LTHS Officials To Attend Willow Springs Meeting

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School officials plan to attend a Willow Springs town hall next week focused on the high school's land in the village.

At a school board meeting this week, Superintendent Brian Waterman announced that he, business official Brian Stachacz, the school's lawyer and board Vice President Jill Grech plan to attend the town hall.

The village's consultant plans to present the findings of a study on the "highest and best use" of the school's 70 acres.

Earlier this year, the school tried selling the land to an industrial developer, even though the village banned industrial uses for the area in question.

Recordings of closed meetings revealed board members strategizing to keep the village of Willow Springs out of the loop for as long as possible.

After the controversy erupted, village officials objected to the high school's handling of the matter, with Village President Melissa Neddermeyer calling for Waterman's ouster.

In March, the high school abandoned the effort, a few weeks before the school board election.

Apparent tensions linger between the village and the high school. As recently as September, school board members publicly debated whether Waterman should even send an email updating the village on the school's approach to the land.

Waterman and other officials have attended Willow Springs meetings before about the land.

The town hall is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Willow Springs Village Hall, 1 Village Circle.