D41 Officials Will ‘Keep the Door Open’ With Wheaton College, Hope to Negotiate
“District 41 Superintendent Ann Riebock said earlier this week she is “not surprised” Wheaton College is opposed to the district’s plan to buy college property for a new Hadley Junior High School site.
District 41 officials said the district might use eminent domain to acquire the 15-acre property after Wheaton College’s indication that the property is not for sale. Wheaton College earlier this week sent a release announcing its opposition to the Glen Ellyn School District 41 plan to acquire the college’s East Campus property, 1825 College Ave.
The college’s release read, “The district’s newsletter informs its constituents that if it initiates an eminent domain proceeding, it can ‘abandon the process at any point.’ This approach shows little consideration for the College’s rights and fails to recognize the potentially high cost of such a strategy.
“…In addition to being unfair, the District’s proposal is unwise. Wheaton College has significant, unique legal protections by virtue of its Charter from the State of Illinois, as well as Federal and State religious freedom rights.””
Erikson, Charlotte. GlenEllyn Patch 22 March 2013.