HIGHLAND PARK – The Park District of Highland Park notified North Shore District 112 of its intent to terminate a Memorandum of Understanding that both parties had entered into last January regarding that potential swap or purchase of land. Here is a statement read by North Shore School District 112 Board of Education President Michael Cohn at the November 3, 2015 Board of Education Committee of the Whole Meeting:
“As we continue to move forward with planning for a proposed middle school campus at the Red Oak/Sherwood site, North Shore District 112 has been in regular communication with the Park District of Highland Park regarding the potential swap or purchase of land to facilitate our development of enhanced fields and green space, as well as access drives to reduce traffic around the proposed middle school campus at the adjacent West Ridge property.
“Late last week, we were surprised and disappointed to receive a letter from the Park District notifying us of their intent to terminate a Memorandum of Understanding that both parties had entered into last January regarding that potential swap or purchase of land. Our ongoing dialogue with the Park District has also addressed the potential extension of an expired intergovernmental agreement between us that allows for the mutual rent-free use of
property and facilities for the benefit of our students and community. Today, we delivered to the Park District a communication seeking to renew that agreement for a ten-year period.
“As many of you are aware, a number of Park District summer camps and afterschool programs are housed at District 112 schools. This agreement formally allows that relationship, as well as school district use of Park District properties when the need arises for additional meeting space. The Memorandum of Understanding specifically called for our two bodies to explore the possible sale or exchange of “reasonably equivalent” property and services. To that end, we
have each gone so far as to secure appraisals for our own properties that might be of interest to the other party.
Specifically, these include:
- West Ridge, which is owned by the Park District. The full appraised value of the property as determined by the appraiser hired by the Park District is $3,958,000.
- Green Bay, which houses both the district’s early childhood program and administrative offices. This property, which is owned by the School District, has a full appraised value of $5.8 million, about $2 million more than the West Ridge property.
Based on this disparity in value, District 112 believes that a land swap of these two properties is
not feasible. As a result, today, District 112 instead tendered to the Park District a formal proposal that we believe meets the interests of both parties as expressed during our conversations. Our proposed offer to the Park District includes the following terms:
- A 10-year extension of our intergovernmental agreement that provides for the mutual, rent-free use of our facilities
That the Park District rescind its request to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding effective November 6.
That by November 16, the Park District sign an acknowledgement permitting the School District to use the West Ridge property in its Public Hearing Application to the Plan Commission, in order that planning for the property can move forward in a timely way. - That by November 16, the Park District and School district enter into a written agreement for the School District to acquire the West Ridge property for $3,958,000 , contingent upon this Board’s actions to place a referendum on the ballot and subsequent voter approval of the funding necessary to support the construction of the middle school
campus. - Finally, that the Park District be allowed to have full use of West Ridge School rent free for a five-year
period after the sale of the property, and to utilize the district’s Green Bay building rent free for a subsequent five-year period to facilitate the transition of the Park District’s administrative and programmatic operations.
“We are fortunate that Highland Park is a community that values both its schools and its parks. We believe the offer we delivered to the Park District today is fair and reasonable, and is in the best interests of the community. We are sharing this information with the public today in the interest of transparency and in the hopes of promoting continued intergovernmental cooperation regarding the use of public lands.
“It is our intent to remain in dialogue with the Park District to achieve a mutually acceptable solution that advances the interest of all parties, and to move forward with the planning for our proposed middle school campus even if we are unable to reach an agreement to purchase the West Ridge property.”
Submitted by the North Shore School District 112 administration