Post by gatormom on Mar 11, 2009 7:12:59 GMT -5
Elk Grove High senior takes on superintendent, school board
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278102&src=1
Sheila Ahern
Daily Herald Staff
3/10/2009 4:51 PM
Jack Redding, 18, is not at all happy with his school board. Or his superintendent for that matter.
Citing the potential for lost tax revenue, Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent David Schuler last week asked all students to support Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson's push for an airport ring road to be located on airport land at the west edge of O'Hare International Airport. All District 214 students were asked to sign a notecard in support of the option.
Redding declined.
"Just because someone passes out a notecard and tells me to sign it doesn't mean I'm going to sign it," said the Elk Grove High School senior. "They presented it to us like there were no other options. I'm in debate; I know there are two sides to every story."
During his lunch hour and thanks to Google, Redding eventually landed on a page linked to the Illinois Department of Transportation that talked about the project. Redding printed out maps and penciled in the two options. The research took him about 15 minutes.
"A lot of people at school said let it go, don't make a big deal, who cares?" Redding said. "Well, that's dangerous."
District 214 and Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 told parents and kids to support the airport option because in an alternative plan, a widened Route 83 would go through Elk Grove Village's industrial park, which provides the districts with millions of dollars in property tax revenues.
If the road goes through the industrial park, District 214 could lose $5 million a year in tax revenues, Johnson told the school board.
But Redding, a Des Plaines resident, said he's concerned about the loss of flood plain land with the airport location.
"District 214 had an opportunity to show us both sides and let us make up our own mind and didn't. I'm not that worried about kids like me - 18 years olds can vote, but what about 13 or 14 year olds?" Redding said.
"He has a valid concern," Schuler said. "But Mayor Johnson presented a pretty compelling argument."
District 214 officials called their support of Johnson unprecedented, which worries Redding.
"Maybe it hasn't happened before because it's not supposed to happen," he said. "Now maybe it will happen more often."
District 214 board member Lenore Gonzales Bragaw agrees with Redding. She voted against the idea of handing out the notecards.
"He expressed my views exactly," Gonzales Bragaw said. "I feel we were pressured to support one side without hearing about the other one."
Another board member, Miriam "Mimi" Cooper-Spickard, said the board was left little choice but to act quickly because IDOT will be discussing the two proposals between 4 and 7 p.m. tonight at Belvedere Banquets, 1170 W. Devon Ave.
"I did have some objections to asking our students to become foot solders, but I thought for this one instance we should participate because of what we could lose financially."
IDOT will be collecting the cards at the meeting. District 214 will hand over 9,400 signed cards from students, parents and staff members, Schuler said.
When Cooper-Spickard heard about Redding's concerns, she smiled.
"Sounds like an impressive young man," she said. "This is a teachable moment."
Redding, who will be at the meeting, will study aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois next year. Eventually, he'd like to get involved in local politics.
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278102&src=1
Sheila Ahern
Daily Herald Staff
3/10/2009 4:51 PM
Jack Redding, 18, is not at all happy with his school board. Or his superintendent for that matter.
Citing the potential for lost tax revenue, Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent David Schuler last week asked all students to support Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson's push for an airport ring road to be located on airport land at the west edge of O'Hare International Airport. All District 214 students were asked to sign a notecard in support of the option.
Redding declined.
"Just because someone passes out a notecard and tells me to sign it doesn't mean I'm going to sign it," said the Elk Grove High School senior. "They presented it to us like there were no other options. I'm in debate; I know there are two sides to every story."
During his lunch hour and thanks to Google, Redding eventually landed on a page linked to the Illinois Department of Transportation that talked about the project. Redding printed out maps and penciled in the two options. The research took him about 15 minutes.
"A lot of people at school said let it go, don't make a big deal, who cares?" Redding said. "Well, that's dangerous."
District 214 and Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 told parents and kids to support the airport option because in an alternative plan, a widened Route 83 would go through Elk Grove Village's industrial park, which provides the districts with millions of dollars in property tax revenues.
If the road goes through the industrial park, District 214 could lose $5 million a year in tax revenues, Johnson told the school board.
But Redding, a Des Plaines resident, said he's concerned about the loss of flood plain land with the airport location.
"District 214 had an opportunity to show us both sides and let us make up our own mind and didn't. I'm not that worried about kids like me - 18 years olds can vote, but what about 13 or 14 year olds?" Redding said.
"He has a valid concern," Schuler said. "But Mayor Johnson presented a pretty compelling argument."
District 214 officials called their support of Johnson unprecedented, which worries Redding.
"Maybe it hasn't happened before because it's not supposed to happen," he said. "Now maybe it will happen more often."
District 214 board member Lenore Gonzales Bragaw agrees with Redding. She voted against the idea of handing out the notecards.
"He expressed my views exactly," Gonzales Bragaw said. "I feel we were pressured to support one side without hearing about the other one."
Another board member, Miriam "Mimi" Cooper-Spickard, said the board was left little choice but to act quickly because IDOT will be discussing the two proposals between 4 and 7 p.m. tonight at Belvedere Banquets, 1170 W. Devon Ave.
"I did have some objections to asking our students to become foot solders, but I thought for this one instance we should participate because of what we could lose financially."
IDOT will be collecting the cards at the meeting. District 214 will hand over 9,400 signed cards from students, parents and staff members, Schuler said.
When Cooper-Spickard heard about Redding's concerns, she smiled.
"Sounds like an impressive young man," she said. "This is a teachable moment."
Redding, who will be at the meeting, will study aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois next year. Eventually, he'd like to get involved in local politics.