Sign the

Online Petition

Keep Green

Space Green

Support those

businesses that support our community!

Why should you attend the school board meetings?   Click Here

THE WHOLE STORY: A Chronology of events involving District 99 and the 45 acre parcel of land in the heart of  Woodridge .

For updates on other District 99 board meetings and agendas Click Here.  

June 20th 2005, Citizens watched as the District 99 School Board used what was supposed to be

a chance for them to talk with citizens, to stifle www.keepgreenspacegreen.com and the citizens

of District 99 complete with gavel smashing, ordering little girls to the back of the line and saying the Woodridge Mayor walked away from the negotiating table when District 99 actually did.  In this chronology www.keepgreenspacegreen.com now tells the whole story.

Historically:

1978 Letter from D99 Superintendent (CEO) Wiscombe commemorating 99 Board actions agreeing to offer the property to the Village and Park District based on an independent appraisal.
Note: Current D99 Superintendent (CEO) is David Eblen who was paid $175,626.00* in the 2002 to 03 year. Currently out of the country on vacation?
*Per www.thechampion.org Family taxpayer's network 10/29/2004.
1997 D99 citizens vote down the 3rd High School for 3rd time.
1998 DG North & South referendum citizens overwhelmingly approve add ons/repair to these schools-NO 3rd high school.
Jan-Feb 2004, 3 rounds of focus groups were done which resulted in us starting to keep an eye on the board.
2004 D99 Hires professional demographer from North Carolina at Chapel Hill-results indicate no need for 3rd school. (again)
2004 Citizen attendance result in D99 Summer Survey where citizens emphatically scream "sell"(not move to declare as surplus property) the land.
Nov 2nd, 2004 Before Polls close, Woodridge officials notify the D99 board indicating "No matter the referendum result, we still want to continue to talk."
Nov 2004 Citizens overwhelmingly vote down $5M referendum sending the message "BALANCE THE BUDGET" with what you got.
Nov 9th (approx) D99 starts talking and indicates to Village officials "We will both do appraisals"
Nov 2004-Feb 2005 Months of monitoring the board while they tell excuses why they hadn't moved on the land.
Every meeting is just we need to do just "one more thing."
Village of Woodridge appraisal is done, board still has none.

The following 3 comments were omitted by Mark Staehlin June 20th:
4/11/05 D99 citizen representation attends Dist 99 Board meeting, (believe another special meeting called) is told "We are going into closed session"-you can wait 3 hours if you want, but we won't be discussing the land. The citizen departs as directed.
4/12/05 The village of Woodridge is notified that D99 (went behind our backs and) placed the land for sale with www.Newcastlelimited.com .
4/12/05 D99 website says quote" the Comm HS Dist 99 Board of Ed agreed to offer their 45-acre property for sale." end quote. Its still there: look for yourself at: www.csd99.org/district/news/woodridge-2005-04-12-initial.asp


Per Mark Staehlin @ June 20th Board Meeting:
4/15/05 D99 met with Village officials to discuss Valuation Process. NO BOARD MOVEMENT
4/19/05 D99 offered to suspend bidding process.

KGSG comment: We found what happened was they met again to discuss the process, 99 offered to "suspend" the Newcastle process, but wouldn't tell anyone it was stopped or stop talking to potential bidders.  In exchange, the Village would have to give up all of its rights. The Village said no to that process, but suggested that they create a mutually agreeable alternative process.  99 rejected the Village's offer to meet on 5/12 or 5/17, or any other day. 

KGSG Comment: Mr. Staehlin had it wrong at the June 20th meeting, THIS IS WHERE

DIST 99 (not Woodridge ) WALKED AWAY from the negotiating table.

The Woodridge village officials, in wisdom, knew it took 7 years to get to this point, and that to give up the only chance to get the property sale completed would be a breach of their public duty. They refused to cower to the arrogant board/attorneys. THANK GOD!

4/22/05 Woodridge officials formally make an offer to purchase the property-by way of letter; an $8.5M offer is received by D99.

5/6/05 D99 Board sends letter reiterating need for time to complete valuation.

Per District 99 Website
5/4/05 the D99 board updated their website (as their website “News” document titled "District 99 Potential Property Sale Questions bears this date). In this writing, they arrogantly indicate they don't believe the village of Woodridge has authority to move to condemnation. This of course was long before our 5/31 meeting.

Per information gathered at 5/31 Community Meeting:
5/9/05 Village of Woodridge attorney contacts D99's attorney Richard Klaiwiter who arrogantly inquires as to why the village did not just proceed to file its condemnation proceedings-In others words "Go ahead SUE ME".

KGSG comment: The reason, Mr. Klaiwiter, is because we as citizens don't want to make you rich or partner through a wasteful legal battle for which we as citizens pay both sides.

Citizen Action Commences 
5/19/05 Village Board meeting fields comments from citizens and explains their need to move for eminent domain. Some 30-50 Residents break into applause at end of meeting with resounding support for the Woodridge official’s actions in the way of eminent domain. Woodridge Village officials adopt eminent domain resolution with full support of the Woodridge Park District and citizens (from the sounds of the clapping).
5/25/05 www.keepgreenspacegreen.com grass roots citizen's action starts to occur as 22 residents commence actions including Freedom of information requests and flyer delivery.
5/27/05 Citizen's commence petition signing campaign at Main Street and Curtiss Downtown Downers Grove at "Cruise Nite" 6-9pm. Person who withholds her identity chases KGSG volunteer Phil Labak and 2 other citizen's south down Main Street after cruise night, As she comes up from behind, Phil explains petition and asks for signature to which she declines. On inquire as to why she is unable to sign, she relates no reason and retreats North up main. Phil Labak confers with the other citizens, and they wait while he heads North on main. He watches the unknown individual get into a car and proceeds to walk by. She rolls down her window and asks "and who are you” and "what are you doing here?" to which Phil responds "a citizen of Woodridge .. and you are?" to which she responds "oh no I couldn't tell you that" and starts to pull away The person has been identified as a board member. Apparently, one that is not too proud of her position.
5/31/05 Village of Woodridge facilitates citizens in conducting a community meeting. Some 400 -500 people show up.
6/1/05 Leaders are identified for Initiatives specified in community meeting.
6/10/05 Citizens attend special board meeting & deliver in writing to board 6 questions they would like responded to.(SEE THEM BELOW) They are published in the Downers Grove Reporter  Wednesday, June 15th & the Woodridge/Lisle/Bolingbrook Reporter on Friday, June 17th editorial sections at no charge while advertisements at a cost of $1000's of dollar are made by the board.
6/16/05 Citizens attend special board meeting and wait 3 hours for twenty minutes to ask questions. At the board’s request, they are given to the board in writing the next day.(SEE THE 6/17 EMAIL BELOW)
NO RESPONSE IS EVER RECEIVED (as of June 28th)
6/1-6/20 In less than 3 weeks, 1000's of citizens sign petitions, launch 2 websites, make tens of FOIA requests, email the board and Admin, (to which only blanket responses are made), attend 3 staged Marches and attend 3 Board meetings handing out thousands of flyers and move on numerous other initiatives not yet communicated to the community at large. Information about all the initiatives is freely available to all the community (including the board) to view on all the initiatives at www.keepgreenspacegreen.com .
6/20/05 300-500 citizens attend D99 Board Meeting where citizens hear from Ms Beckman Our attorney has advised us to say "NO COMMENT" in regard to all matters regarding the land and yet Mark Staehlin goes on to explain "arm's length transaction" as it relates to the land.  30 citizens address the board blasting them for their shortfalls and imploring them to stop the legal bills from piling up by talking to them and Woodridge officials now.

6/20/05 Board Meeting: Mark Staehlin tells community what his (admin and board) rights are (in David Eblen's absence) instead of what responding to 6/10/05 and 6/16/05 requests made by citizens. 

Mr. Staehlin is caught telling the people of the District "What we have not done is decided to sell any of the land" when you could go home that night and click on www.csd99.org/district/news/woodridge-2005-05-04-fact-sheet.asp and be told the board already knew about eminent domain before Woodridge declined the D99 tainted offer to suspend the bid process and click on   www.csd99.org/district/news/woodridge-2005-04-12-brochure.pdf  to see the 4 color glossy brochure in which the board's chosen marketers indicated the bid process will be ending on June 10th by selecting the purchaser.

KGSG comment: We teach our kids that this is lying. I know Mr. Staehlin is trying to keep his job when $1.9M of people's jobs are being cut around him (including a coach who won an unprecedented number of championships-he knows how to make champions in life) but c'mon Mark-You represent a Championship football Team District. Take some advice from Lou Holtz, famous Notre Dame Coach:

1) Do the right thing!
2) Do your best! and
3) Show people you care!

Talk to us, even if they fire you we can get you back in after we weed out the bad apples!

Yours in community,

Citizens to Keep Green Space Green and

Phil Labak, Keep Green Space Green Volunteer,

District 99 parent and citizen,

resident of Woodridge

P.S. I was notified by our “Downers Grove  4^th of July March” initiative leaders, The Goreckis, that the Downers Grove Village (434-5555) called today (6/28) saying our application to be in the parade has “been declined”. Earlier this month they told our volunteers we would have “no problem” when our volunteers pointed out that they were submitting the application after the May 27^th deadline.

6/10 Board Meeting info HERE:

6/17 Email to board summarizing 6/16 meeting HERE:

 
Ms Beckman;

I forwarded the attached to Ms. Power as your board secretary since I received your letter from her. I was hurrying to send it to you and was continually interrupted in drafting it and overlooked copying you, the board and the rest of the administration, so here is a copy for you all.

Thank you in advance for you consideration. I truly believe you will have vision and solutions that will give us answers to these questions previously given to you. Your discussions and communications Monday will lead to continued excellence in us (collectively-the Dist 99 citizens & communities, the board & administration) educating our children in District 99. 

Sincerely,
Phil Labak
-----------------
Forwarded Message:

Hello Ms. Beckman;

I was disheartened by the board’s discussions which indicated their inability to honor the only objective we thought we had heard favorably on.
Setting Monday as a date for open sincere conversation which involves conversation especially as you and I had discussed in a 2-3 hour format and Question and answers hosted by you.  I implore you to use your wisdom to identify and execute a solution-don't let well meaning conversation go awry-cause a solution to our request for communication.

Last night I reiterated what I told Mr. Staehlin when I met him on the 13th when I came in for info on my freedom of info act request. He asked me who we were. I said:

I reiterated we (KGSG) are a citizen’s action group that wants to:

1) Have the Dist 99 board become open and responsive to the community (including an arena for "free flow" communication) immediately?
2) Have the district sell the parcel of land to Woodridge by July 31, 2005?
3) Have the district balance the budget or at least provide a bridge showing how they plan to balance budget.(bridge from last yrs deficit to current year).


My questions last night were:

1) Are you selling the property or not? The board previously indicated "whether or not" will be determined by July 31st-(an answer Thursday would have been in good faith.)

FYI
Citizens of District 99 disagree with Bruce Beckman, the previous Board President who keeps printing in the Reporter newspaper his dated ideas:
a) including dumping a special education "magnet" school on the citizens of Woodridge
b) he seems to think we should (spend a bunch of money) leveling DG North and put up the magnet school on Main and Ogden
c) Listen to the Downers Grove North Staff AND Citizens of Dist 99-"It is NOT convenient to drive to/from DG North to Woodridge and WE DON’T WANT TO!

These things would have been accomplished in his tenure if  they had  any merit
Thank you for confirming none of that was discussed last night in your deliberations.

I asked for no time limits (within your prescribed 15 minute allowance) but you cut me off. This was not an act in good faith. Citizens reminded me of that.

2) If yes, what date are you selling to Woodridge ?
3) You said in the newspaper, you would determine the value tonight(6/16) be done by Monday (6/20)  Have you determined a value? Can you tell us the value or explain why you can't?
4) Can you tell us the value or explain why you can’t without hiding behind "legalities” of eminent domain?

The mayor indicated the eminent domain proceedings were to prevent an extorted value from coming into existence and you have advertised to assure no devaluation occurs.
Please, lawsuit or not, don't spend anymore legal dollars. Leave the attorneys at home go meet with him in person and work it out. Show us your greatness! Both of you.

5) Comment: If you’re not selling it to Woodridge , you are not listening to the citizens of Dist 99. Our petition tally and other citizen action will speak louder so you hear.
6) If you have decided to not sell to Woodridge (The words "or lease" appeared on your Exec Session Agenda for 6/16) Will you schedule a meeting to reconsider SELLING to Woodridge ?
7) A&B What dates will you A) personally meet with Woodridge Mayor Murphy and B) meet with the Village of Woodridge officials.
8) What date will the 3 non-board/non-administrative representatives be chosen by

Mr. Stahlin has implored me to use our means "even though I told him we have a zero budget" to pass along that last night the boards actions couldn't uphold what we thought to be the only answer "open forum" to our 6 previously submitted questions: From our phone call discussions earlier this week, we believed in good faith that you were saying YES, JUNE 20 to the 1st question we asked back on June 10th:

1) Will you give us an opportunity for real public comment-at the June 16th Board meeting, the June 20th Meeting and all future meetings?

As I committed to Mark, I have done what I can to have our website donor's remove "open forum" from the site.
 
A final question I made was:
Will you tell us how much time your other Agenda items will take out of the 3-hr time block 7:30-10:30pm so we may accommodate you by trying to stay within the three hour timeframe. You said you will, I will await your reply but am concerned as to whether I will be able to communicate it to the citizens of Dist99 timely.  Please help

A final point I made:

1) "Blanket emails" are not "responsive" as to the issues asked in the emails to you and Mr. Eblen.

I will summarize Ms Mimnaugh's and Mr. Demers comments as they were representative of those collected from the citizens of District99 while you were in the closed session and forward them shortly.

Sincerely,
Phil Labak

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

www.KeepGreenSpaceGreen.com