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?

18 thoughts on “Open Thread on Park Board’s D150 denial”

  2. Generalizing here, not directed entirely at CJ:
    You complained about the location of a new school. You complained that the district cannot afford a new school.
    Now, you are going to complain that those same kids that you didn’t want to have a new school won’t be getting a new school?

  4. MDD, I feel your analysis is incorrect.

    CJ writes and predicts on 20 Dec 2006:

    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?

    MDD writes On Dec 21st: Now, you are going to complain that those same kids that you didn’t want to have a new school won’t be getting a new school?

    Clare Jellick reports on Dec 21st from information seemingly obtained Dec 20th from talking with Ken Hinton to met PJStar publishing deadline:

    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.

    “I would be highly reluctant to endorse that because of the fact that I think that we can probably do something better for our kids,” Hinton said.

    MDD: He (Hinton) said Glen Oak Primary School will not close, and he isn’t interested in using the primary school site for a new school.

    Hum, and the people are interested in what? A new school at the GOS site and are willing to pay for it.

    Your analysis and question — …. those same kids that you didn’t want to have a new school ….. everyone has always wanted to have a new school in the CORRECT plan for sound urban design.

    Trying something new is great, however if it is the wrong ‘new’ thing to try and we cannot obtain the results we are seeking, then we have gone nowhere. In this case, I believe that there is a huge scotoma or blindspot that because we have such poor prior examples of botched urban planning — think Valeska Hinton, etc. —- that many people have no faith the urban revitalization in the East Bluff is possible.

    That is why is absolutely critical for the healthy, stabilized and improved future of Peoria that we gather as a community and discuss these issues in as many forums as it takes to develop a plan that has community support and get the job done correctly.

    Are you willing to participate MMD?

  5. ATTAGIRL KARRIE!! YOU AND DOZENS OF OTHER LEADERS MADE THIS HAPPEN, CONGRATULATIONS. LET’S GET A SCHOOL IN THE RIGHT PLACE, FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, AND BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT A BLACK ISSUE, IT IS A BLACK, WHITE, BROWN AND YELLOW ISSUE. ALL THESE ETHNIC RACES ARE INVOLVED AND IT SHOULDN’T MAKE A DAMN DIFFERENCE WHICH YOU ARE. THAT PARK BELONGS TO EVERYONE, THAT SCHOOL BELONGS TO EVERYONE, AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ANY NEW DISCUSSIONS. MR. HNTON, PLEASE DON’T TAKE YOUR BALL AND GO HOME, USE YOUR SKILLS AND MAKE US PROUD AGAIN.

  6. MDD says, “Now, you are going to complain that those same kids that you didn’t want to have a new school won’t be getting a new school?”

    The issue is two-fold, MDD. (1) What should the site for the East Bluff K-8 school be, and (2) if the site is Frye/Wisconsin, can the existing building be rehabbed/expanded or does it need to be replaced?

    My position has always been that the Glen Oak School site is the best place for the school in the neighborhood, and I think the current building should be reused/expanded if possible. However, if they do a thorough evaluation of the building and determine it really is in too poor of shape to be reused, then by all means they should tear it down, but construct the new building on the same site.

    I would not characterize that position as “not wanting the children to have a new school.”

    You have to remember that these neighborhood organizations are not simply fighting against something, but for something. Their fight is not just “don’t put the school in the park,” but “please upgrade/replace the school in the middle of our neighborhood.” They want to work with the school board, et. al., on this project, but the school board so far has been working against them.

    The school board should do now what it should have done in the first place: listen to the needs and desires of the people who live in the East Bluff and cooperate with them on school improvement. This should be collaborative, not imposed from the top down.

  7. and CJ — Did you borrow someone’s crystal ball to accurately predict Mr. Hinton’s response?

  9. Thank you, Peoria Park Board, for voting to protect the park’s, and the citizens of Peoria’s, assets. It was the correct decision.

    To the Board of Education: perhaps next time, if there is a next time, you will think before you rubber stamp another one of Hinton’s after-the-fact requests for approval. In fact, it is the opinion of this writer that it is the appropriate time to require Hinton step down as superintendent effective immediately.

    Hinton’s presumptive irresponsible leadership has cost the district over $800,000 for the purchase of 14 parcels of real estate adjacent to Glen Oak Park for the express purpose of building a new Glen Oak School. This was a rash, irresponsible, and imprudent move to make before securing the formal agreement with the Park District Board. It could be argued that Hinton put at risk, and squandered, District assets; and for a district in as fragile financial condition as District #150, this is tantamount to professional malpractice.

    So, now what disposition will be made of the residential and commercial properties acquired by the District? Since the District does not have a financial surplus, they will have to liquidate these properties as soon as possible to recover their investment. Will they be able to recover the entire $800,000 or did they pay in excess of fair market value for these parcels, thereby having to sell them at a loss? Can the District legally continue to hold these properties indefinitely by renting them and paying taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance and repair costs? Rental management is not the District’s core business – education is. And, frankly, they are not succeeding in educating all of Peoria’s children.

    Hinton has put District #150 at risk. He has mismanaged the District’s assets and jeopardized the educational futures of the children of Peoria. If Hinton really has the best interest of the children of Peoria at heart, he will step down, now.

  10. PrairieCelt: Open government where elected officials and administrators read and follow the policies is critical to any city’s healthy future and here in Peoria too.

    This issue of the purchase of the properties by D150 and the actions of the OMA issue with the PPD has received coverage by the Illinois News Broadcasters Association in their June 2006 newsletter.

    http://www.inba.net/news/tune-0606.pdf —- page 4, right-hand column

    There is great responsibility to being an elected official and to having an open dialogue with your administrators and the proper checks and balances. So, now Peoria is under the microscope once again.

  11. gosh!!! Just because Hinton has shown the public that if he can’t cause Peoria taxpayers to suck up to his idea like he did to the school board comprised MOSTLY of idiots you are calling for him to step down? Well…all I can say is B R A V O !!!!!

    Not to dimish your thoughts, but I think the money wasted by Hinton – WITHOUT advance board approval was more like $877,500, but hey…with a guy like Cahill around I’ll bet he can get the PBC to hide enough dollars in some kind of funding so the “silly” Peoria taxpayers won’t have a clue!

    And lastly – when there is blood on the water like when District 150 has to sell those properties – which I believe were grossly overpriced when Hinton made his stupid move – who will buy them? The realtors who pocketed the commissions thus benefiting on those sales surely won’t step in for the second round. Even the monied developers who move in when they see the opportunities won’t – after all, how many more Walgreens etc want to go there?

    Yup, I agree, Ken Hinton should take his TWICE dipped pension benefit from District 150 PLUS his earnings while he worked as a major representative for Edison ( WHY don’t people remember that FACT?) and go home? He is not the beloved local AA like some people still want to believe! Ken – you owe it to Peoria to step down!^oo^~

  12. CJ: So if the BOE is married to the 15 acre concept, where in the city will the BOE get 15 acres unless it is at Von Steuben? Do you have any data on that aspect?

  13. Karrie,
    While that ground surrounding the administration building and Von Steuben appears large the majority of it is owned by the Park District. Besides I doubt the small acreage there would satisfy the huge ego that Hinton has for his birth to grade 8 multi complex/temple to his legacy that he has in mind! ^oo^~

  14. One Feral Kat: So are you going to borrow CJ’s crystal ball to provide the next predication that 15 acres is not needed at the new site, only at the GOS site or what does your crystal ball tell you?

  15. D150 should buy the rest of those properties and ask the city to change the zoning to commercial and then sell the lots at a profit. Then, the new urbanists can choke Prospect down to 1 lane each way, add a bunch of stop signs and plant trees in the median. Everyone happy then?

  16. MDD: Did someone put something awful in your eggnog or is it just this time of year that draws out the Bah Humbug in you?

  18. Pingback: Peoria Illinoisan » 2006 : A blogger year in review

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