School leaders mum on Bensenville referendum

Whatever their feelings may be on a village-wide vote aimed directly at them, Bensenville school officials aren't sharing their thoughts.

It's been three days since the Bensenville village board voted to place two advisory referendum questions on the Feb. 5 ballot asking voters to pass judgment on Fenton Community District 100 and Bensenville Elementary District 2.

The ballot questions mince few words.

They ask voters if the school districts should support O'Hare expansion plans that will "lead to the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses in the Bensenville community by accepting cash payments from Chicago -- in violation of the district's intergovernmental agreement with other Bensenville units of local government to refuse such cash payments."

District 2 school board President Patty Reyes said Wednesday the board has not had the opportunity to formally discuss the referendum. But, she added, it plans to keep the money.

"At this point in time, the board stands that we did nothing wrong and that we will retain the monetary amount that we received," she said.

Because Chicago is planning to buy and bulldoze more than 500 homes in Bensenville to make room for new runways and other changes to O'Hare International Airport, it is required to reimburse schools in the acquisition area for the property tax liability of the acquired parcels. The O'Hare Modernization Program is reimbursing District 100 and District 2 a total of $763,242.

But Bensenville village officials, under the leadership of Village President John Geils, have been fighting the expansion tooth and nail.

The village board isn't suggesting that the schools should return the money to Chicago. Instead, leaders would prefer it to be turned over to the Bensenville Intergovernmental Group to assist its fight against the expansion.

Geils and the village board further contend that both school districts violated their agreement with the intergovernmental group by accepting the money.

District 100 officials plan to discuss the issue at a future meeting.

"We still have not seen the exact language of the question so we're not in a position to comment yet," Fenton Superintendent Kathie Pierce said. "It's listed on our Dec. 17 meeting agenda so I'm sure the board will be discussing it then."