Roosevelt Exterior Plan Update
Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, and Staff,
As you may be aware, District 90 has been working over the last 14 months on a proposed plan to improve the exterior site of Roosevelt Middle School. The main objectives for this plan were to address the functionality of the site, improve student safety, and make the campus easier to navigate for visitors and community members. A more minor aspect of the plan included landscaping related to the repair of areas that would be disrupted by the construction.
The plan was the result of much work by an ad hoc facility committee that included parents, District 90 administrators, and members of the Roosevelt faculty and staff. Over the last several weeks, the proposed project has become a significant focus within the River Forest community, and many different constituencies and individuals have shared their concerns about various aspects of the proposal. At the Committee of the Whole Meeting on March 7, the Board of Education elected to forgo initiating the project this summer in order to consider more stakeholder input and possible alternate solutions that might be employed in achieving the project's goals.
While opinions about the project have varied widely, several common themes have surfaced. These themes include the universal value that our community holds for the well-being of our children, the importance placed on responsible financial stewardship, and the continuing desire for open and effective communication. As we move forward in considering the merits of the proposed Roosevelt project in more detail, I see these themes representing the "common ground" on which we are fortunate to have so much agreement.
Please be assured that we will keep these shared values in the forefront while we further engage the community about this project in the coming months. It is our sincere hope that expanded dialogue might open new pathways to explore or yield alternate solutions to the project's objectives. At the very least, it should go a long way to further our mutual understanding about the relevant benefits and concerns.
Whether the comments expressed about the proposed Roosevelt project were favorable or unfavorable, we are grateful that so many families and residents were willing to engage on the subject and share their input. We will be looking forward to hearing more from the community as we solicit additional feedback in the months ahead. At any time, I hope you will feel comfortable contacting me directly at (708) 771-8282 or [email protected] with your thoughts, questions, or concerns.
Lastly, we have created a page on the District website, where we will post updates and new information as it becomes available. As always, thank you for your support for our students and our schools.
Respectfully,
Edward Condon, Ph.D.
Superintendent