LFTennis.Com

For those interested in the details, the links above provide YouTube videos of the actual meeting and the links to the left will provide a more detailed analysis of the issues. The “short and sweet” version contains three main elements:

1) College Park will now pay $10 per court hour

2) College Park will no longer barter for “in kind” services providing much more transparency to the relationship

3) College Park pros, as well as any others, will not be allowed to teach private lessons on District 115 tennis courts. READ FULL TEXT 

I had a phone conversation with Harry Griffith yesterday. He would like for the "interested parties," i.e. College Park, Dan Bruch, Ray Murphy and Steve Wild to meet with the Operations Committee of the School Board to craft a solution. The meeting will take place before the October School Board meeting the findings of which will be presented at that meeting. In the meantime, there will be no West Campus Tennis Update at the September meeting.

As I mentioned in my last update, both Superintendent Harry Griffith and President Sharon Golan handled the July meeting very well and the idea of meeting with the operations committee is a good first step in developing a reasonable use for the West Campus Tennis Courts. I will continue to keep you posted. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Despite the location change and early hour, the school board seemed to handle the July 14, 2008 meeting very well. Both Superintendent Griffith and President Golan did a masterful job of handling a tough assignment. All board members listened intently as several College Park members, owners and staff all shared their views in support of the current College Park Contract. An equal number of Lake Forest concerned citizens addressed the board in favor of having the contract set aside.

The College Park arguments are essentially:

1.      We are experts and have thoroughly researched the market and when you know what we do, you will see that this is the best deal you can get, so there is no reason to go out to bid, and there is no problem with the contract.

2.      Courts are always available so there is no problem with the contract.

3.      I really like College Park, so there is no problem with the contract

4.      We have a lot of Lake Forest members, so there is no problem with the contract

5.      The 20 plus court deficit doesn’t exist, so there is no problem with the contract.

6.      The courts aren’t really worth 2M, so there is no problem with the contract.

The Opposition believes there is a problem with the contract because it:

1.      Was not put out for bid

2.      Shuts local business owners out of the process and violates “Shop Local First,” by favoring non-taxpayers over tax payers.

3.      Allows pros to teach privately on our courts with no court fee or certificate of insurance

4.      Lacks transparency, i.e. Freedom of Info Request needed to even see it

5.      Allows College Park to determine who uses the courts

6.      Does not take park programs into consideration

7.      Lacks board approval

8.      Allows College Park to by pass competitive bidding for resurfacing

9.      Allows College Park to pay well below market value for the courts

10.  Ties up our courts for nine years

11.  Only requires College Park to resurface every 9 years instead of every 5 to match the “useful life” of the resurfacing.

12.  Only obligates College Park to provide indoor courts “when available”

Although not exactly a “handshake,” Dr. Griffith was correct in his assertion that the College Park Contract is not LEAGALLY BINDING, because it lacks board approval. The board will have to define the College Park relationship and as President Golan mentioned in her closing remarks, will have to respond formally to those who signed the letter asking that the contract be disregarded.

According to Dr. Griffith’s closing remarks, it is the school board’s serve; let’s see what they come up with. The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday Sept 9 2008 7 PM at the West Campus, but President Golan has promised a response to the resident’s letter in compliance with the 60 day response time required by law.

In what appears to be a highly unusual move, the school board has changed their meeting time from 7:00 PM to 8:00 AM. As the high school website indicates the meeting time for all of next year as well as all of the current year has been 7:00 PM. Also please note that the meeting location has also changed to the West Campus. You may wish to send your school board an e-mail asking them why they are meeting at 8:00 AM instead of 7:00 PM. School Board Membes are: Sharon Golan President, Marilyn Harlow, Vice-President, Richard Block, Secretary, Todd Burgener, Jim Carey, John Scribner, and Nicki Snoblin. For those wishing to speak with Superintendent Harry Griffith his phone number is 847 604 7401 and e-mail hgriffi@d115.org.