story here

Thanks to Tom V. for volunteering again.

But I can't believe that the Turf thing didn't inspire anyone, on either side, to run!

Jeez.

quote:

Brown said there is still an opportunity for write-in candidates to run for the two open spots. Those candidates have until Feb. 5 to file an intent to run.

Time to draft someone........

I think D87 is one of those jobs that can't be fudged. Can't just go in there without a basic knowledge of soooo many things. In order to do it right you need to know stuff that the average Joe just isn't up on. It seemed so daunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
I think D87 is one of those jobs that can't be fudged.

D41 on the other hand.....

I think the current board has shown that it isn't a walk through the park. There are a few unqualified sitters there who probably didn't have the good sense to look in there mirror as I did and stare at someone who shouldn't do the job. But, hey...we have turf! Their legacy is complete.

BTW, any bets on when the first 17 year-old in Dad's 535i drives all over it? Certainly these brainiacs have figured out a way of protecting it...right?

I just think the vote should have been put off until a new board was seated. It would have been two for and two against w/o the new people. Instead, these three new people inherit a huge potential financial problem.

I'm curious as to what the new financial guy is saying about our financial status.

"On Jan. 26, the Glenbard District 87 Board of Education approved a resolution to support outdoor instructional space enhancements at Memorial Field at Glenbard West. Enhancements include installation of artificial turf, along with necessary storm water management, fencing and the underground electrical scope of work for future lights at Memorial Field."

They are a step ahead of me.

What does, "approved a resolution" really mean? They resolve to do it? Just wondering it really means they are moving forward...

My guess is they won't do anything until they have the geedahs in hand.

Don't worry about it. The original 1960 plans for Biester Gym called for a swimming pool in the lower level. But it turned out to be too expensive, so at the last minute it was cut and the space became the wrestling area.

Nonetheless, knowing that someday they would finish building the pool, they included the necessary concrete footings, plumbing, electrical work etc. in the original construction.

Boards, administrations and time then came and went, and the pool, along with the infrastructure that was already paid for and in place for it, were forgotten.

I find myself divided by my lack of enthusiasm for Brown and Schmidt's contributions, counterweighed by my acknowledgement that they were at least willing to occupy the positions.

DTM -- Approving a resolution is the method that the board uses to exercise powers such as approving expenditures, adopting a budget, or levying taxes. I'm sure one of the many lawyers on this board could give us a concise explanation of how governmental bodies make use of resolutions.

Yes, this resolution simply means that they take the next step in moving forward. The board highlights summarized it this way: "A collaborative funding model was approved, creating the potential for partnering community groups and/or other governmental entities. The project will be executed when funding partners agree to a contract and intergovernmental agreements are in place. "

Fan, over a certain amount of dollars, they do have to go to a public bid for the install. I would assume that they could specify which turf product to use and accept no substitutes. But the installation labor/equipment, etc. will have to be competitively bid.

I wonder (but do not know) what would happen if a selected turf product manufacturer had geographically exclusive agreements with installation contractors.

Welcome back, Fan.

The board policy for purchase is here. It looks like there are quite a few exceptions to the requirement to accept the lowest bid.

I don't see much there that would apply in this case.

Found this article on the write in candidates for D87.

"Voters in Glenbard High School District 87 can expect to receive countless lessons on how to cast a ballot with write-in votes. After learning that only two people signed up to run for four seats on the massive district's school board, nine people signed up to run the more difficult write-in campaigns."

I'm confused why you have to sign up to be a write in candidate. Don't people just check the box marked 'write-in candidate' and then put someone's name in the blank?

Surely there is someone on the GEBB we could all get behind and write them in...

Does anyone know who petitioned to be a write in candidate?

quote:

Originally posted by DTM:

Surely there is someone on the GEBB we could all get behind and write them in...

Thanks for the cue, DTM . . . there most definitely is a write-in candidate that deserves our backing and support! His name . . . Don Pydo . . . and I couldn’t be more pleased at the prospect of someone with Pydo’s business pedigree adding his brand of management expertise and strategic vision to the District 87 Board!

In conversations with him, Don would be the first to admit that he was drawn to the process because of health, safety and environmental concerns regarding artificial turf. Not unlike many of us, however . . . who also started our school board odysseys with a specific focus . . . his attention quickly shifted to encompass a far greater scope of issues facing Glenbard over the next few years.

At the top of that list . . . maintaining District 87’s fiscal equilibrium in light of declining economic indicators that will adversely affect school revenue . . . and doing so within a framework that avoids asking overburdened taxpayers for a bailout.

Pydo has indicated his concern with certain decision-making of the recent past that led to budget deficits and cuts in program for Glenbard's students, and feels that it is not too early for the District to be formulating a series of initiatives that will prevent those types of disruptions again.

As a short bio . . . Don is a native NW-side Chicagoan, who has lived in Glen Ellyn for the past 25 years with his wife, Candace, and their two sons, Don and Dan, both graduates of Glenbard West.

The better part of his 30-year business career has been spent in Chicago with Judge and Dolph, and currently as Vice President and General Manager of Business Operations with the Wirtz Beverage Group.

Don would bring terrific experience, skills and vision to the District 87 Board . . . but he can only be successful in lending those talents to the process, if we get behind his write-in candidacy, and support him with our write-in votes on April 7.

Which leads me to the mechanics of the write-in process . . .

I have spoken with an official at the Election Commission, who advised that in order to be eligible for election, write-in hopefuls must indeed have filed a formal declaration of intent with the county by February 5. He also confirmed that only the names of the two District 87 candidates who filed before the January 26 deadline would be printed on the ballot.

Those two are . . . F. Thomas Voltaggio and Yadav Nathwani.

Below those two names, will be spaces for eligible write-in candidates. In order for a write-in vote to count with the election judges, voters must fill in the oval space on the ballot with a black marking pen AND write in a name . . . i.e. Don Pydo . . . on the blank line.

We are fortunate to have 16-year incumbent, Tom Voltaggio, once again willing to serve our community. Voltaggio’s exceptional record on behalf of District 87 . . . its students and its taxpayers . . . speaks for itself.

Mounting a successful write-in campaign will admittedly have its share of challenges . . . but to attract qualified candidates for these Board seats period has proved to be even more challenging over the years!

Don Pydo would be a powerful addition to the team . . . and I would hope that at such a critical period, the vast District 87 community at large would not let such a golden opportunity slip away!!

Melbourne, that is great to know. THANK YOU. I do have one more question. How many votes does Pydo need? Is there a minimum requirement for write-in candidates?

quote:

Originally posted by D87parent:
How many votes does Pydo need? Is there a minimum requirement for write-in candidates?

Presuming that the two formal candidates, whose names are printed on the ballot, will get the lion's share of the votes, Pydo just needs to be one of the two top vote-getters amongst the write-ins to take one of the two open seats.

No minimum number . . . although it would be great to see his vote total be a sizeable one!