This really didn't seem to fit under the "GrowingD41 say thanks" thread. But it is certainly written in much the same manner as the "thank you" letter. "Time to face facts in District 41"

I hope that the our administration and board is taking a hard look at the response to the community's overwhelming rejection of not only the "solution," but the status quo for insults hurled at the community-at-large by a small segment who apparently are the only ones "in the know." What does the letter writer mean by wondering (of a "no" voter) "what planet she lives on?" It's time for change. And the first thing that needs to change is the board and administration continuing to propagate these elitist, hurtful and arrogant attitudes.

quote:

"My one hope is that Truesdale, and all those who gave time and energy to defeat the referendum, commit even more time and energy to finding a solution. That is the only acceptable way forward."

Mr. Bare needs to take his own advice and realize that the referendum has been defeated and move on. Those on the SB need to "commit" to finding a solution that everyone can live with. As long as they dwell on the plan that the community overwhelmingly rejected, they will only be spinning their wheels. A school on the Spalding site or moving preK may not make much of an impact alone, but combining them together and other options addded may make a difference. While portables are not anyone's first choice, they seem to be a viable option. It's not like kids will spend their whole elementary school experience in them. I would be more concerned that "Johnny is learning to read" than where he's learning to read.

I understand and acknowledge that my mind works like a child's, but that name just sounds so totally made up.

I wonder if there really is a Simon R. Bare.

With all the focus on looking for the correct solution, let's not lose track of the fact that many folks are not convinced that there is a problem.

K-8 enrollment is currently right around the size the schools were built to house. I have spent considerable effort seeking an explanation why it is unavoidable to house 600 students in portables, but I have never been given one. And the projections certainly do not impress me as proving the inevitability of unmanageable increases.

Instead, Mr. Bare and his ilk are content to mindlessly repeat their mantra "nearly 600 kids in portables."

I guess he deserves some credit for his willingness to attach his name to his public statement - even if I think the position he advances lacks merit.

And clam, the Bares do exist, and have been active in various school activities for some time.

quote:

Originally posted by jombl:
Other then his hatred for the 80% of his neighbors who voted ...

Jombl,

Do you really think this is true? While you always present your facts in an impressive manner, adding this type of emotion seems to flame your opposition's fire...

quote:

Originally posted by Gus:
I think this is the same guy who took a smart a** crack at Solak during the candidates forum at Lincoln. It was conducted in the library and Bob was sitting under a sign that said "fiction" for the books stacked there. This same author of the letter made a comment to the effect of "Bob, you're sitting in the right place" meaning that Bob was full of malarky and falsehoods. Can you imagine if we said something like that to the other potential board members? Maybe an arrest warrant would have been issued by D41 ala Mike Lynch!!! This guy is a moron. In their world there is never any room for the "REMOTE" possiblity that they could be wrong.

Gus...after reading this, I feel I did the right thing when I posted the very cute Simon the Bear link. Granted, it isn't cutting edge humor and I'm certain he's heard it before...but it was the correct thing to do, IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Gus:
My response was really directed to Well Meaning. WM needs to know what we are dealing with here. WM, we have been slandered, demeaned, and damned by the pro ref people both in 87 and 41. It's too bad they can't take a little criticism in their daily "pumpkin" juice.

Gus,

While the referendum went the way most of us wanted it to, (how's that for understatement?!) I believe the polls would also show that 80% of the voters were and are sick of personal name-calling, back-stabbing, character attacking, etc. by both sides. It demeans the intelligence of the positions and sets a poor example of public debate. As my grandmother used to say "I wish I had a nickel" for every person I talked to who said they stopped discussing the referendum with their neighbors and friends for fear of personal attacks or terminations of friendships. Isn't that just sad?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dinsdale:
With all the focus on looking for the correct solution, let's not lose track of the fact that many folks are not convinced that there is a problem.
QUOTE]

Dinsdale, I agree. I have not seen any evidence convincing me that there is a current problem with D41's student population. However, I am afraid that D41 has done a damn good job of snow jobbing a good majority of the 77% (NO voters) including a few of you BBers. I am afraid that they may have convinced many, that at the very least, a problem with student overcrowding exists. IMO they have planted the seed and some of you keep watering it. Many BBers have talked about alternatives to the Super Hadley. Many have discussed possible solutions such as using the Spalding site in great detail. Why would anyone discuss solutions to a problem that doesn't exist, unless you thought it did? Were these discussions based solely on the projections (if so, then I understand)? Do you think a real problem with overcrowding currently exists?

I truly pray to God that the new board members really take a hard look at those 100 new hires to determine whether all they serve an economic purpose. IMO this is the core of the problem, not the students.

Simon,

You and your wife have tried hard to work on a lot of committees that will move forward the agenda of the Administration. I remember hearing about one committee where you and Dr. He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named were trying to get matching construction funds from the State of Illinois to build a new school. The funds have not been released for prior projects going back about 5 years and it did not look likely that any money was going to be in budget from Blago.

This was all very nice, but in the end, no viable money from the State was or is going to be in the District's future. It was a nice waste of time to be on this committee, but this effort that you and about 8 others put into investigating the options could have been wrapped up in a 2 meeting session instead of the 10 or so meetings that were held until it was disbanded. The Board did what it wanted with no State funding and it got smacked down by 77% of people living within D41.

You will see that those who live on this planet and in this community and voted "no" on the flawed referendum are willing and able to work to find a solution. What we want is to not be lambasted and criticized for questioning and looking for the truth. The truth has been lacking and I have not seen an argument coming from the Administration or Growing41 that balances the needs of the students, Admin. and tax payers. Until that time, expect some robust questioning of the facts, because so far, the facts have been masquerading as spin. Criticism of the facts has been met by opinion pieces questioning our committment to the education of our children. I hate this type of accusatory labeling.

In your letter you accuse Cathy of publishing facts that are not correct. Please lay those out on this message board. We await your answer.

I don’t know if it’s any consolation . . . but the tear-stained letters of despair and acrimony by the pro-referendum contingent that have been trickling into the media over the past few weeks are nothing new . . . only the names of the letter writers are different.

Admittedly, defeat is a novel experience for a school district that has pretty much had the dance floor all to itself in the last two referendum waltzes. But prior to that time, District 41 took a bruising in 1994 that elicited the following memorable laments from dejected supporters that sound vaguely familiar today . . .

“I am not as proud, as I once was, to be part of a community who will fund fancy buildings, water slides, and even swans, but not have enough left over for our children.”

“This is a very sad night, and I see a lot of sad faces in the room as we watch District 41 begin to unravel.”

From the referendum co-chairperson . . . “Unfortunately, our opposition came armed with a mailing that confused residents by giving them false information. The figures are grossly misleading. We believe it didn’t do much more than confuse people. It’s really sad to know you were cheated out of an honest vote.”

From the Board president . . . “All of a sudden, education does not seem to be the focus of the community. We tried hard to lay out the facts and not fiction.”

From a Board member . . . “I must admit to being both shocked and disappointed by the direction you voters mandated with the recent defeat of the referendum. By your actions, you have directed the board to quietly diminish the quality of Glen Ellyn’s educational system.”

Etc., etc., etc. . . .

The only bright post-referendum insight in 1994 actually came from a seasoned District 41 Board member . . . one of a very rare breed that “got it,” and wrote to the GE News, “I am glad to know that I live in a community that is on average as smart as or smarter than Philadelphia lawyers, since those villagers I spoke with understood the referendum question. It is simply that a majority of the voters came to a different conclusion about District 41’s money needs. I believe that it is the ‘movers and shakers’ that are out of touch when they underestimate the intelligence of the voters. Let’s not demean ourselves or the public by implying they did not know what they were doing.”

It’s been a long time since District 41 heard that brand of common-sense rhetoric at the table . . . and it has been sorely missed!!!

But, as I am ever the optimist, it appears that help is on the way . . . not only via two fresh voices of reform, but an energized, awakened community. If we are to help Solak and Vondrak inject that much-needed dose of reality into the process . . . and build a rational consensus that truly addresses needs of children within a framework that the community can afford . . . we’ve got to get out of our easy chairs on Monday nights, and continue to be involved in the process.

At the top of that “to do” list . . . getting past the onslaught of distractions, and accurately assessing the facts. On that front, I could not agree more with Michael Lynch . . . who predicted from Day One that a "brick and mortar solution to a manufactured enrollment crisis" was the final piece of the phase-in puzzle . . . and Dinsdale . . . who keeps gently, but relentlessly, reminding us that the District’s "case" does not add up.