Oswego's Third High School in Plainfield Nixed by Dist. 308 School Board

After months of discussion, debate and controversy, the board pulled the plug Monday on building a third high school in Plainfield.

Despite having site plans drafted and getting the 112-acre property to Plainfield, the board voted 5-1 to terminate all planning and design for the $105 million building.

Board member Dave Behrens cast the lone vote in favor of the new school. Board member Mike Scaramuzzi was absent.

The district paid $3.4 million to purchase the school site at Ridge and Plainfield roads in December 2010. The fallout was the ouster of three board members who supported building the new school in the April election.

The plan now is for the district to seek alternatives to ease school overcrowding, such as comparing costs for using Murphy Junior High School and the old Traughber Junior High School with building proposed additions to the two existing high schools.

Initial cost estimates for the additions came in at about $80 million.

“We have to have people that live in Oswego that can afford to live in Oswego, and at this point I don’t think we can afford a third high school on what my taxes went up without it,” board member Laurie Pasteris said.

“I think we need to utilize the buildings we have first,” board member Allison Swanson said.

Residents spoke out on both sides of the issue before the vote was taken. Those opposed to the 493,000-square foot high school cited increased taxes and school buildings that they said are underutilized.

“I would be all for a third high school if I really believed our community could afford it,” resident Nancy Mattson said.

“I look at my neighborhood and I see so many people who are so close to being homeless. I definitely want what’s best for our children but I believe a roof over their heads is just as important. We have to think about what’s going on in our economy today.”

Resident and former board member Leland Hoffer said times have changed “drastically” since the $450 million referendum was approved in 2006.

“Foreclosures far exceed building permits right now,” he said. “The election in April gave a mandate to the three new board members who said no to a new high school. The incumbents finished sixth and seventh in that particular race. The voters have spoken. I think you have a mandate to do what the voters want regardless of fact that there are some that would have it otherwise.”

Resident Russell Pietrowiak took issue with Hoffer's suggestion that the board has a mandate.

"Nobody has a mandate. What I would encourage you to do is have a better dialogue with the community," he said. "I encourage you to develop a way to have more forums or exchanges of ideas."

Resident Cheryl Carbone said while no one wants their taxes to go up, “doing nothing is not an option either.”

“The reality is when you live in a growing community taxes are going to go up,” she said. “I can’t think of any better investment than in our children. And for those people concerned about taxes going up and they don’t have skin in the game so to speak, I say to you with all due respect, someone foot the bill for your kid’s education. It’s time to return the favor.”

If the board wants to move ahead with additions, a decision would have to be made by the first board meeting in September, said Tim Neubaurer, assistant superintendent for business and finance.

The district still has the authority to sell about $246 million in bonds for construction but they must be purchased by Nov. 6 or they will expire, Neubauer said.

The district still holds about $10 million from $32 million in bonds sold in December.