From the Journal Star:
The Peoria Park Board late Wednesday rejected a
Glen Oak School site by a 4-3 margin, apparently ending the District 150 School Board’s efforts to place a new school there.Had the Park Board approved the site – 10 acres of land inside and adjacent to Glen Oak Park – it still one have had one more hurdle to clear. An intergovermental agreement would have been crafted, and both boards would have had to approve that as well.
Further details were sketchy at 9 p.m., and it was unclear what the school district’s next move, if any, would be.
I would have bet cash money the fix was in.
Well, the Journal Star’s award winning editorial board today urged the parties involved to decide once and for all. I guess they did, but not the way the JS wanted.
UPDATE: Here is WMBD 1470’s take.
UPDATE 2: So, now Superintendent Ken Hinton is threatening to retaliate against the East Bluff by moving the school even further away from the heart of the neighborhood. What a petty, petty man. Concern for the students doesn’t seem to be atop his agenda now, does it?
UPDATE 3: WEEK has a story, with a good quote from Park Board President Tim Cassidy.
UPDATE 4: JS reporter Clare Jellick shares her “leftover notes.” Kudos for a good use of a j-blog.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Wow! I really thought this ‘School in the Park’ would happen.
How many citizens showed up at the park board meeting?
It seems at least ONE elected body is listening to their constituents. However, a 4-3 margin is pretty.
It’ll be interesting to see what Round 2 looks like – because you know this issue isn’t dead yet.
Bill,
as you know, the controvesy with the project was the site. Several neighborhood leaders and others had discussions this evening. NOw that site at the park has been decided, we would like to be able to work together with the city, the park board and the school district to pool resources and ideas to make a new school at the current site not only a reality, but everything and more of the initial proposal.
Paul
What’s your source for Update 2?
Click on the JS link at the beginning of the post. They updated it.
From the PJS:
“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 sez: Man, this guy JUST DOESN’T GET IT.
I think Hinton does “get it”. The vocal ones did such a nice job opposing the new school that Hinton isn’t going to bother wasting any more of his or the district’s efforts to help that area of the community. He will direct his efforts for a new school with new and innovative programs towards an area that will embrace change.
“Be careful what you wish for” comes to mind right now.
MDD, I guess you don’t “get it” either. The man is a public servant, employed by the Board of Education. Listening to the public is part of the job.
MDD,
no one opposed the project, only the site. The desire is to make it part of the center of the community additionally the heartland clinic and the expansion of the boy’s and girl’s club would further help the entire area, children included. Additionally, comments made on another location about Neighborhood Association leaders speaking for only a few people. Possibly. It depends on who shows up to vote on issues and who bothers to contact their leaders. Associations send out newsletters, ours goes out monthly. Those who give input, get a voice, just like government, those who take the time to vote, get voice. If you dont have an association you’re welcome to come to ours. you won’t have a vote unless you live within our boundaries or own property within our boundaries, but you have a voice. We have others from nearby areas where there are not associations come to get information and speak their peace and to share thoughts and ideas. I therefore challenge you to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. At last night’s Park Board meeting I had a gentleman ask me what I was doing on to help and represent the South side. He claimed that the Neighborhood Alliance didn’t. I don’t live on the South side, but I pick up trash there with projects, I have patrolled the streets there as a Guardian Angel, and am talking with other neighborhood leaders, city council, and city staff about issues there. My thoughts went to what this gentleman was doing himself. There was much complaining, but little action. This school is needed. It is needed in the current location. Mr. Manning last night at the Park Board meeting again noted that the city was still at the table to discuss ways to move ahead at the current site, Neighborhood leaders are willing as well. It’s not Mr. Hinton’s School, tax dollars, land resources, or children, except as the same member of the public as everyone else. We got what was wished for, the park as is, now it is time to roll up the same sleeves and work together to make the project in the current site a reality. You’re welcome to join in those efforts.
You can hear WCBU’s report from Tanya Koonce on this issue (about five minutes of .mp3) at:
http://www.bradley.edu/irt/wcbu/audio/GOP.MP3
Or click
http://www.wcbufm.org/news/news1.htm
and follow the to the story.
The .mp3 is fully downloadable.
HOORAY FOR THE COURAGE OF FOUR PARK BOARD MEMBERS!! HOORAY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAD COURAGE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS!! NOW LET’S GET THE ACT TOGETHER AND GET A NEW SCHOOL IN THE CENTER OF THE EAST BLUFF, CUT OUT ALL THIS RACIAL TALK OF ROSS AND PETTY, FINALLY LISTEN TO DON JACKSON AND DO SOMETHINGTHE RIGHT WAY- WITH CITIZEN INPUT BEFORE THE FACT.
MDD, I echo what Anon said. There are so many problems with what Mr. Hinton said, starting with the fact that which schools get closed/rebuilt is not his decision, but the Board of Education’s. How presumptuous of him to declare that Glen Oak would remain open and another community would get a new school without having received any direction from the board.