Westbrook costs are there, if you look

To the editor: Big surprise! District 57's minions are at it again! And, this time, we, the Mount Prospect citizen-taxpayers, are supposedly receiving a New Year's present from District 57. We are being told that rooms can be opened at Westbrook at "no capital cost" to us.

Now, I ask that Mount Prospect's residents think about that term, "no capital costs." Technically correct but, if you really think about it, this phrase leaves a very important set of questions unanswered.

And, these questions are simply these: What will be cost to clean the room(s)? What will be cost of heating the room(s)? What will be cost of cooling the room(s)? Will the cost of staffing the room(s) be the same? What will be the cost to transport students to the Westbrook room(s)? And, we must remember that these costs will rise each and every year.

That "no capital costs" are not involved, I applaud that. However, that is only part of the cost associated with those rooms at Westbrook. No one likes "hidden costs" or an idea seemingly presented as being wholly without cost. It just isn't so and whatever costs are there, tell the Mount Prospect citizen-taxpayer "the whole story" so one can make a totally informed decision regarding what is being asked for or presented.

Tom Manion

Mount Prospect