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Post by momto4 on Apr 18, 2008 16:16:51 GMT -5
I hope we can just move on and get this school built already! I also hope dealing with the junior high overcrowding won't be so polarizing and contentious. It's all dealt with in one fell swoop. Boundaries are done, the building's already there, so I don't know how it could lead to any more issues than we already have.
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 18, 2008 17:05:05 GMT -5
Healing the great divide is now priority number 1. There are many people in the district who truly feel that the decisions made by the SB and Administration were made to "punish" certain areas for their behavior. I personally don't believe that, but I don't deny that those feelings exist. The people who hold these beliefs are not on the "fringe" nor is their behavior irrational. Some are friends/acquantainces who I run into during my daily routine. I have grown to feel alot of compassion for them. One friend of mine will not tell anyone which subdivision she lives in. Another was in visible pain after our conversation regarding her feelings of being vilified simply because of her address. A little empathy will go a long way to move the healing process forward. I feel stronger every day that Mark Metzger should resign. I can't believe that I'm saying this as I was once one of his biggest supporters, but as long as he is at the helm of the SB, very little can be done to unify the district. I also feel that the remainder of the board up for re-election in 2009 should step aside and not run again. We need fresh faces, new ideas, and a new beginning. Lastly, the Administration needs to recognize that this is an important issue and that we are all hurting. They need to take an instrumental role and lead us through this healing process, so that we can become unified once again. I agree justvote. We may never really know if there are any agendas in the SB's decisions. I believe most on there really want a school built and we have been dealt blow after blow after blow. As in any volunteer position around here, people are quick to point fingers at the elected officials who represent them. I too feel the only way to heal this district is time and a new school board. I will say that if we do get another blow in the BB damages trial, MM needs to step down.
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Post by momto4 on Apr 18, 2008 17:21:34 GMT -5
I agree justvote. We may never really know if there are any agendas in the SB's decisions. I believe most on there really want a school built and we have been dealt blow after blow after blow. As in any volunteer position around here, people are quick to point fingers at the elected officials who represent them. I too feel the only way to heal this district is time and a new school board. I will say that if we do get another blow in the BB damages trial, MM needs to step down. I think that 6 out of 7 on the SB just want the 3rd HS and have no agenda. I don't think a new school board would resolve our problems and depending on who is elected, could make things much worse. I think we have a group of experienced and dedicated people who have done a good job but many things have not gone their/our way.
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sushi
Master Member
Posts: 767
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Post by sushi on Apr 18, 2008 17:27:24 GMT -5
I don't think for one second that any area is being punished. That is bulloney. I think people are just SO emotional they are seeing conspiracies in everything. Two elementary schools had to move out of NV to ease crowding. WE and FRY are the most logical given the location of the new school, be it BB or Macom or Eola. The only way that would change is if the school was near bolingbrook. I have known since this process started that WE would have to move.
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Post by eb204 on Apr 18, 2008 17:41:05 GMT -5
Looking back the last few years, I feel the biggest problem for this SB has been their communication. In my opinion, they have acted with the entire districts best interest in mind, and had to deal with way more issues in building a 3rd HS than they would ever imagine. The message has not been relayed very effectively sometimes. I believe we truly have turned a signficant page and are entering a new Chapter for D204. Metea will be great school supported by many great parents. I've had the thought now and again during the last several weeks that perhaps it's somewhat the district's own fault for demanding to know locations and boundaries that cause the SB to put the cart before the proverbial horse. I've felt this way, too. I don't think it's that common to get this much public input on boundaries. I remember school boards just announcing them and that's it. I think as a district, we have come to expect that. I daresay we may even feel entitled to that knowledge. I'm not trying to be funny,but I think that is how many people feel because of past expectations. Since I've only been here since 05, how were boundaries prior to this handled? Was there this much public input?
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Post by justvote on Apr 18, 2008 17:59:32 GMT -5
I agree justvote. We may never really know if there are any agendas in the SB's decisions. I believe most on there really want a school built and we have been dealt blow after blow after blow. As in any volunteer position around here, people are quick to point fingers at the elected officials who represent them. I too feel the only way to heal this district is time and a new school board. I will say that if we do get another blow in the BB damages trial, MM needs to step down. I think that 6 out of 7 on the SB just want the 3rd HS and have no agenda. I don't think a new school board would resolve our problems and depending on who is elected, could make things much worse. I think we have a group of experienced and dedicated people who have done a good job but many things have not gone their/our way. I don't disagree with that. I personally have a high opinion of all but one of our SB members, but I believe that if we are going to move forward as a district and not just pay lip service to the idea, some significant changes need to be made. We don't need a complete overhaul of the board, but I do think those who are up for re-election in '09 should strongly consider not running. From what I understand, at least 2 of them have either stated or strongly indicated that they would not be.
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Post by justvote on Apr 18, 2008 18:02:42 GMT -5
I don't think for one second that any area is being punished. That is bulloney. I think people are just SO emotional they are seeing conspiracies in everything. Two elementary schools had to move out of NV to ease crowding. WE and FRY are the most logical given the location of the new school, be it BB or Macom or Eola. The only way that would change is if the school was near bolingbrook. I have known since this process started that WE would have to move. With all due respect, your one opinion of the situation is anectdotal and not indicative of what many in your community and those south of you feel. Let's be clear - I do not believe any area is being punished, but that does not mean those feelings don't exist by those in the areas affected. My goal here is to look for ways to heal the divide and acknowledge that a significant number of people do feel this way.
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Post by momto4 on Apr 18, 2008 18:15:39 GMT -5
Since I've only been here since 05, how were boundaries prior to this handled? Was there this much public input? We had Citizens Advisory Committees several times that were made up of three representatives from within the boundaries of each school (all levels IIRC). They would be given some direction about choosing where the next school(s) would be built and I thought the boundaries associated as well? I never served on one but once spent a lot of time giving input! I know they used the committees to decide on freshman campuses and on going for referendum for the 3rd HS. M2 says there were a lot of problems with the committees and I believe does not think this method would have best served the district this time. My problem with it was that it appeared to me that the committees were set up to come to the conclusion that Howie requested of them. The one time I was involved, we managed to have the committee make a different choice than Howie's rec.
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Post by forthekids on Apr 18, 2008 18:41:54 GMT -5
I don't think for one second that any area is being punished. That is bulloney. I think people are just SO emotional they are seeing conspiracies in everything. Two elementary schools had to move out of NV to ease crowding. WE and FRY are the most logical given the location of the new school, be it BB or Macom or Eola. The only way that would change is if the school was near bolingbrook. I have known since this process started that WE would have to move. With all due respect, your one opinion of the situation is anectdotal and not indicative of what many in your community and those south of you feel. Let's be clear - I do not believe any area is being punished, but that does not mean those feelings don't exist by those in the areas affected. My goal here is to look for ways to heal the divide and acknowledge that a significant number of people do feel this way. Well, I can speak for myself and my neighbor across the street; we agree with Sushi, we have always known that when a third high school was needed, we would be moved out of NVHS. I think the people who may have a problem with it are those who haven't been around WE as long as Sushi or me and my neighbor. Just my opinion.
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 18, 2008 19:15:33 GMT -5
My problem is not with their hurt at being moved out. I would be hurt too if I had to leave NV so I feel for anyone, even those leaving WV to go to MV. No one wants to leave a certain school if you have good memories. I just have a problem with the "not moving on" part. It's not the end of the world, people. You don't see the Oswego people suing their school board for boundary decisions.
It's the whole promise thing. I guess I look at it differently. I voted for these people to do things for the district as a whole, not how I or a certain group of people want them to be done. And maybe, they should do things that, heaven forbid, isn't even what the majority wants. We elected them to make decisions, and they made a decision.
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Post by JWH on Apr 18, 2008 19:57:06 GMT -5
My problem is not with their hurt at being moved out. I would be hurt too if I had to leave NV so I feel for anyone, even those leaving WV to go to MV. No one wants to leave a certain school if you have good memories. I just have a problem with the "not moving on" part. It's not the end of the world, people. You don't see the Oswego people suing their school board for boundary decisions. It's the whole promise thing. I guess I look at it differently. I voted for these people to do things for the district as a whole, not how I or a certain group of people want them to be done. And maybe, they should do things that, heaven forbid, isn't even what the majority wants. We elected them to make decisions, and they made a decision. One of the best parts of Naperville is how great the schools are. One of the detriments, especially to your point is how d**n big the district is. All the schools are good. All the schools will continue to be good. Most school districts have one HS. I went to a high school of 125 kids. Not my class, the entire HS was 125 kids. The biggest drama for us was when the drivers ed teacher got a DUI. (it was not during school hours, but that's another story) If only it could be so simple for D204.
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Post by gatormom on Apr 19, 2008 13:07:33 GMT -5
I have been thinking about this district, the divide, and what needs to happen next. I realized that every time we try and take a step forward, we are pulled back into the past and SOMEONE must be to blame. How can we move forward if we dwell in the past? From the freshman centers to the 2005 referendum to BB and even to selecting the new AME site, it is all someone's fault. We are so busy pointing fingers that nobody is bothering to look ahead. Since we can't change the past, all we have left is to move forward. Stop blaming and start moving. I don't see that happening any time soon, especially with the law suits out there.
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 19, 2008 13:33:58 GMT -5
I have been thinking about this district, the divide, and what needs to happen next. I realized that every time we try and take a step forward, we are pulled back into the past and SOMEONE must be to blame. How can we move forward if we dwell in the past? From the freshman centers to the 2005 referendum to BB and even to selecting the new AME site, it is all someone's fault. We are so busy pointing fingers that nobody is bothering to look ahead. Since we can't change the past, all we have left is to move forward. Stop blaming and start moving. I don't see that happening any time soon, especially with the law suits out there. You've hit the nail on the head. Bringing up stuff from 2001 and 2005 etc. is not helping. I wish the lawsuits would go quickly because if they keep going into 2009 and beyond, we might have a problem. What do the psychiatrists say regarding the length of time one needs to heal from a loss? Well, multiply that times ten and you have what it needs for our district to heal.
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Post by sleeplessinnpvl on Apr 25, 2008 6:26:36 GMT -5
I have had quite a "Sleepless" night last night. I found this thread again. It is the only thread in the "How to improve our School District" heading over here on our relatively new green board. There are only two pages to this topic. How sad that we are so busy posting about this third HS that we don't have time to post here.
The division in our district concerns me. That's why I came onto these boards in the first place. And that is ultimately why I may stop posting altogether.
I took the time to examine myself. Things are not always black and white, or in the case of the boards, green and blue. I have told some people this already but thought I would share this with you.
I am part green and part blue. I want the third high school built so our kids can have smaller schools and more opportunities (green). I would prefer it at BB (blue) but I don't want the third HS to go away (green). I also don't agree with the SB and their rush (blue). I feel that the place to express your frustration with the board is in the voting booth, not a lawsuit (green)
It's funny that in the midst of all of this division, I have managed to make some unlikely friends. I've had great conversations with some of my ultimate "foes" over there. And I've made new friendships with all of you over here. So I guess some good has come from this.
The reason I am posting here is that I think in order to improve the school district, we have to respect each other and realize not everyone may be all blue or all green. Because ultimately, we are the same -- we all want what is best for our kids.
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Post by JWH on Apr 25, 2008 7:26:38 GMT -5
I have had quite a "Sleepless" night last night. I found this thread again. It is the only thread in the "How to improve our School District" heading over here on our relatively new green board. There are only two pages to this topic. How sad that we are so busy posting about this third HS that we don't have time to post here. The division in our district concerns me. That's why I came onto these boards in the first place. And that is ultimately why I may stop posting altogether. I took the time to examine myself. Things are not always black and white, or in the case of the boards, green and blue. I have told some people this already but thought I would share this with you. I am part green and part blue. I want the third high school built so our kids can have smaller schools and more opportunities (green). I would prefer it at BB (blue) but I don't want the third HS to go away (green). I also don't agree with the SB and their rush (blue). I feel that the place to express your frustration with the board is in the voting booth, not a lawsuit (green) It's funny that in the midst of all of this division, I have managed to make some unlikely friends. I've had great conversations with some of my ultimate "foes" over there. And I've made new friendships with all of you over here. So I guess some good has come from this. The reason I am posting here is that I think in order to improve the school district, we have to respect each other and realize not everyone may be all blue or all green. Because ultimately, we are the same -- we all want what is best for our kids. Well said Sleepless. I think we tend to peg ourselves as black/white, yes/no at the time big decisions are made (school site, boundaries, presidential election). Then, as the dust settles, we begin to acknowledge the gray area. I think we are entering that phase now. I know I am.
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