North Student Asks Lincoln-Way 210 BOE to Reconsider School Closing.

Sounding much wiser than his 15 years, Nick Forlenza stepped to the podium at Thursday's Board of Education Meeting at Lincoln-Way Central, and quietly shared thoughts that teenagers often keep to themselves.

Forlenza asked the Board of Education how members can "sleep at night knowing the profound negative impact this is having on the district." He went on to say he knows students from all over the district who are bearing this burden in silence, afraid to speak up.

Forlenza said he's learned some hard lessons about honesty and the results of bad decisions, and firmly requested that Board members re-vote and re-think the decision to close his school.

Forlenza's speech in full:

"Good evening, my name is Nick Forlenza and I’m a freshman at Lincoln-Way North.

Almost to the day, nine months ago, two of the current board members voted to close North making this its last year. I’m having a really difficult time accepting that your decision was made in only 99 days. North is an eight year old building and is clearly the most efficiently run building out of the four high schools because it’s newer and also has the highest occupancy level out of the four schools.

· How do you close a beautiful award-winning school without first exploring other options to save money and make it work with all four?

· Why would you close something that isn't even close to being paid off?

· How do you sleep at night knowing the profound negative impact this is having on the district?

· How can you let the halls of that beautiful school grow dark?

· How can you drain an Olympic-sized swimming pool and drill a hole straight through the bottom knowing it will still fall into disrepair?

All of us on the east side of the district are being crammed into East and forced to make do with fewer opportunities on teams, in musical groups and other extra-curricular activities. We’ll have a much larger student body than the other two schools and a lot less elbow-room.

Moving schools isn’t as easy as you may want to believe for the kids from Central, East, and North. I know tons of kids from all over the district who can’t bear the thought of having to go to a different school next year. I also know a lot of kids who just don’t want to talk about it because it may make them seem weak, or because they might show emotion they’re afraid to show. The problem here is we are only teenagers. We act like nothing bothers us because we want to believe we are invincible, but we aren’t.

Not a single day goes by where it doesn't cross my mind that you are shutting that building down. It simply does not make any sense. I haven’t found anyone outside of the district who understands why you would close a state-of-the-art school.

Mrs. Molinare, at the August 13th Board Meeting, you stated yourself that the decision had to be the best financial decision, and all emotional ties had to be cut. You also stated that it had to be the decision that displaces the least amount of students. If this is how you really felt, why don’t you make a motion to rescind the vote on the decision to shut down a school? It’s pretty clear to me at only 15 years old that this is NOT the best financial decision…and it’s a plain fact that it displaces the most students.

I have friends who have decided not to participate in activities next year because they don’t want to compete with the masses we’ll have at East. Why will our school have the most crowded conditions…by far? I have friends who have told me the horror stories about the overcrowding at East in the past.

Again I’m only 15, but I’ve attended every board meeting since the start of this whole thing. Unless it conflicted with something for school, I was here. I’m just starting to understand the world and this will forever make a lasting impact on me as well as many other Lincoln-Way kids. I’ve learned a lot from this experience. For instance:

· People you expect to be honest are not always honest

· People in power don’t always make the best decisions

· People in power for long periods of time tend to abuse it and just want more

· Elected officials don’t always make decisions based on the best interest of the people who voted them in

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY....

· Making a decision that affects the well-being of thousands deserves A LOT OF TIME and consideration to make SURE you get it right

This is not over yet. I have not accepted that you will close North. It does not have to end like this. This story is not finished. The six of you are at the controls of this train. You can choose to run it as fast as you can off the cliff, or you can pull the brakes. Think…you can put an end to everyone's pain in just a few days. Think of the joy you would bring to the people of this district. It certainly does not fix everything, but it would be the start of making this district what it once was, and I know everyone would help to move forward.

For every student that feels the same way I do, and every parent that just wants the best for their children, I ask that you re-vote and stop the closing of North. Take a step back and take a proper look at ALL of your options. All it takes is a simple “Aye.”

Thank You."