Daily Archives: December 20, 2006

City of Peoria, Peoria Park District, Peoria Public Schools

Open Thread on Park Board’s D150 denial

18 Comments

Well, I was off by one vote. I predicted that the Park Board would agree to pursue an intergovernmental agreement by a vote of 4-3.

Instead, the Park Board rejected the school’s plan to share park land on the corner of Glen Oak Park for a new East Bluff school building by a vote of 4-3.

I wasn’t able to attend the meeting, so I don’t have any details. If you know any details, please be sure to add them in the comments section below! I’ll add more as they become available.

UPDATE (10:09 p.m.): A friend of mine just wrote and shared these details:

The vote was 4 to 3 with Roger Allen, Tim Cassidy, Stan Budzinski and Jim Cummings voting “yes” to the motion which read” …reject the School Board’s proposal”. Board members Petty, Johnson and Ryan voted “no” So a yes was a no and a no was a yes- Typically confusing, but regardless this is a start in the right direction. […]

It was a packed meeting- standing room only- most of us had to stand in the hall. It was very respectful and orderly. […]

Cassidy was more general in his comments and while he complimented Ken Hinton for doing a wonderful job as Superintendent he said the Peoria Park Board’s responsibility is to protect park property and therefore he had to stick with his ultimate responsibility and vote to preserve the park.

Update (12/21): Here’s the story from a few news outlets:

  • WEEK-TV Channel 25 (best line: “District 1-50 will now have to meet to decide what is next. At this point, officials say they do not have a plan”)
  • WMBD-AM 1470
  • WMBD-TV Channel 31 (best line: “The majority of the trustees say they were elected to protect the park land, not give it away”)
  • Journal Star reporter Clare Jellick has her full story online now (most interesting quote: “District 150 Superintendent Ken Hinton said the vote means ‘another part of the community is going to get the school.’ He said Glen Oak Primary School will not close, and he isn’t interested in using the primary school site for a new school”)
  • WCBU-FM 89.9 reporter Tanya Koonce has her report online, too. (5 minute .mp3 file)

Also, WMBD-TV had this reaction from Superintendent Ken Hinton:

Newschannel 31 talked to District 150 Superintedent Ken Hinton Wednesday night who said he’s disappointed the park district didn’t allow the use of the land, but he’s not discouraged because he says the district has other option[s]. Hinton said he plans on talking to the school board Thursday.

I wonder (along with Billy Dennis, Bob Manning, and others), where is Mr. Hinton’s concern for the children now? It sounds like he’s saying, since he didn’t get his way, he’s going to recommend not building a new school in the East Bluff at all, but “another part of the community.” Is exacting your revenge against the East Bluff what’s best for the children, Mr. Hinton?