Airport overdue for comprehensive plan
To the editor: (At) the most recent joint meeting of Wheeling and Prospect Heights I watched with interest the presentation by Mr. Kirby on the need for a master plan for the airport and surrounding area.
Though I do not condone the manner in which that plan was devised, as a former alderman and airport commissioner, I wholeheartedly agree on the need for such a plan.
As a wise person once said, those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them. Such is the case with Chicago Executive Airport.
Our two municipalities have owned this airport for 21 years. Throughout, there has been no real joint agreement on what direction will be taken concerning development and redevelopment of the airport.
Had these two communities formulated such a plan years ago, runway 16/34 could have been rebuilt to span the diagonal length of the airport, thereby routing traffic over an industrial area on the north and a forest preserve on the south.
The runway would then have been long enough to accommodate a wide variety of aircraft, at the same time reducing noise complaints. Instead, a new air traffic control tower was built in the path needed to accomplish it, and plans were made to build a new FBO facility next to that tower.
The business partners who operate at the airport have every right to want to grow their businesses. The businesses surrounding the airport have the same rights. Homes and businesses in the area immediately around the airport must know whether or not their buildings are in jeopardy of being razed to allow expansion and, if not, how much noise and pollution they can expect.
It is time the communities met to decide whether or not the airport will be permitted to expand and, if so, to what extent. Every year, decisions are being made without this guidance; land is sold and purchased, zoning variances are granted, and lives are being planned.
Today, I entreat those of you who lead the two municipalities to bury the hatchet and begin making the tough decisions you have postponed for the past 21 years.
Darlene Ahlstedt,
former alderman
City of Prospect Heights
Former Palwaukee
Airport Commissioner
City did its best to respond to storm
To the editor: As everyone is well aware, the city of Des Plaines has recently suffered a weather incident of heavy rains, high winds and loss of power. A three-cell storm crashed through the city about 4 p.m. on Aug. 23, but unbeknown to most residents, the Emergency Operations Center was activated about 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, to monitor and assess the level of the Des Plaines River and various tributaries by the Crisis Management Team consisting of all department chiefs in the city.
I wish to personally thank those residents who gave us their cooperation, aid, understanding and patience during this time of trial. For those few who were unhappy with the efforts of the city staff and workers, here are some facts garnered during that time.
There are about 58,600 residents in the city of Des Plaines. The Emergency Service workers, consisting of the police department, fire department, public works and Emergency Management Agency volunteers, including those in the police reserves and Citizens on Patrol (COP), numbers about 425 workers.
The city was operating on emergency back-up power for about 30 hours. Police and public works employees were on a 12-on, 12-off hourly schedule. Fire department personnel worked a 24-on, 24 off schedule. The Emergency Management Agency personnel of the operations center worked a 24/7 schedule. Add to that several more from health and human services departments, and the finance office who stayed long after normal working hours.
We offer our apologies to those we could not service immediately, but do the math, and you'll understand why.
For those whose patience was sorely tested, we thank you. We could have used more volunteers to answer phones and to list requests for aid, and give out information. Most of our volunteers were used for the heavy work like filing sand bags and moving tree limbs. Through this whole time, the city suffered only one serious injury. Finally, our fire chief, Jon Heavey, who was scheduled to retire after 33 years of service to our city on Aug. 30, stayed on to the very end, up to, and including the final Crisis Management Team meeting on Sept. 4.
Don Meseth, Director
Emergency
Management Agency
Des Plaines
Loved garden story in large print
To the editor: I loved your story "A Garden for Irma," finding ways to help a senior citizen continue her gardening hobby. The best part was that the story was written in larger print so all Irma's friends would be able to read it. A nice job by Neighbor staff!
Barbara Gier
Prospect Heights
Another successful circus in Dist. 59
To the editor: The District 59 Education Foundation hosted the Kelly Miller Circus on Sept. 14 and 15. This family fundraiser and the Star Event held in the spring support supplemental innovative programs in the District 59 schools.
In the four years the foundation has been in operation, these fund-raisers have generated $47,000 and funded 63 innovation grants to staff and parent groups. Proceeds from this year's circus have set a new record, and will allow the Foundation to increase once again our annual giving.
The Foundation would not be successful without the support of our community.
We wish to thank our corporate sponsors: Harris N.A. (Wood Dale); Mount Prospect National Bank; Rotary Club of Elk Grove Village; A to Z Interiors; and the following donors for their support, Dr. Daniel Schweers, Stefan Tucker, Denise Thompson, Susan Enz, Brian Kiel, Tulga Batsukh, Kevin Begovich, and Julie Borys.
Organizational support was provided by Elk Grove Village, the Elk Grove Park District, Elk Grove Police Department, and St. Julian Eymard. Thanks also go to the Jarosch Bakery who handled retail ticket sales and Karen Rialla who handled online and mail order sales. Thank you also to Kathy Beach, Betsy Boswell, Jenny Diehl, Kathy and Anna Dowd, Susan Ejma, Beth Kaim, Brian Kiel, Ellen Lewkowitz, Mary Jo Long, Janeen and Jackie Noto, Enza Papeck, Sharon Roberts, Frank Scaramuzza, Wes Smith, Stefan Tucker, and Emily Woemmel who ensured a successful event through their generous donation of time.
Finally, thank you so much to all the people who came out and enjoyed the circus!
To find out more about the Foundation, our award program, and how you can help, go to www.district59foundation.org.
Janice Krinsky, chairperson
District 59 Education Foundation
Arlington Heights
Letter on teacher salaries off base
To the editor: This letter is to take issue with the defamatory inaccuracies perpetuated by Mr. Steve Safley's recent letter attacking the teachers of District 211.
His letter contains wrong or misinterpreted facts that need correcting.
First, he claims that District 211 teachers have the third highest salaries. However, any time you see 211 salary reports, you must automatically deduct the 9 percent that district teachers pay into the state pension system. Published figures are thus inflated and misleading.
Second, he claims -- without any source, noticeably--that District 211 students rank among the lowest in terms of ACT scores. In reality, any adequate research into the district's report card (such as through the Illinois State Board of Education) shows that its scores consistently outperform both state and national scores. On the off-chance that his statistic is correct, ranking 63rd out of the hundreds of state school districts is not sub-standard performance.
Third, he randomly guesses that 80-90 percent of 211 students are being neglected: an impossibility, since more than two-thirds of them meet or exceed state test standards and 88 percent of 211 graduates are college-bound.
Three-fourths of 211 teachers hold master's degrees or higher. Is it realistic to assume that a group of such highly educated professionals do not value education or don't care for the students to whom they have dedicated their lives?
Mr. Safley overlooks such facts as the award bestowed on a 211 school by the College Board (the company that owns the SAT) for having the most students in the nation passing AP exams. All the district's successes should be directly attributed to its teachers.
He criticizes jaded, dispassionate teachers. I've never met a teacher who acts like that, even when faced with hateful, aggressive, and sadly misinformed rhetoric like Mr. Safley's.
Heather Munao
Elgin
Teacher pay higher than reported
To the editor: Your front page article of Thursday, Sept. 13 is so misleading, I'm forced call you on this, publicly.
This is such a misrepresentation through exclusion of information, I have to question if you were duped by the union president or, perhaps you intended to convey a gross inaccuracy.
Leaving the step increase portion of teacher pay out of the story significantly misrepresents the teachers' compensation package. If you are going to step into the middle of collective bargaining in progress, then at the least, present all the information.
The offered 3.4 percent increase you reported must be added to the step increase, leading to a pay raise much higher than what most of the district's residents expect. The step increase is automatic and based entirely on time on the job. If you were unable to confirm this information with board of education representatives, a simple FOI (Freedom of Information Act) request will get you a copy of the current teachers' contract. You can calculate the full increase for yourself, as the offer was conveyed by Mr. Braglia. If you're going to quote him, at least follow up with verification of his "facts."
As a taxpayer, I expect a competitive level of compensation for our teachers. I am not willing to accept an increase almost tripling the true level of inflation. The board of education would be irresponsible to agree, considering the district was within months of being bankrupt before the referendum was passed.
My experience as an active District 211 parent and elected board of education member was always a positive one when I worked with our talented, professional staff, at all levels. They deserve a fair and competitive compensation package, but it must be one the taxpayers can afford. I hope the union leadership will end their practice of confrontation and divisiveness and try collaboration and cooperation.
Inciting fear and concern through inaccurate reporting is irresponsible. Your responsibility as the leading local newspaper is to report the all facts accurately and completely.
Thomas J. Anderson
Inverness
Signs endanger young children
To the editor: This is in response to (the letter) "Grammar criticism misses the point" by Sharon Olson in Elk Grove Village.
On Sept. 17, the front page of the Daily Herald has a column titled "Sex offenders at large?"
Did you read it? You seem to think the signs on the front lawns of the incoming kindergartners at Stevenson School in Elk Grove Village are touching. How nice!
Have you also realized that we do not live in a perfect world. We need to rely on the professionals at schools to keep our children safe. Shame on the principal at Stevenson school for advertising where our children will be getting off buses to come home. She has just made it easier for your children to become a sexual predator's victim.
How could the Elk Grove Police Department authorize this move? Also how can we put our faith in a principal that could potentially endanger our children. Yes, Sharon Olson, you did miss the point!
Sharon Miller
Elk Grove Village