Post by title1parent on Jun 19, 2009 6:28:10 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1630292,2_1_AU19_OSSCHOOL_S1-090619.article
Oswego votes down plan for new high school site
June 19, 2009
By CHRISTINE S. MOYER cmoyer@scn1.com
OSWEGO -- The Oswego School District is considering 121 acres surrounded by fields on the community's southern edge as the possible site for a new high school and junior high.
However, the Oswego Village Board threw an unexpected snag in the School District's plans this week.
Trustees voted 4-1 in favor of a legal objection to the district's request that the rural swatch of land, south of Route 126 between Schlapp and Grove Roads, be rezoned.
Trustee Judy Sollinger voted in favor of the rezoning, and Trustee Tony Giles recused himself because he works for the district.
The village's objection means that in order for the School District to build a school on the property, the Kendall County Board would have to approve the rezoning by a super majority, with eight of the 10 County Board members voting in favor.
"We were surprised by the (Village Board) vote," said Kristine Liptrot, Oswego schools spokesman.
"I'm not sure if it was clear to the Village Board that this wasn't approval of the third high school, just approval for the site that could be used ... if and when the (School) Board determined it was necessary."
Village Board members, however, said there was no confusion on their part, only concerns.
Trustee Terry Michels has questions about the cost of running water lines out to the rural property.
And several of the village leaders hesitated to support the rezoning before the School Board fully discussed and voted on it.
"Why would we be voting on something the School Board hasn't even given its final blessing for going forward?" Michels asked.
The School District already purchased the land, but Liptrot said the board has not yet voted on its purpose. The board also has not voted on the construction of a new high school.
Liptrot said the district is trying to complete preliminary procedures, including the permitting process and site evaluations, so everything is ready if the School Board decides to construct a new school on the land.
The village will need a third high school by 2015, according to projections made by the School District's citizen committee on growth issues.
The committee recommended that constructing a third high school would be the best solution.
Another option is to build an addition to Oswego East (an addition is already in progress at Oswego High School), but the committee suggested that would not be cost-effective as continued growth will require more classrooms than can possibly be added onto existing schools.
Village leaders agree that eventually the district will need another high school, but they question if this is the right time.
Trustees pointed to East View Elementary School, which will be empty in September due to boundary changes.
"The School Board needs to render some decision on whether they're going to build (a new high school), when and where," Michels said. "Until those decisions are made, I don't think it's appropriate that we take action on it."
Oswego votes down plan for new high school site
June 19, 2009
By CHRISTINE S. MOYER cmoyer@scn1.com
OSWEGO -- The Oswego School District is considering 121 acres surrounded by fields on the community's southern edge as the possible site for a new high school and junior high.
However, the Oswego Village Board threw an unexpected snag in the School District's plans this week.
Trustees voted 4-1 in favor of a legal objection to the district's request that the rural swatch of land, south of Route 126 between Schlapp and Grove Roads, be rezoned.
Trustee Judy Sollinger voted in favor of the rezoning, and Trustee Tony Giles recused himself because he works for the district.
The village's objection means that in order for the School District to build a school on the property, the Kendall County Board would have to approve the rezoning by a super majority, with eight of the 10 County Board members voting in favor.
"We were surprised by the (Village Board) vote," said Kristine Liptrot, Oswego schools spokesman.
"I'm not sure if it was clear to the Village Board that this wasn't approval of the third high school, just approval for the site that could be used ... if and when the (School) Board determined it was necessary."
Village Board members, however, said there was no confusion on their part, only concerns.
Trustee Terry Michels has questions about the cost of running water lines out to the rural property.
And several of the village leaders hesitated to support the rezoning before the School Board fully discussed and voted on it.
"Why would we be voting on something the School Board hasn't even given its final blessing for going forward?" Michels asked.
The School District already purchased the land, but Liptrot said the board has not yet voted on its purpose. The board also has not voted on the construction of a new high school.
Liptrot said the district is trying to complete preliminary procedures, including the permitting process and site evaluations, so everything is ready if the School Board decides to construct a new school on the land.
The village will need a third high school by 2015, according to projections made by the School District's citizen committee on growth issues.
The committee recommended that constructing a third high school would be the best solution.
Another option is to build an addition to Oswego East (an addition is already in progress at Oswego High School), but the committee suggested that would not be cost-effective as continued growth will require more classrooms than can possibly be added onto existing schools.
Village leaders agree that eventually the district will need another high school, but they question if this is the right time.
Trustees pointed to East View Elementary School, which will be empty in September due to boundary changes.
"The School Board needs to render some decision on whether they're going to build (a new high school), when and where," Michels said. "Until those decisions are made, I don't think it's appropriate that we take action on it."