Fiction

DISTRICT 99’s WOODRIDGE PROPERTY “UNTRUTHS”

The following list of “untruths,” made as public statements by District 99 leadership, is limited to Woodridge property issues due to lack of time and space to include the many additional “untruths” District 99 has made regarding its budget problems, proposed tax increase, litigation liabilities, facility needs, administrative compensation, enrollment trends, academic performance, etc.

LIST OF UNTRUTHS

“There is no agreement with the Village of Woodridge and their Park District giving them right of first refusal on any sale of the property.” (Truth: Exactly such an agreement was negotiated in 1978 by District Supt. Wiscombe to preserve the zoning classification, and was confirmed in a letter to the Village.)

“Even if an agreement does exist, it has no legal standing.” (Truth: It is both unlikely that the documented agreement has no significance, and totally inappropriate to suggest District promises are meaningless.)

“District 99 has a definite timetable to reach a timely decision on selling the property.” (Truth: Many, many months after first promising to study the issue and make a decision, the Board and Administration continue to waffle on whether to sell the property.)

“Both the Village of Woodridge and the District should do appraisals on the property.” (Truth: District 99 has been unreceptive to Woodridge generated valuations while claiming it must determine “true value” via its contracted appraisal process and a high profile bidding process linked to marketing the land for high density development.)

“The June 3 bid deadline was simply an inexplicable typo in the consultant’s marketing brochure.” (Truth: This was a serious deadline given not just in the brochure, but also on the District’s website and in their PR releases. Apparently, it wasn’t a typo but rather a leadership decision that was later determined to be a bad idea!)

“Protest activities such as a community march on Commencement day, and other actions, are beyond the bounds of decency.” (Truth: The Commencement day march was rescheduled well before District 99 ran its insulting advertisement/letter to the mayor in local newspapers. Furthermore, every effort by responsible citizens to engage District leadership in meaningful dialog on the property issues has been rebuked.)

“The District has not yet decided to sell some, all or none of the property.” (Truth: District 99 has repeatedly advertised on its website, in the Wall Street Journal, and through its hiring of an expensive real estate marketing consultant its desire to sell the property on District terms.)

SUMMARY

District 99 needs to sell the Woodridge property in order to fund the capital needs they improperly failed to address with their recent over-budget renovation/construction program. District 99 also needs to end its arrogant, but ever-waffling, handling of this property issue. Finally, District leadership must recognize that interests of both parties must be recognized in order for any real estate transaction to be successfully consummated. That means respecting their clear agreement with the Village of Woodridge and the Park District.!

The Woodridge Steering Committee is a group of concerned residents trying to protect open land.

www.KeepGreenSpaceGreen.com