 would be analogous to District 203, money in hand, reversing course and opting to build a new Central High School on Knoch Park or the Community Garden Plots, rather than extensively remodeling the current building as promised prior to its February referendum.
George Bennett
Naperville
'Hazards' at Metea site are closer to Tall Grass
I am amazed by the thoughtfulness of my Naperville School District 204 neighbors to the south, who regard my children's health and safety above their own families. They are fighting with such passion and zeal to protect my children. I thank them for their noble efforts.
However, I find it difficult to believe that their consideration for my children is greater than their own. Their concern that cites pipelines and high tension power lines is clearly a ruse.
Those "hazards" at the Metea location run north and south - passing directly though those very same neighborhoods opposed to the Metea location. The Tall Grass subdivision clubhouse is within 100 feet of a high energy electrical switchyard and substation, which is much closer than the high school will sit. Next time you drive south on Route 59, notice the construction of the pedestrian bridge and its proximity to those overhead high tension power lines. Are they opposed to that bridge due to EMF concerns?
I am certain that no one - not the school board, our local government, the press, our communities and our judges - will be fooled by this obvious scam. Of course there's always coercion, corruption and intimidation. Nonetheless, thanks for raising the issue of safety for our children.
Eric Hale
Naperville
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Post by drdavelasik on Mar 18, 2008 6:03:51 GMT -6
I find it so funny that Mr. Hale has singled-out TG. It is so much greater than one subdivision, one bad decision, one mispresentation of information, and I could go on. LTEs are a waste of time anyway......boils down to what the judge determines and it is not looking good for D204. I just want to know when we will see the reports. Not surprised they are not being released!
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Post by jwh on Mar 18, 2008 6:44:12 GMT -6
I find it so funny that Mr. Hale has singled-out TG. It is so much greater than one subdivision, one bad decision, one mispresentation of information, and I could go on. LTEs are a waste of time anyway......boils down to what the judge determines and it is not looking good for D204. I just want to know when we will see the reports. Not surprised they are not being released! Can you elaborate on what (you believe) isn't looking good for D204? |
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Post by snerdley on Mar 18, 2008 6:48:01 GMT -6
I find it so funny that Mr. Hale has singled-out TG. It is so much greater than one subdivision, one bad decision, one mispresentation of information, and I could go on. LTEs are a waste of time anyway......boils down to what the judge determines and it is not looking good for D204. I just want to know when we will see the reports. Not surprised they are not being released! Can you elaborate on what (you believe) isn't looking good for D204? I'll take a stab at this - the facts don't look good for D204. I know the spin is to try to make the people associated with NSFOC look bad, but a judge will decide based on the facts, not the politics of the situation. So things like goofy Naperville Sun polls or LTE's or any of the other drama we've witnessed aren't going to matter. |
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Post by drdavelasik on Mar 18, 2008 6:48:51 GMT -6
I find it so funny that Mr. Hale has singled-out TG. It is so much greater than one subdivision, one bad decision, one mispresentation of information, and I could go on. LTEs are a waste of time anyway......boils down to what the judge determines and it is not looking good for D204. I just want to know when we will see the reports. Not surprised they are not being released! Can you elaborate on what (you believe) isn't looking good for D204? All you need to do is read! My wife's friend that lives in Hyde Park said that the coverage of our school issues does not make a person say "Let's move to District 204". When we were looking this district was held in pretty high regard....no more! |
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Post by gumby on Mar 18, 2008 7:36:41 GMT -6
Can you elaborate on what (you believe) isn't looking good for D204? All you need to do is read! My wife's friend that lives in Hyde Park said that the coverage of our school issues does not make a person say "Let's move to District 204". When we were looking this district was held in pretty high regard....no more! Once it's all settled, and falls out of media scrutiny, out of towners will still come to Naperville. I personally don't give a rat's hindquarters about what some out of town people think. It's temporary. |
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Post by scarbroughknight on Mar 18, 2008 7:40:34 GMT -6
drdavelasik hit it right on the head. #204 has lost its lustre. All the fighting, the nastiness, an inpet SB that uses the taxpayers money like an ATM machine with unlimited credit and a selfish group of residents who are suing the district because they can't get what they want. Who would want to move a young family here now? A couple of parents from SB at my kids hockey practice both proclaimed that 204 is not what it is cracked up to be and are considering moving. I am hearing that more and more.
I remember when we first moved to WE almost 10 years ago. #204 was an exciting place. Kids and parents were proud of their schools. There was no Aurora, Naperville divide. It was exciting when NV went up. I took my oldest to the first NV-WV football game and after the game we all said, "What a great game, lets go out and have a few cold ones". So what happened in just a few short years? There is no point in passing around blame anymore; we are beyond that. It is just sad to think that such a great school district has been torn apart by selfishness, ineptness and anger.It will be very hard to obtain the respect and promise 204 once had.
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 18, 2008 7:53:51 GMT -6
drdavelasik hit it right on the head. #204 has lost its lustre. All the fighting, the nastiness, an inpet SB that uses the taxpayers money like an ATM machine with unlimited credit and a selfish group of residents who are suing the district because they can't get what they want. Who would want to move a young family here now? A couple of parents from SB at my kids hockey practice both proclaimed that 204 is not what it is cracked up to be and are considering moving. I am hearing that more and more. I remember when we first moved to WE almost 10 years ago. #204 was an exciting place. Kids and parents were proud of their schools. There was no Aurora, Naperville divide. It was exciting when NV went up. I took my oldest to the first NV-WV football game and after the game we all said, "What a great game, lets go out and have a few cold ones". So what happened in just a few short years? There is no point in passing around blame anymore; we are beyond that. It is just sad to think that such a great school district has been torn apart by selfishness, ineptness and anger.It will be very hard to obtain the respect and promise 204 once had. first off I have to say the eduation kids get here is very very good....however some of your other points are hard not to recognize. Although I have to say if you are going to point out what you believe to be a group of 'selfish parents suing the district' - let's also point out another large group who has gone from an overwhelming No vote on a 3rd HS, to open MV at any cost -including, IMHO putting my child at risk-- how did that happen ? There's plenty of looking out for #1 only to go around - but only one group gets called on it. As I have said many times, we are a proud Warrior family and always will be, but I will remember what it was like - not what it is now -- since my child no longer has the opportunity to be a Warrior, or attend a 204 school anywhere near her home. The SB wanted deeper pockets to support the school than my area has. We've come a long way in my almost 20 years here - I only wish we could go back some, this is a mess. |
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Post by scarbroughknight on Mar 18, 2008 8:48:44 GMT -6
drdavelasik hit it right on the head. #204 has lost its lustre. All the fighting, the nastiness, an inpet SB that uses the taxpayers money like an ATM machine with unlimited credit and a selfish group of residents who are suing the district because they can't get what they want. Who would want to move a young family here now? A couple of parents from SB at my kids hockey practice both proclaimed that 204 is not what it is cracked up to be and are considering moving. I am hearing that more and more. I remember when we first moved to WE almost 10 years ago. #204 was an exciting place. Kids and parents were proud of their schools. There was no Aurora, Naperville divide. It was exciting when NV went up. I took my oldest to the first NV-WV football game and after the game we all said, "What a great game, lets go out and have a few cold ones". So what happened in just a few short years? There is no point in passing around blame anymore; we are beyond that. It is just sad to think that such a great school district has been torn apart by selfishness, ineptness and anger.It will be very hard to obtain the respect and promise 204 once had. first off I have to say the eduation kids get here is very very good....however some of your other points are hard not to recognize. Although I have to say if you are going to point out what you believe to be a group of 'selfish parents suing the district' - let's also point out another large group who has gone from an overwhelming No vote on a 3rd HS, to open MV at any cost -including, IMHO putting my child at risk-- how did that happen ? There's plenty of looking out for #1 only to go around - but only one group gets called on it. As I have said many times, we are a proud Warrior family and always will be, but I will remember what it was like - not what it is now -- since my child no longer has the opportunity to be a Warrior, or attend a 204 school anywhere near her home. The SB wanted deeper pockets to support the school than my area has. We've come a long way in my almost 20 years here - I only wish we could go back some, this is a mess. Point taken Doc. I think we all feel the utter frustrations. I find it sad that people don't want to work together and bring 204 back to what it was. It is like 204 is tearing itself apart and a dark cloud is hanging over us. Yes I do yearn for the old days when people from all over the district wore the green and gold with pride. We were almost like a fraternity. |
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Post by WeBe204 on Mar 18, 2008 9:29:03 GMT -6
first off I have to say the eduation kids get here is very very good....however some of your other points are hard not to recognize. Although I have to say if you are going to point out what you believe to be a group of 'selfish parents suing the district' - let's also point out another large group who has gone from an overwhelming No vote on a 3rd HS, to open MV at any cost -including, IMHO putting my child at risk-- how did that happen ? There's plenty of looking out for #1 only to go around - but only one group gets called on it. As I have said many times, we are a proud Warrior family and always will be, but I will remember what it was like - not what it is now -- since my child no longer has the opportunity to be a Warrior, or attend a 204 school anywhere near her home. The SB wanted deeper pockets to support the school than my area has. We've come a long way in my almost 20 years here - I only wish we could go back some, this is a mess. Point taken Doc. I think we all feel the utter frustrations. I find it sad that people don't want to work together and bring 204 back to what it was. It is like 204 is tearing itself apart and a dark cloud is hanging over us. Yes I do yearn for the old days when people from all over the district wore the green and gold with pride. We were almost like a fraternity. Maybe you guys could toss up a thread about the things you liked or like about 204. I liked the first football game story. That would for one give us something to agree on for a change  (Common Ground = Good ) Secondly, it would be good for people like myself who have only seen this ungly side to see the good side... I know it sounds sort of polyanna but it would be a nice change of pace. |
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Post by gumby on Mar 18, 2008 9:35:27 GMT -6
Point taken Doc. I think we all feel the utter frustrations. I find it sad that people don't want to work together and bring 204 back to what it was. It is like 204 is tearing itself apart and a dark cloud is hanging over us. Yes I do yearn for the old days when people from all over the district wore the green and gold with pride. We were almost like a fraternity. Maybe you guys could toss up a thread about the things you liked or like about 204. I liked the first football game story. That would for one give us something to agree on for a change (Common Ground = Good ) Secondly, it would be good for people like myself who have only seen this ungly side to see the good side... I know it sounds sort of polyanna but it would be a nice change of pace. I've been in Naperville since 1991, but lived in 203 until 6 years ago. And while there were a lot of things to like about 204 that I used to see and read about in the papers, the planning and opening of Neuqua back in '97 caused a lot of furor, which has in a sense remained to this day. There's always a tendency to wax sentimental over the old days, but realistically, the old days post Neuqua weren't necessarily so grand. For that reason, I say that once this is all over, outsiders and even Naperville residents will again come back to their senses. At least to the point they were in 1997 on and pre-3rd HS. |
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 18, 2008 9:41:47 GMT -6
first off I have to say the eduation kids get here is very very good....however some of your other points are hard not to recognize. Although I have to say if you are going to point out what you believe to be a group of 'selfish parents suing the district' - let's also point out another large group who has gone from an overwhelming No vote on a 3rd HS, to open MV at any cost -including, IMHO putting my child at risk-- how did that happen ? There's plenty of looking out for #1 only to go around - but only one group gets called on it. As I have said many times, we are a proud Warrior family and always will be, but I will remember what it was like - not what it is now -- since my child no longer has the opportunity to be a Warrior, or attend a 204 school anywhere near her home. The SB wanted deeper pockets to support the school than my area has. We've come a long way in my almost 20 years here - I only wish we could go back some, this is a mess. Point taken Doc. I think we all feel the utter frustrations. I find it sad that people don't want to work together and bring 204 back to what it was. It is like 204 is tearing itself apart and a dark cloud is hanging over us. Yes I do yearn for the old days when people from all over the district wore the green and gold with pride. We were almost like a fraternity. Yes we were -- it's so sad , just reading this makes me want to cry.... then it makes me angry |
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 18, 2008 9:46:43 GMT -6
Maybe you guys could toss up a thread about the things you liked or like about 204. I liked the first football game story. That would for one give us something to agree on for a change (Common Ground = Good ) Secondly, it would be good for people like myself who have only seen this ungly side to see the good side... I know it sounds sort of polyanna but it would be a nice change of pace. I've been in Naperville since 1991, but lived in 203 until 6 years ago. And while there were a lot of things to like about 204 that I used to see and read about in the papers, the planning and opening of Neuqua back in '97 caused a lot of furor, which has in a sense remained to this day. There's always a tendency to wax sentimental over the old days, but realistically, the old days post Neuqua weren't necessarily so grand. For that reason, I say that once this is all over, outsiders and even Naperville residents will again come back to their senses. At least to the point they were in 1997 on and pre-3rd HS. and being in my houe since 1990 I understand what you are saying - but really many areas ( like ours) were really somewhat unaffected by the whole NV deal. That was JC and her area and White Eagle in the 'mix' if you will -- the rest were pretty cut and dried once the boundaries were drawn N-S versus E-W the way they started out. We stayed at WV - and were fine with that -( and there were no safety issues) and I think the jealousy ( if that is even the right word) over the shiny new school was limited to a very few areas - and yes that did stay for the last 10 years - and why I believe the fight to keep AME at all costs goes on for some ( not all) - It's my opinion, and not meant to offend anyone- but I have heard people make that exact comment - now we get ours. |
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Post by gumby on Mar 18, 2008 9:48:13 GMT -6
Point taken Doc. I think we all feel the utter frustrations. I find it sad that people don't want to work together and bring 204 back to what it was. It is like 204 is tearing itself apart and a dark cloud is hanging over us. Yes I do yearn for the old days when people from all over the district wore the green and gold with pride. We were almost like a fraternity. Yes we were -- it's so sad , just reading this makes me want to cry.... then it makes me angry Well, that kind of cameraderie will never come back. But, that's partly a function of the exploding population as well as the socio-economic shifts. |
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Post by gumby on Mar 18, 2008 9:53:48 GMT -6
I've been in Naperville since 1991, but lived in 203 until 6 years ago. And while there were a lot of things to like about 204 that I used to see and read about in the papers, the planning and opening of Neuqua back in '97 caused a lot of furor, which has in a sense remained to this day. There's always a tendency to wax sentimental over the old days, but realistically, the old days post Neuqua weren't necessarily so grand. For that reason, I say that once this is all over, outsiders and even Naperville residents will again come back to their senses. At least to the point they were in 1997 on and pre-3rd HS. and being in my houe since 1990 I understand what you are saying - but really many areas ( like ours) were really somewhat unaffected by the whole NV deal. That was JC and her area and White Eagle in the 'mix' if you will -- the rest were pretty cut and dried once the boundaries were drawn N-S versus E-W the way they started out. We stayed at WV - and were fine with that -( and there were no safety issues) and I think the jealousy ( if that is even the right word) over the shiny new school was limited to a very few areas - and yes that did stay for the last 10 years - and why I believe the fight to keep AME at all costs goes on for some ( not all) - It's my opinion, and not meant to offend anyone- but I have heard people make that exact comment - now we get ours. I agree with that assessment. When we moved into our house in 2002, we came with certain expectations, but those expectations included knowing that there was the potential for shifting. We never had the expectation that we would go to the newest or closest school. I don't understand the bizarre expectational shifts that so many people are displaying. |
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(Common Ground = Good ) Secondly, it would be good for people like myself who have only seen this ungly side to see the good side... I know it sounds sort of polyanna but it would be a nice change of pace.