Group Aims to Hold 204.../SUN 3/20

[sushi]

Group aims to hold D204 accountable
Cites children's safety, fiscal responsibility as other goals

March 20, 2008
By Tim Waldorf [e-mail]
Throughout the Indian Prairie School District 204 blogs and message boards, residents are insisting that Neighborhood Schools for Our Children is a group of disgruntled Tall Grass and White Eagle residents who simply want to go to Neuqua Valley High School as opposed to Waubonsie Valley High School.

But those who've attached their names to the group's cause say that's not so.

"If anyone thinks that anyone in this organization believes that they're going to end up going to Neuqua Valley, no matter what the situation, they are crazy," said Todd Andrews, an NSFOC member.

So what is NSFOC about?

It is a month-old, not-for-profit organization that formed in response to District 204's decision not to build Metea Valley High School on 80 acres of property along 75th Street that it intended to purchase from the Brach-Brodie trust, said Shawn Collins, the attorney representing NSFOC in its lawsuit seeking to force the district to build the school there.

"This organization and the people in it are very offended and upset at what District 204 has done in approximately the last eight weeks, and I'm speaking specifically about the decisions it has made regarding the third high school," Collins said.

NSFOC's membership stands at roughly 200 members, and is growing every day, Collins said.

While many of the group's members are from the city's south side, its effort is gaining support throughout the district, Andrews said.

"But this is not our full-time job here," Andrews said. "We're just a parent group that has formed in the last month solely around this issue."

Consequently, there have been growing pains as the group has worked to quickly divvy up its responsibilities.

"If we appear disjointed, it is perhaps a result of having to form an effective group in such a short time in response to the school board's hurry-up process," said Jasmine Sohaey Grassi, another NSFOC member. "To be effective, we have had to form somewhat independent subcommittees. One will handle legal communications. One will handle ads. One will handle flyers. Etc.

"Mostly, it works. Sometimes, it appears, loosely knit," she said. "We are all regular folks who work full-time jobs and raise our children. We fit this in around the edges and in the cracks and during the wee hours and wherever else we can."

But, she said, they share one thing in common.

"We assure you ... that we are solidly bonded and united by three things: the desire for safety for our children, fiscal responsibility by the IPSD204 and accountability for the school board's action."

[3woodgal]

I applaud anyone that speaks out on what they believe. Kudos to Andrews and Grassi....there are many of us on the North that support your actions (and the number is growing everyday based on what I am hearing from a couple Oakhurst North and Cambridge Chase families).

[doctorwho]

3woodgal said:

I applaud anyone that speaks out on what they believe. Kudos to Andrews and Grassi....there are many of us on the North that support your actions (and the number is growing everyday based on what I am hearing from a couple Oakhurst North and Cambridge Chase families).

I agree as I know people north who support. Today may decide a lot of things, There are many many people who support stopping this runaway train right now who have been providing some levels of support to the nsfoc. I am going to go out on a limb here and say if the additional land is purchased tonight, that few hundred membership numnber will grow exponentially overnight.
just IMHO.

[southsidemom]

doctorwho said:

3woodgal said:

I applaud anyone that speaks out on what they believe. Kudos to Andrews and Grassi....there are many of us on the North that support your actions (and the number is growing everyday based on what I am hearing from a couple Oakhurst North and Cambridge Chase families).

I agree as I know people north who support. Today may decide a lot of things, There are many many people who support stopping this runaway train right now who have been providing some levels of support to the nsfoc. I am going to go out on a limb here and say if the additional land is purchased tonight, that few hundred membership numnber will grow exponentially overnight.
just IMHO.

You say if additional land is purchased tonight.....referring to if MWGEN has backed out and we now want to buy all AME land?

[slp]

doctorwho said:

3woodgal said:

I applaud anyone that speaks out on what they believe. Kudos to Andrews and Grassi....there are many of us on the North that support your actions (and the number is growing everyday based on what I am hearing from a couple Oakhurst North and Cambridge Chase families).

I agree as I know people north who support. Today may decide a lot of things, There are many many people who support stopping this runaway train right now who have been providing some levels of support to the nsfoc. I am going to go out on a limb here and say if the additional land is purchased tonight, that few hundred membership numnber will grow exponentially overnight.
just IMHO.

Regardless of what anyone thinks about ANY future HS site, they should be concerned with the sb moving ahead BEFORE the BB damages are known.. Based on what we now know BB will ask the court for (upwards of $20M!!!)... that is a risk with OUR money that I do not think ANY of us should want the sb to take!

If they move ahead and purchase ANY land right now and the district is later on the hook for millions of dollars to BB on top of everything else, we are ALL screwed!

Where will the additional money come from to build a complete 3rd high school? Wasn't that the concern about building at BB in the first place (after the jury determined the price)?? They said they had to change locations to build a complete high school on budget.

[southsidemom]

slp said:

doctorwho said:

I agree as I know people north who support. Today may decide a lot of things, There are many many people who support stopping this runaway train right now who have been providing some levels of support to the nsfoc. I am going to go out on a limb here and say if the additional land is purchased tonight, that few hundred membership numnber will grow exponentially overnight.
just IMHO.

Regardless of what anyone thinks about ANY future HS site, they should be concerned with the sb moving ahead BEFORE the BB damages are known.. Based on what we now know BB will ask the court for (upwards of $20M!!!)... that is a risk with OUR money that I do not think ANY of us should want the sb to take!

If they move ahead and purchase ANY land right now and the district is later on the hook for millions of dollars to BB on top of everything else, we are ALL screwed!

Where will the additional money come from to build a complete 3rd high school? Wasn't that the concern about building at BB in the first place (after the jury determined the price)?? They said they had to change locations to build a complete high school on budget.

Oh but we are fine because DrD posted the costs yesterday....didn't you know that we hired him because he has the gift of a crystal ball!!!!!!

[doctorwho]

southsidemom said:

doctorwho said:

I agree as I know people north who support. Today may decide a lot of things, There are many many people who support stopping this runaway train right now who have been providing some levels of support to the nsfoc. I am going to go out on a limb here and say if the additional land is purchased tonight, that few hundred membership numnber will grow exponentially overnight.
just IMHO.

You say if additional land is purchased tonight.....referring to if MWGEN has backed out and we now want to buy all AME land?

if MWGEN is put up for approval to buy ( especially if safety results not released )- if additional AME is put up for purchase ( and again no safety results released) -

any land since it would be nice to actually be able to review the results for more than 90 seconds before we continue to plow ahead.


and regardless - for those who blieve the law suit has merit in the fact they are not doing what they said they were going to do ( netting that out) - any more purchase where things can get started and more money committed before the lawsuit is revewed by the judge.

that's my opinion, I will let others add theirs

[southsidemom]

doctorwho said:

southsidemom said:

You say if additional land is purchased tonight.....referring to if MWGEN has backed out and we now want to buy all AME land?

if MWGEN is put up for approval to buy ( especially if safety results not released )- if additional AME is put up for purchase ( and again no safety results released) -

any land since it would be nice to actually be able to review the results for more than 90 seconds before we continue to plow ahead.


and regardless - for those who blieve the law suit has merit in the fact they are not doing what they said they were going to do ( netting that out) - any more purchase where things can get started and more money committed before the lawsuit is revewed by the judge.

that's my opinion, I will let others add theirs

So true about the 90 seconds to review for those that come tonight. Let us not forget the fancy presentation that DrD will have ready for us. I am so impressed. NOT!

[sushi]

Is it possible to switch our 25 acres at BB for the remainder of AME's? Just thinking out loud, trying to figure out where/why this rumor is around about AME selling the remainder of their land.

[WeBe204]

sushi said:

Is it possible to switch our 25 acres at BB for the remainder of AME's? Just thinking out loud, trying to figure out where/why this rumor is around about AME selling the remainder of their land.

I thought land swaps were okay under the land contract with BB. As for the rumor, I know I am the one who has been sort of posting here. I jsut heard it through second hand sources. It could be (and probably is) totally off base.

[sushi]

Is 25 acres enough for a church & parking lot? I forgot - does AME have 27 or 37 acres they are holding on to?

[d204mom]

So the rumor is we will pay AME 26.5 million plus give them the 25 acres plus pay BB at least 5M; possibly 20M.

Or we could pay BB $31.

Yes, this makes perfect sense. We can spend anywhere from $31.5 M to 46.5M on AME land, after all we've got 91M in excess op funds.

But goodness sakes, we could never pay $31 for BB.


Please excuse me while I slip away to my happy place.

[WeBe204]

sushi said:

Is 25 acres enough for a church & parking lot? I forgot - does AME have 27 or 37 acres they are holding on to?

I believe someone posted late last night the church had much more ambitious plans. It would take much more land than 25 acres.

Heck, I have even heard in the future when enrollment declines in 10 -15 years the church would buy MVHS and turn it into a private school. That would be one very large private school.

Just goes to show you the most efficient mill in town is the rumor mill

[doctorwho]

sushi said:

Is 25 acres enough for a church & parking lot? I forgot - does AME have 27 or 37 acres they are holding on to?

I thought it was 37 - but I could be wrong

[doctorwho]

sushi said:

Is it possible to switch our 25 acres at BB for the remainder of AME's? Just thinking out loud, trying to figure out where/why this rumor is around about AME selling the remainder of their land.

well it would tie into the MWGEN dropping out of this deal rumor ( which from the sources I have seen is more than just rumor - whether it happens or not - it appears they have considered it )