D-300 mad at Sears

When I read in today's Northwest Herald again about the hand-out being awaited by District 300 when the Sears property in Hoffman Estates is to go onto the tax rolls, I just had to laugh. District Superintendent Michael Bregy is quoted as saying, "It is absolutely unacceptable that District 300 continues to be left out of these incredibly important conversations" at the state level. His nose is out of joint because Sears Chief Executive Office Louis D'Ambrosio and Illinois Senator John Cullerton got together for a pow-wow without him.

I was reminded of Mrs. Slocum in the old British comedy, Are You Being Served? She would say something like that, too. "It is absolutely unacceptable that District 300 continues to be left out, and I am unanimous in that!"

Does Supt. Bregy have any business experience besides running a school district? District 300 should have known for years that Sears would pull a stunt like it is. Legislators should have expected it, when they made the tax deal at the beginning of the "Economic Development Area" deal. Sears must certainly have had planners, who were thinking to end of the deal and how they were going to avoid go on the tax rolls.

The school district is dealing with cut-throat businessmen who represent stockholders who will demand the highest return on their investment in Sears (Kmart). For anyone to think that Sears Holding Corp. will "play nice" and just cough up $13,000,000/year without a fight is just plain naive.

Hoffman Estates doesn't want that building at 3333 Beverly Road empty. What community wants another white elephant standing in its territory? Take a ride by the former Motorola plant in Harvard, if you think that Sears isn't going to make a deal that it likes.

District 300 has done without the $13,000,000 for how many years?

Why should Sears care about 21,000 students spread out far away from its headquarters? Does District 300 think any of its students will become Sears customers, if Sears gives up without a fight? The article says, "Sears executives told us (Bregy and crew) a few months ago that they would keep our students in mind when contemplating their options."

Where do you see any commitment in that statement?

The school district seems to be out on the field for badminton. It had better wake up and realize the game is rugby!