I want to start out by saying that I supported the last school referendum. I also felt so strongly about the stand I took that I joined the Facilities Planning Committee (FPC). I also wish to state that the FPC is made up of a very concerned group of citizens who desire the best for the children being educated in District 428. This group has seen some lengthy discussions about enrollments, building sizes, and the future of all the district’s school buildings. My concern is that we are making a mistake right now. The numbers that were used to promote the school referendum are completely different today then prior to the referendum on Feb. 14th. We all know that our economy has seen better days and no one can predict when we will come out of this. A recent demographic study pertaining to future enrollment numbers was completed by the same demographer that the district used for the referendum. Numbers now show fewer students in the new high school, in fact, 2012 shows 520 less students. This in turn is a result of less construction, families moving away from DeKalb, and an exodus of the Hispanic community due to fewer jobs available locally. The referendum anticipated 600 new homes for 10 consecutive years (6,000) new homes to be built plus several already completed subdivisions also were wrongly counted for starts. For the referendum numbers to work, $20 million in new construction EAV is needed every year in order to maintain the $280.00 per year for a $200,000.00 home. This is not happening. We are currently $16 million over in anticipated interest repayment and looking to extend the number of years to pay down the bond debt. Also, the City of DeKalb experienced a windfall in that the city gets to keep the money from the referendum increase in all of their TIF District’s. The City of DeKalb is “graciously” giving the school district back 50% of which the district can spend any way they wish, not necessarily for the new schools. I strongly encourage the City Council to give back 100% earmarked for repayment of the $110 million referendum bond. Our School Board is refusing to downsize the high school even though numbers show fewer students. We must design this school smaller with the ability to easily add on when needed. I would rather err towards a conservative approach. Has this community not learned from its past mistakes? Ivan Krpan |
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Ivan, it sounds like you have a good grasp on this issue. It is unfortunate that bureacrats in Government can not be as understanding, or flexible on such issues. If the numbers are wrong, and the economy is slowing then the school board should adjust the plan. What we need is to get more buisiness people involved in local politics to explain the principles of supply and demand. Most of our local elected officials seem to grow up inside Government jobs were they do not have to deal with reality of making a profit to stay in buisiness. They simply spend money, and if they run low they just raise taxes or borrow it.
I’d bring to your attention the new high school in Hampshire. Built before the changing economy to house students anticipated from proposed developments, the school is open but the top floor is shuttered. Not enough students. Now taxes for this unused space must be met by fewer households.
I’m grateful someone is watching.
Hampshire went from a school building with a capacity of 750 to a new one with a capacity of 2,500:
http://www.vaproshield.com/projects/hampshire/
http://midwest.construction.com/features/archive/2009/0901_feature4.asp
Thanks Ivan.
I believe there is cause for an injunction to halt the high school project based on legal grounds that District 428 is knowingly acting on faulty information, in contradiction to referendum promises made to taxypayers, and are therefore causing great harm to those taxpayers.
The District is aware that:
1) Enrollment projections by their own paid demographer are substantially lower than pre-referendum projections.
2) Pre-referendum projections on existing EAV have been lowered and are likely to decrease to reflect real market conditions.
3) Post-referendum projections on new construction EAV have been lowered by 78% from those of pre-referendum.
4) The District entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of DeKalb that returns 50% of the District’s property tax levy, that is a direct result of the referendum, “unencumbered” and yet the District has not applied those referendum tax dollars to related school construction debt repayment.
5) Four District Board Members (voting majority) knowingly participated as voting members of the Facilities Planning Committee to make recommendations to the District Board.
An injunction is needed to prevent the District from entering into General Contractor/Construction Manager contracts that are based on bid specifications for the 400,000 sq ft building that was cost-based on known faulty enrollment projections.
A writ of mandamus is a court order that requires another court, government official, public body, corporation or individual to perform a certain act. A taxpayer lawsuit calling for the District to redesign the high school to adjusted components (data) used in the referendum formula, thereby reducing the size and costs of the high school, stands a good chance in the courtroom. A Writ of Mandamus calling for the school district to adjust spending of referendum tax dollars to that adjusted formula might also succeed. A damn Mandamus is needed to court order the District to unequivocally use TIF returned referendum tax dollars for debt repayment.
A taxpayer suit requires a number of taxpayers to participate. In addition to donating the research and meeting records I’ve compiled, I would sign my name to the suit. Due to time commitments I cannot participate beyond that.
I have talked to attorneys who have said my assumptions above have validity and are willing to take the case. They would not do so pro bono but a successful suit would likely return legal fees to the plaintiffs.
Dist 428 (DeKalb, Cortland and Malta) taxpayers willing to participate should comment to this discussion stating your intention. Include a valid email address in the field asking for it to receive further information. You may email such confirmation privately to me at mmcintyre@eworldlinx.com.
Copy this post to an email and send it to others who might be interested. Prompt action is required.
[...] it’s really happening. The District is aware [...]
[...] Posted By admin on January 10, 2009 UPDATE 1/25/09:
I will help in whatever way I can.
Mr. Krpan’s letter needs to be sent to the Daily Chronicle, the MidWeek, and the Northern Star. I think Mac should also send in his response that he posted here. It is imperative that ALL of DeKalb know what is happening and where this stands. They deserve to know. Thank you for letting me know about this link, Mac.
I support your efforts and will help in anyway I can.
I have submitted the above letter to The Daily Chronicle, The Midweek News, and the Northern Star. The real question is IF they will print the letter. The other question is why they have not continued to follow up on the progress of possibly the biggest referendum ever passed in this community.
I know that the Daily Chronicle supported the efforts of the school referendum committee but now I wish they would support this community the way any paper that considers themselves to be a local community paper would. Do a story and get the facts out. Many thought that a few years back when DeKalb demolished the old Clinton Rosette High School (at the time a middle school) and several others and constructed the present Clinton Rosette and several grade school buildings that would live to be our School Districts worst mistake in overbuilding based on future enrollment numbers and growth expectations.
We brought this up at the last FPC general meeting. Let’s put this new high school into perspective with the times that we are currently in. Many who purchased the right sized homes and are doing well and not asking for a government handout or bailout are mad at those who got themselves into a pickle with an overpriced homes or a ARM mortgage for that home. The failure of the sub prime mortgage market has really caused a massive stir in every corner of the financial world. Well, look at the new high school as that new, oversized, and overpriced home, our District 428 School Board as the future home buyers who are securing a sub prime mortgage for this home. Do you see any difference?
We cannot afford this “home” right now. We do not have the income to pay the bond off. We haven’t even started the high school and the anticipated payback for the $110 million bond is already $16 million more than at the time of the referendum. To build this school is truly a mistake. We need citizens to call School Board members and the local newspapers. Let yourself be heard that you refuse to go into this kind of debt especially when something can be done NOW!
One thing to ask those who are concerned but can’t join in by adding their names to a letter or petition. We fully understand the politics involved with trying to do right in this community. It is ashame that there is a group of those who do not honor one’s right to free speech and choice. It’s either their way or no other way. I’m catching flak from some already but am receiving more thank you’s.
We need more. Please let as many neighbors and friends know about this letter and this web site. What I have stated is FACT. I was and still am in favor of this high school but the design is completely wrong for this community at this time. No one can predict the future correctly but what if the demographer is correct and we don’t have the new students to fill it.
State wide numbers from the Illinois Board of Education says that enrollments are lowering throughout the state. What makes DeKalb so different and special that these numbers do not matter. Isn’t it and wouldn’t it be smarter to err on the side of being conservative. Hampshire has built a school for 2,500 students and it is 390,000 square feet in size, ours is to be 400,000 square feet. They currently have 750 students going to that school with the whole second level board shut. Is this a smart way to spend dollars? Is it worth going into debt just to have an empty building sitting around. Oswego and Yorkville are sitting with empty schools, why do we want to add our name to this type of a list?
Now is the time to right the wrong not later when the tax bill comes along.
Maybe the city should reassess the home values first.
Ivan, I have also re-sent your letter to the Northern Star encouraging them to publish it.
You might want to do the same.
If the Northern Star gets interested in the issue, they are much better journalists.
I have been contacted by Kristin at the Daily Chronicle and she has told me that they have space in tomorrows issue to place the letter. She did apologize for not receiving the letter. They are currently redoing the skeleton of their online edition.
Also, thank you for resubmitting it to the Northern Star. I am very impressed with their paper especially the online edition. Is there a suggested email address for the the Star?
Hi Ivan,
Funny, I almost included that but decided you had done that before and because of that I would send to the two managing editors and draw attention to when you submitted it b4.
This whole process unfortunately could be quite the educational lab for the school!
NIU’s online paper has a feature that allows you to download the schools paper on full page pdfs. I seldom read the DC anymore, and certainly don’t miss it. Ridiculously offensive bloggers, half should be banned.
Editor in Chief: Michael Van Der Harst
Phone: (815) 753-0105
E-mail: editorinchief@northernstar.info
Managing Editor: Katie Trusk
Phone: (815) 753-0117
E-mail: managing@northernstar.info
Ebb & Flow, yes, that is a good idea for the NIU education students to look at what is happening with the DeKalb Public Schools for a taste of the real world!
Exactly Kay, and ALL schools really it’s got EVERYTHING…
Community/City Planning, Law, Psychology, Education, Busyness, Statistics, Communications and Public Relations, Finance…
The Northern Star has full color pdf pages that you can download, including coupons. It has been a pleasure not reading the DC since I found that.
ebb&flow… every time my head swells because I figure out a new code, widget or high tech improvement for this website I make sure I go over to the Northern Star’s website — to be humbled. The Northern Star might be the best online newspaper on the planet, could be in the nation and has the awards to prove it among the very best of online college newspapers in America. They’re the leaders, the rest of us just follow. The NIU students at the Star ROCK!
I am equally impressed, and have been for a long time, with the quality journalism students that come from the Star. You can pick any major newspaper you want, throw in the network and cable TV and radio stations and there are NIU grads and former Northern Star employees working key roles on the front and back stage.
Count me as a NS Fan!!!
You folks probably already know that Markos Moulitsas of the “Daily Kos” is a former “Star” reporter and columnist. That guy completely revolutionized how people communicate about political issues.
Ivan’s letter appears in another fine local newspaper, the Daily Chronicle, former employer of two famous sportswriters Brent Musburger and Billy Wesselhoff.
This school matter is vitally important but my participation for the time being is severely limited due to other important issues.
Please follow this issue closely and GET INVOLVED! Follow the discussion string at http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/01/29/16933829/index.xml
I guess I’ll pat our own site on the back a little bit. I’m especially grateful for the yeowomans job Gracie Mott is and has been doing while civic duty calls. In terms of volume work, anyways, I’ll put our staff (that’s Gracie and I, and sometimes Chad) up against anybody.
Mission accomplished–I went bonkers on the Chronicle with six comments. We will see how many of those stay up by the end of the day. I do not care what is on the next referendum, I am voting NO.
Mac is so right. We need everyone who is concerned about the several important issues facing this community right now to keep the talk up. I know it is difficult to use your name to sign in or make comments especially with where many may work or clients they may service.
My attempt is to provide the information to the many who do not always receive the facts pertaining to many goings on in this community. Mac and I did vow to keep the community abreast of the FPC meetings and its progress with the referendum. We also felt since there really was no local reporting being done of the meetings from our local papers and really no news releases from the school district (wonder why there is a PR staff????), we felt the word needed to get out to you the voters.
I, as many, are still sitting on the fence with regards to the Home Rule issue. I supported the Home Rule petition in order to strike up dialogue in this community about the pro’s and con’s that Home Rule provides DeKalb and its citizens. It is truly unfortunate that some in this community do not believe in dialogue and more importantly, an educated and well informed voter.
I really think that many voters need to sit back and ask yourself, Why do they not wish for me to be an informed voter? Why do they think that I cannot participate in an intellectual discussion about matters that do concern me and my family? Why are they truly so set on not allowing for the discussion or vote with regards to Home Rule? This also pertains to our school board and why they don’t think that the lowered numbers of enrollment and the economic decline has negatively affected the referendum plans for the new high school?
We need your help, even if it is just a little call, a letter, a mention to a friend to read one of our letters, ask a question or two in your neighborhood or PTO group as to what is happening for your school? Thanks.
Well, it continues. Even though the above letter really isn’t readily in the public view any longer, the discussion continues to heat up. Talks of indoor gyms, extra classrooms now to be occupied by NIU, talks of a swimming pool to be added, football stadium. I’m afraid to say that the one thing really stressed by the community at the Egyptian Theatre for making sure that the school was built correct for education and not to be a Taj Mahal has fallen on deaf ears. I am getting phone calls and emails concerning this topic and many are concerned. I can’t drink a cup of coffee anymore without someone saying that they agree but what do we do? Call or write you school board, all of them. What I can’t believe is that the school board or any of our local government has really reflected their current budgets to the horrifying economy we are now in. I think they honestly think they are immuned somehow.
DeKalb, you are to be the recipient of a “Taj Mahal” for a new high school. Yes, there has been concentrated efforts by some to save what monies could possibly be saved but no mattter what was saved is to be spent because there are those in the power structure that say this commmunity did give them $110 million to spend. Yes, that is correct! $110 million to build a one new grade school in Cortland, one new high school in DeKalb, refurbish Cheseboro for Pre-K, refurbish Huntley Middle School for a grade school, and refurbish the current high school to become a Jr. High School. $102 million is being spent alone for the high school and grade school leaving $8 million for the other 3 schools. The current high school is of course out dated for many of the education needs today, that is some of the reasons for moving. The ventilation system itself will take up to if not more than $5 million to bring up to specs alone. Now the swimming pool has problems with under the pool plumbing which could cost over $1.5 million to fix if fixable. Heck a new pool would probably only cost $3 million.
There you go, we’ve just spent $110 million. Still haven’t touched Cheseboro, or Huntley, need to change toilets and water coolers plus new chairs and desks for the new and much smaller students moving into each school. With no 2nd school referendum even having the remote possibility of passing, how can we? We are broke! I guess there is the $2 million in TIF money that needs to be spent by 2010, that’ll help. Lincoln school is still tight and now needing more carts for the teachers. Heck, Jefferson school still doesn’t have a gym. Tyler’s needs won’t be addressed, how? Malta grade school is almost in complete disrepair with a heating system that needs to be completely refurbished. Would just make sense to move all Malta students to Wright Elementary after putting monies to bring Malta Grade school up to par into an expension there. Cut a principal and the duplicated staff but??? where do we get the money.
Yet, we knowingly proceed to overbuild the new high school. The current design doesn’t even give us the easy fix to lessen core size and classrooms to be easily added on in the future when truly needed. Indoor track, 14 plus extra classrooms, a core size that stands to be 900 students too big for at least 10 to 14 years. The extra classrooms to be used by NIU. Can I ask this simple question? Why, when we know we need help at other schools are we still spending all the money on this high school? I do however remember this referendum being on proper education space for the students to learn, right? Maybe some teachers and pricipals are starting to see the real writing on the chalkboards.
Maybe, the grade school teachers and staff should be looking down the road in little farther and be realistic at what is happening. Parents of grade school children using these schools I’ve mentioned need to also be extremely vocal right now. With the way that situations have changed so drastically since referendum day, should the high school be allowed to spend all of the dollars it is spending for football fields, indoor track, and lotsa extra space? This should become a major community discussion and sooner than later.