Post by warriorpride on Feb 24, 2006 14:13:24 GMT -6
Since the SD seems to be taking a lot of punches, in the interest of fairness, I am going to put the shoe on the other foot and question the credibility of the Vote-No group.
I just noticed this on their site....
1) They predict that 9,200 high school students is the 'worse case' scenario:
www.voteno204.org/page4.html (“Enrollment & Projections”)
2) then, they claim that the current HSs have a capacity above 10,200: www.voteno204.org/page3.html (“School Capacity”)
3) and then, they present some lower-cost options to the referendum: www.voteno204.org/index.html (“A Possible Solution”)
If they really believe that the max enrollment in HS will be 9200 (which I question the credibility of, because there are 9200 kids in 2nd-5th grade, and plenty of undeveloped residential land in 204), and they really believe that the current HSs can house 10,200 (which I question the credibility of), then why are they proposing spending at least $15M to add on to Neuqua?
I'm outraged at this! How dare they unecessarily waste more than $15M of our tax dollars. Where's the accountability?
UPDATED 2/28: Added additional information from later in this thread, to present all arguments up front...
Here's some more information on voteno.org that lacks accuracy/credibility: www.voteno204.org/page7.html (“Counterpoint”)
- "the District is now merely contemplating housing a projected ‘bubble’ of 9,200 students"
False - they have stated that there are 9200 real kids in 2nd-5th grade, with more houses to be built: www.ipsd.org/3rdHS_enrollment.asp
- "Even if one were to use the District’s preference for 90% utilization (“optimal”), each freshman campus could comfortably accommodate 1,463 students"
First, I think that many people would question if 1,463 could fit comfortably in the freshman buildings. Second, even if they could, then the HSs would need to comfortably fit 4389 (3*1,463) in order to realistically make use of that capacity.
- "However, the historical record shows that Waubonsie has operated at 3,600 enrollment and Neuqua at 3,200"
Misleading - That's true, and it's also only 1/2 of the story. The historical record also shows that these enrollments were handled on a temporary basis, with a permanent solution coming the following year.
- "The proposed new HS would be located near the corner of Rte 59 and 75th Street. This is not only a congested area, but some of the most expensive land in the district which would be better suited for commercial uses."
False - The proposed location for the 3rd HS is zoned residential, NOT commercial (so, if a school is not built there, then houses - that will produce more kids for 204 - will be built there).
Misleading - the 3rd HS would be buffered from 59 by business/commercial, just like NV. The entrances to the school would be off of Commons, and perhaps a right-in, right-out off of 75th. The location would be approximately the same distance from 59 as NV is.
- "our real estate taxes are already approximately 20% higher than homes in neighboring school district 203"
Unfair comparison - 203 is a much older SD, and is basically built-out. They have different problems than 204 - some overcrowding, and many older buildings to maintain & repair. This is like comparing apples & oranges. Many other nearby SD's actually have higher taxes.
- "additional high school capacity of 250-600 students (with “room to grow” according to Crouse) will be available in the Fall of 2006 thanks to a partnership between the District and College of DuPage. "
Misleading - This will be a volunteer program, so there is no way to know how many students will participate. This is also not a day-long program, so even if 600 students participate, this does not reduce the needed HS capacity by 600.
- "Thus, the ‘sky is falling’ argument should be discarded. The District said if voters approved it, approx $1.3M would be spent to fix up Waubonsie. Amazingly, the District found the money to fix Waubonsie up despite the failed referendum!)"
Misleading - The district does not have any secret piles of cash laying around. They were fortunate - they got a grant from the state after the 2005 referendum failed, and part of the $ was put toward the WV renovation. Without the grant, the renovation would not have been done on its current schedule.
I just noticed this on their site....
1) They predict that 9,200 high school students is the 'worse case' scenario:
www.voteno204.org/page4.html (“Enrollment & Projections”)
2) then, they claim that the current HSs have a capacity above 10,200: www.voteno204.org/page3.html (“School Capacity”)
3) and then, they present some lower-cost options to the referendum: www.voteno204.org/index.html (“A Possible Solution”)
If they really believe that the max enrollment in HS will be 9200 (which I question the credibility of, because there are 9200 kids in 2nd-5th grade, and plenty of undeveloped residential land in 204), and they really believe that the current HSs can house 10,200 (which I question the credibility of), then why are they proposing spending at least $15M to add on to Neuqua?
I'm outraged at this! How dare they unecessarily waste more than $15M of our tax dollars. Where's the accountability?
UPDATED 2/28: Added additional information from later in this thread, to present all arguments up front...
Here's some more information on voteno.org that lacks accuracy/credibility: www.voteno204.org/page7.html (“Counterpoint”)
- "the District is now merely contemplating housing a projected ‘bubble’ of 9,200 students"
False - they have stated that there are 9200 real kids in 2nd-5th grade, with more houses to be built: www.ipsd.org/3rdHS_enrollment.asp
- "Even if one were to use the District’s preference for 90% utilization (“optimal”), each freshman campus could comfortably accommodate 1,463 students"
First, I think that many people would question if 1,463 could fit comfortably in the freshman buildings. Second, even if they could, then the HSs would need to comfortably fit 4389 (3*1,463) in order to realistically make use of that capacity.
- "However, the historical record shows that Waubonsie has operated at 3,600 enrollment and Neuqua at 3,200"
Misleading - That's true, and it's also only 1/2 of the story. The historical record also shows that these enrollments were handled on a temporary basis, with a permanent solution coming the following year.
- "The proposed new HS would be located near the corner of Rte 59 and 75th Street. This is not only a congested area, but some of the most expensive land in the district which would be better suited for commercial uses."
False - The proposed location for the 3rd HS is zoned residential, NOT commercial (so, if a school is not built there, then houses - that will produce more kids for 204 - will be built there).
Misleading - the 3rd HS would be buffered from 59 by business/commercial, just like NV. The entrances to the school would be off of Commons, and perhaps a right-in, right-out off of 75th. The location would be approximately the same distance from 59 as NV is.
- "our real estate taxes are already approximately 20% higher than homes in neighboring school district 203"
Unfair comparison - 203 is a much older SD, and is basically built-out. They have different problems than 204 - some overcrowding, and many older buildings to maintain & repair. This is like comparing apples & oranges. Many other nearby SD's actually have higher taxes.
- "additional high school capacity of 250-600 students (with “room to grow” according to Crouse) will be available in the Fall of 2006 thanks to a partnership between the District and College of DuPage. "
Misleading - This will be a volunteer program, so there is no way to know how many students will participate. This is also not a day-long program, so even if 600 students participate, this does not reduce the needed HS capacity by 600.
- "Thus, the ‘sky is falling’ argument should be discarded. The District said if voters approved it, approx $1.3M would be spent to fix up Waubonsie. Amazingly, the District found the money to fix Waubonsie up despite the failed referendum!)"
Misleading - The district does not have any secret piles of cash laying around. They were fortunate - they got a grant from the state after the 2005 referendum failed, and part of the $ was put toward the WV renovation. Without the grant, the renovation would not have been done on its current schedule.
