Jim Mason Letter to Parents and Tax Payers Of District 428 I went to the school board meeting Tuesday night and learned that the Board has 2 options on the table. First, they agreed to buy the NIU Nursing Building located on North Normal Road for $1.87 Million Dollars and remodel the site for $44 Million. The second option was to build on a 12 acre lot donated by old friends of mine at Normal Road and Dresser Road and then spend $40 Million at that site. The reason for all this new construction is that the Board was told that all classrooms should have no more than 25 students, down from 30 or more in each classroom now. Well if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. When I was in 6th grade at Whittier School in Oak Park we had 30 or more students in each classroom and I turned out ok. Not only were the classrooms full but I walked 2 miles to and from school each day. Rain, snow, or shine. A survey just found out that 70% of young men are physically and mentally unfit for military duty. Let's take a step back. In my opinion the presentation Tuesday night was excellent and kudos to the Board for all of their hard work. There is only one problem. With only 1 or 2 new houses being built in DeKalb per year we do not need any more new school buildings. Northern Illinois University has thousands of square feet of empty classrooms, offices, and kitchen services available to lease. College students have left, K-12 students and single parent families are starting to live in the old college students apartments from University Village to Dresser Road. From what I heard on Tuesday night enrollment has flattened out and there is no need for more school buildings especially with the old Camelot School available which has a capacity for an additional 800 students and is structurally ready to go. The only concern about the Camelot Building is the lack of playground space. The two parking lots for the building are concrete and not grass. An easy and cost effective resolution would be to find and purchase AstroTurf for about $25,000 and some paint to convert some of the parking lot space to playground space. This will be a much cheaper option than spending $44 Million to build and maintain a new building. Forever. Let's review. The only reason for the $40-$50 Million in new construction is $69 Million that Biden administration gave to all these school Districts around the country was to create phony jobs to the local power structure. IE: Unions Folks and other likeminded people. There is little profit in renovation work so the big money is in new construction when pay outs are hard to track. So let's not build buildings we don't need. Biden is not a Dummy. The more money he prints the more votes he gets. District 428's piggybank is going to waste if they don't spend it. Let's pay down $50 Million in District 428's school debt we currently have and show the world DeKalb is a good steward of the tax payer's money. Conclusion: 1. No Need for a new school building with Camelot schools capacity of 800 students. That will take care of any new students if they actually show up. X. * PATTE M M N TINT N TE panty Hal -193 M K LE 13 Day!!! Interior Space Layout - Main Floor BAIE REFOR The Interior Space Layout - Lower Level QUERIES x N BAR A IK Site Areal PAID ADVERTISEMENT SACEPTYP N IN LM IN Gross Space Layout - Main Floor MA A-2 2. If Camelot playground is not good enough lease all 428 needs from Northern Illinois University. Pritzker says he always wants to help. Now is the time. 3. Use the federal money to pay off existing debt. Not buildings we do not need. Lastly, Derek Van Buer just told my guests on my radio show that NIU can't sell the Nursing Building on Normal Road anyway because the State of Illinois Statues states it has to be vacant and therefore District 428 won't be buying the Nursing School any time soon. Since there is no need for new school buildings in DeKalb and Camelot School is ready to go and NIU has thousands of square feet available for student use. Let's take most of the $69 Million and pay down the school debt as soon as possible. Save enough cash to fix depreciated out buildings and other worn-out infrastructure. Most important is that the School Board invite and request local contractors to bid all the work small and large necessary to repair the District back to tip top condition. Union or no union we are all tax payers together. Let's say the board says the heck with Jim Mason's offer. If the Board does decide to build they will still need a buffer for students and staff if construction doesn't go the way they want. The way things are going these days it could take 3-5 years to build anything. I ought to know I am building now. There are not enough contractors and workers to expedite. My advice since Camelot and NIU space are available, pay down school debt and lower the school debt which will make DeKalb a more desirable place to live. Some people ask me why do I spend so much time and money on school and City pursuits in DeKalb. It is because as Minnie Minoso 1951 Chicago's first black major league baseball player said, baseballs been very very good to me. Well DeKalb has been very good to me and my family. People have noticed I have mastered the art of the deal a long time ago and I try to share that success along the way. You can't take it with you. Sincerely, James Mason Mason Properties (815)901-4309 Jim Mason Letter to Parents and Tax Payers Of District 428 I went to the school board meeting Tuesday night and learned that the Board has 2 options on the table . First , they agreed to buy the NIU Nursing Building located on North Normal Road for $ 1.87 Million Dollars and remodel the site for $ 44 Million . The second option was to build on a 12 acre lot donated by old friends of mine at Normal Road and Dresser Road and then spend $ 40 Million at that site . The reason for all this new construction is that the Board was told that all classrooms should have no more than 25 students , down from 30 or more in each classroom now . Well if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you . When I was in 6th grade at Whittier School in Oak Park we had 30 or more students in each classroom and I turned out ok . Not only were the classrooms full but I walked 2 miles to and from school each day . Rain , snow , or shine . A survey just found out that 70 % of young men are physically and mentally unfit for military duty . Let's take a step back . In my opinion the presentation Tuesday night was excellent and kudos to the Board for all of their hard work . There is only one problem . With only 1 or 2 new houses being built in DeKalb per year we do not need any more new school buildings . Northern Illinois University has thousands of square feet of empty classrooms , offices , and kitchen services available to lease . College students have left , K - 12 students and single parent families are starting to live in the old college students apartments from University Village to Dresser Road . From what I heard on Tuesday night enrollment has flattened out and there is no need for more school buildings especially with the old Camelot School available which has a capacity for an additional 800 students and is structurally ready to go . The only concern about the Camelot Building is the lack of playground space . The two parking lots for the building are concrete and not grass . An easy and cost effective resolution would be to find and purchase AstroTurf for about $ 25,000 and some paint to convert some of the parking lot space to playground space . This will be a much cheaper option than spending $ 44 Million to build and maintain a new building . Forever . Let's review . The only reason for the $ 40- $ 50 Million in new construction is $ 69 Million that Biden administration gave to all these school Districts around the country was to create phony jobs to the local power structure . IE : Unions Folks and other likeminded people . There is little profit in renovation work so the big money is in new construction when pay outs are hard to track . So let's not build buildings we don't need . Biden is not a Dummy . The more money he prints the more votes he gets . District 428's piggybank is going to waste if they don't spend it . Let's pay down $ 50 Million in District 428's school debt we currently have and show the world DeKalb is a good steward of the tax payer's money . Conclusion : 1. No Need for a new school building with Camelot schools capacity of 800 students . That will take care of any new students if they actually show up . X. * PATTE M M N TINT N TE panty Hal -193 M K LE 13 Day !!! Interior Space Layout - Main Floor BAIE REFOR The Interior Space Layout - Lower Level QUERIES x N BAR A IK Site Areal PAID ADVERTISEMENT SACEPTYP N IN LM IN Gross Space Layout - Main Floor MA A - 2 2. If Camelot playground is not good enough lease all 428 needs from Northern Illinois University . Pritzker says he always wants to help . Now is the time . 3. Use the federal money to pay off existing debt . Not buildings we do not need . Lastly , Derek Van Buer just told my guests on my radio show that NIU can't sell the Nursing Building on Normal Road anyway because the State of Illinois Statues states it has to be vacant and therefore District 428 won't be buying the Nursing School any time soon . Since there is no need for new school buildings in DeKalb and Camelot School is ready to go and NIU has thousands of square feet available for student use . Let's take most of the $ 69 Million and pay down the school debt as soon as possible . Save enough cash to fix depreciated out buildings and other worn - out infrastructure . Most important is that the School Board invite and request local contractors to bid all the work small and large necessary to repair the District back to tip top condition . Union or no union we are all tax payers together . Let's say the board says the heck with Jim Mason's offer . If the Board does decide to build they will still need a buffer for students and staff if construction doesn't go the way they want . The way things are going these days it could take 3-5 years to build anything . I ought to know I am building now . There are not enough contractors and workers to expedite . My advice since Camelot and NIU space are available , pay down school debt and lower the school debt which will make DeKalb a more desirable place to live . Some people ask me why do I spend so much time and money on school and City pursuits in DeKalb . It is because as Minnie Minoso 1951 Chicago's first black major league baseball player said , baseballs been very very good to me . Well DeKalb has been very good to me and my family . People have noticed I have mastered the art of the deal a long time ago and I try to share that success along the way . You can't take it with you . Sincerely , James Mason Mason Properties (815)901-4309