Efforts With LTHS 'In Vain': Pleasantdale Schools

LA GRANGE, IL – Burr Ridge-based Pleasantdale School District 107 has declared its efforts to find common ground with Lyons Township High School to be "in vain."

Early Thursday evening, the boards for both entities issued dueling statements about the high school's plan to sell its 71 acres in Willow Springs to an industrial developer.

Pleasantdale Elementary School is next to the wooded land. Like its neighbors, it objects to industrial uses on the property.

But in its statement, the high school indicated it would press ahead.

It disputed arguments from District 107, Pleasant Dale Park District and the village of Willow Springs that they were left out of the loop until Nov. 30, when the high school announced its interest in selling.

In its statement, the high school said it received a letter of interest from Bridge Industrial, the high bidder, last March. (It first publicly acknowledged the letter earlier this week to Patch.) The school said it needed to conduct "due diligence" before selling.

During the exploratory period, the high school board said it communicated with the village, the park district and the elementary district.

The board said it had discussed the due diligence process during both open and closed meetings over the eight months.

However, Patch found no references to the Willow Springs property on the board's meeting agendas in the eight months. The issue could have been brought up in passing.

The high school board also said it never refused meetings with the other entities, despite the village's assertion to the contrary.

Instead, the high school said, it offered alternative dates and times to discuss the status of the sale. It said it expected further talks once a final buyer is identified and under contract.

"The (high school) Board believes strongly in making decisions that positively impact all students in our school community, and does not place the specific interests of any one community over the others," the board said.

In its later statement, the Pleasantdale District 107 board said the high school's latest message makes clear the high school will move forward "as it deems is in its best interest without collaboration from its partners."

The school said its efforts to bring the high school and other affected parties to the table have been unsuccessful.

"It is clear that our efforts to be proactive, collaborative, and discuss the potential impact and possible solutions have not been persuasive and have been in vain," the Pleasantdale board said. "(The high school's) statement is a clear indication of where they stand in relation to this issue. It has been our intention to do everything we can to partner with the High School to find solutions that can be mutually beneficial."

The high school's property is southwest of 79th Street and Willow Springs Road. It is surrounded by homes, Pleasantdale Elementary, a park, a country club and a UPS facility.

On Monday, the school board rejected the two bids for the property, but the board president said the school would continue to negotiate.

The village said it would not allow industrial zoning on the property.