Commissioners mum on Hubble

Wheaton Park District commissioners decided not to take a position on the hottest issue in town Wednesday night. However, another group chose not to be silent.

Commissioners were slated Wednesday to discuss the possibility of supporting Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200's tax increase proposal to relocate Hubble Middle School. The debate never happened, but the issue will have some impact on the park district.

The question will appear on ballots Tuesday. It asks for $58 million and permission to build a new Hubble in Warrenville.

The park district has traditionally not taken a stand on referendums by other taxing bodies in the city.

Moving Hubble would result in the loss of space currently used by the park district for a number of events.

Wheaton Park District Executive Director Michael Benard admitted he initially doubted the school district's ability to prove replacement space. Those doubts are gone.

Benard said the school district has shown how it can accommodate all the park district's needs.

"The plan says, with nothing new, this is where we'll commit to putting stuff that currently takes place at Hubble, either outdoors or indoors," Benard said. "It's a good plan."

The plan does not commit the school district to installing synthetic turf on the fields at Monroe Middle School. However, Benard said he'd still like to pursue that option and share the costs.

"It's certainly on our radar," Benard said.

While park commissioners declined to endorse the Hubble referendum, the tax question did get the backing of another local organization.

The Hubble Middle School PTA announced Wednesday that its membership voted to endorse the question. The PTA membership includes some teachers and staff.

The PTA ballots did not provide the option of voting against the Hubble referendum. Instead, the question asked if the Hubble PTA should support the referendum or remain neutral.

Eighty-two of the 94 ballots cast supported the referendum. Twelve people voted to remain neutral. There are more than 600 members of the school's PTA.

Hubble PTA President Heather Hein said several members and teachers chose not to vote because they didn't feel comfortable with the PTA taking a position.

The vote was within the national PTA rules. PTA organizations can't support candidates, but they can support ballot initiatives. Such a vote is considered direct lobbying and is subject to IRS non-profit lobbying rules.