Facebook Friday: Patch Readers React to Closing of Central School

Here at Lemont Patch, Facebook is a big deal.

Not only does Facebook allow me to share stories and quick updates, but it allows me to interact with readers, answer questions and see what the community thinks about some of the biggest issues in town.

This week, we jumped to 709 fans, becoming the first Patch site in the Chicago region to cross the 700 mark! We love and appreciate all the support, so we hope you'll continue to share our Facebook page with friends.

Every Friday, we'll highlight some of the comments on our page, and we'll even share some of our community pages.

Following the unanimous vote Monday by the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education to close Central School, readers took to our Facebook page to chime in on the decision:

• Robyn Rehor Horn: Not looking forward to telling my girls in the morning. I'll have hte kleenex nearby. I hope this shows the community that the board is acting fiscally responsible and that we do indeed NEED MORE INCOME!! I think if the community could see our kids faces, they would see how much we're all sacrificing.

• Rich Rinchich: Amanda...many of us in the community knew this was inevitable when the referendum lost. Many parents are and many kids will be upset with the closing of Central. Members of our community turned their backs on our children when they voted "n...o" for the referendum. Sure they voted in four new school board members...but without the funds from the referendum, the B of Ed does not have the tools to do the job. Cuts are the only way to stabilize the district finances. Those who voted against the referendum are now as equally responsible for the district's financial problems as those who deficit spent us into this mess.

• Rich Rinchich: I think the true impact of the district's financial situation was realized by Aurelio and Malley at last Thursday's special BoE meeting. This is why the executive session ran so long tonight...what if and how about this? Which needed to be played out so all members of the BoE were unified on the plan of action. When was the last time a Dist. 113a BoE vote was 7-0?

• Marilou Purpura: We are going around in circles with our heads cut off----why in the world did they spend______________ to fix central up if they were going to close it? Who did we hire, who did the work, where did the money go? NOW 5th grade is going to... go school with 8th graders? The Maturity level is so different....oh lets cut teachers so there is even less people watching these kids....oh and lets not give buss service so they can beat each other up on the way home....I say no thank you.

• Holly Van Howe: My 10 year old cried when I told him the news! I guess the school board and people that voted NO don't really care.

• Angie Lara Sojka: I'm curious to see what the drop / off & pick up plan will be for next year. Not only are they adding Central children to the line but they cut bus service to Covington Knolls & Abbey Oaks. That will add 247 children to car rider line.

• Catherine Dopak Stukel: We're not closing down the people - just the building. The same great community exists - its just a building. If your kids are crying over a building - tell them that - "its just a building" --your friends are still your friends. Your neighbors are still your neighbors. It's a great place to live - and we are tightening our belts

• Marilou Purpura: ‎@Angie, yours is not the only bus service that was cut, there is other bus routes I believe 4 that was cut...

• Angie Lara Sojka: The thing that concerns me most Marilou, is that while there was bus service cut to Old Quarry Middle School it is service for 6, 7, & 8th graders. The service that was cut for Covington Knolls & Abbey Oaks is for K - 4. While I'm not happy... about any service being cut, 5 yr old children walking 1.49 miles to school, where 3/4 of a mile sidewalk has no homes or business with a front entryway for them to seek help (in the event they need it) is of great concern to me. I just hope they can come up with a "safe" route for these extremely young children.

• Holly Van Howe: @Catherine--Maybe you want to tell my 10 year old not to cry because his school is 'just a building?' How about some compassion and understanding??

• Peggy Ilievski Grubb: Holly-my 8 year old is heartbroken too. We had a good cry this morning.

• Chris Rinchich: Also @Catherine: I'd be interested to know how all the school restructuring has effected you as a parent of a parochial school student in our town. Please don't think I'm being snarky, that is not my intent; but I'm really curious about your thoughts.

This week's Facebook Page of the Week goes to the Front Street Cantina. The page is a great way to keep up with daily specials and deals. This weekend, the restaurant is offering a 10 percent discount to anyone who brings in their tickets to the Lemont High School musical, Singin' in the Rain.