Judge rules against new trial for Indian Prairie

A circuit judge on Tuesday denied Indian Prairie Unit District 204's request for a new trial to debate the value of what's known as the Brach-Brodie property.

School leaders wanted to buy 55 acres at the site, off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive in Aurora, to built their third high school, Metea Valley.

The district, which covers parts of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, already owns 25 acres there.

But landowners and the district were unable to agree on a price for the larger parcel.

A jury in September ruled the site was worth $31 million - $17 million more than the district anticipated.

The board said it couldn't afford the price and requested a new trial.

DuPage Circuit Judge Robert Kilander on Tuesday denied the request, saying he was "comfortable" with the jury's decision.

"If we made errors, then that's my fault," he said.

The district has 30 days to appeal. Officials will discuss their next step at Monday's meeting. They're also considering several other sites.

"I don't think either of the court's rulings were unexpected," school district attorney Rick Petesch said after the decision.