[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: What's Happening with Pilgrim Lane?

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
What's Happening with Pilgrim Lane?
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1236809192.shtml


   I was unable to attend the District 281 [1]School Board Work Session
   held Saturday, March 7, but there is a summary posted at their web
   site. Those following the Pilgrim Lane / Beacon Academy issue should
   note this paragraph:

     Superintendent Stan Mack presented a list of pros and cons to
     leasing Pilgrim Lane Elementary School to Beacon Academy for the
     2009-10 school year. Board members discussed pros and cons, offers
     for use of district facilities by other organizations, and the
     proposed process for divestiture of surplus facilities. The board
     generally agreed that they are too many unknowns at this time to
     lease Pilgrim Lane Elementary School for the 2009-10 school year.
     At this time, it is not known how many organizations might be
     interested in leasing the building. Leasing the building would also
     limit the districtâs flexibility for district use of facilities
     next year, and would undermine the work of the Divestiture Advisory
     Committee.

   First, when would you ever know "how many organizations might be
   interested" in leasing Pilgrim Lane Elementary? A lot of things
   interest me that I can't afford the time or money to explore. The only
   offers that matter are the ones on the table, which at the moment is
   the one from Beacon Academy.
   The assertion that leasing precludes "district use" is really
   mysterious. What use? Are not all bases covered today? Does not the
   adopted Facilities Plan cover them tomorrow, even if they can't all be
   moved to Sandburg over the summer? Such a use for Pilgrim Lane would
   have to be brand new.
   I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but the Board could be treating
   this question a little more transparently. I agree there are unknowns,
   but one known is the lost income from leasing to Beacon Academy. Given
   the economy in general and the facility in particular, this is the
   only viable use of this property short term.

References

   1. http://www.rdale.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=88410