Tim Kotzian-led Coalition for Community Schools receives another setback

Cook News Herald Article: (8/6/10)
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html

The Coalition for Community Schools led by Tower City Clerk/Treasurer Tim Kotzian and Mayor Stephen Abramson received another setback in their opposition to the reorganization plans of ISD 2142. These plans call for a new North and a new South School, remodeling of the Babbitt-Embarrass and Cherry schools and the Tower-Soudan School remodeled into a K-6 school. Last December, voters in ISD 2142 approved the $78.8 million bond referendum to pay for this by a 51 to 49 margin.
Kotzian's group appealed a ruling by Barbara Hayden, a director in the St. Louis County Planning and Development Department, when she said the planned school in the south qualified for permitted use in the Forest Agriculture Management area and could be considered for conditional use. The Kotzian group wanted to appeal this ruling and had 45 days to do so. The ruling was given on March 25, 2010, at a County Planning and Zoning meeting open to the public. This decision was recorded on April 15.
A letter was sent to the Kotzian group on July 26, along with the $1,000 check that had been sent, informing them that the 45-day requirement had gone by so their appeal was shot down.
It was noted in the letter that other conditional uses for FAM land include landfills, slaughterhouses, airports, racetracks and feedlots.
Copies of this letter were sent to Kevin Gray, St. Louis County Administrator; Melanie Ford, St. Louis County Attorney; the St. Louis County Planning Commission; the St. Louis County Board of Adjustment; St. Louis County Commissioners; and ISD 2142.

Joint Power Agreement fails / 2142 School District Finances

There is some interesting information in the Cook News Herald this week again.

-The Coalition for Community Schools' proposal for a Joint Powers Agreement failed for lack of a motion. Problems hadn't been addressed,goals were unclear,control of assets were part of the 20 issues with problems.

- County Schools to be on thin ice financially after 2011. The Administration and School Board for the ISD 2142 St. Louis County Schools will be treading on thin ice after the 2011 school year according to figures released showing their budget and fund balances. If the new construction is completed in time and the anticipated savings are correct, the district should be safe. But if this decline in funds keeps going, the future is bleak.

To read the full stories visit the Cook News Herald Online:
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html