Why the rush with Hubble sale?

At the Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 Feb 9 school board meeting the board decided to sell the old Hubble school, and has scheduled a meeting for Feb 16 to make is official. What's the hurry? And why is this not on the district's web calendar?

Some background first — District 200 passed a referendum to build a new Hubble Middle School on Feb 5, 2008. The new school opened in the fall 2009. All along they have talked about retuning the old property to the tax rolls. When a new building was first proposed they actually thought the land was so valuable that it would pay for the new building (obviously dreaming).

In 2007 when selling the referendum they said $21.5 million and possibly as much as $30 million. Recently I read it may be more like zero due to the cost of tearing down the existing building. In the meantime the Wheaton Park District has been using the gym facilities and outdoor space.

The question is why the hurry? Why can't they wait for the next regularly scheduled meeting? I'd like to encourage my fellow citizens to attend: Feb. 16 meeting (6 p.m. at the School Service Center, 130 Park Avenue, Wheaton).

Janet Shaw

Wheaton