Cumberland School project another D62 folly
District 62 is going ahead this spring with plans to build a parking lot expansion on the Cumberland School grounds. The issue remains the same. Should the district pay $50K or more of taxpayers' money to destroy an open, beautiful schoolground with blacktop so staff would not have to walk a short distance to a nearby parking lot?
This project will have a major adverse impact on the pristine school grounds, children and local homes in the area. Adding a parking lot and huge detention pond on school grounds creates potential unsafe hazardous conditions for the children's safety.
Despite approval by the school board in April 2009 there was never any prior contact with nearby residents who had no knowledge whatsoever of the plan. Compare this with the city code that calls for signage on the property and a public meeting on all zoning and property changes.
This project is part of an overall $109 million Master Plan unanimously approved by the school board. Throughout the 3-year implementation of the Master Plan, the district assured us they went ahead with community input, citizen participation, open meetings and transparency.
For the most part the key committees were comprised of hand-picked members friendly to the district, not an ideal cross section of independent, concerned residents.
According to the news releases there was no increase in taxes to fund this plan. Not quite true because in 2004 during a robust, vibrant economy there was a tax referendum. The voters, and I was one of them, were concerned about proposed curriculum cutbacks and wanted to maintain our high educational standards. Now this money is being used to fund a Master Plan loaded with perks and earmarks. Note the $50K parking lot and the $13 million Early Learning Center. How can you justify these perks in a weak, down economy?
I, for one, cannot understand why a project of this magnitude was never considered for a referendum, where all the people could discuss and debate the issue in open forums.
Nick Chiropolos
Des Plaines