Resident Diane Koban:  "The City of Victoria has helped to build the schools in this District.  We are one family.  Chaska is like the big brother who came in and took our school.  I'm here to ask you to be even braver.  You can be Solomon or Donald Trump.  You can be gracious or salacious.  We could be one big happy family again."
Resident Paula Zypful:  "The reason I sit in front of you tonight is not because I am a Victoria resident or a taxpayer, but a parent.  Relationships need mending.  This whole process is letting our children down.  It's moving in a backward direction.  In a rush to get this school built, mistakes are being made.  As a parent I want what's best for my children, and what's best is for the elementary school to be built in Victoria.  Deep in my heart I feel we must do what's best for the children of Victoria and all the children of the District."

At this point, school board member Brad Johnson made a motion to reconsider the vote of January 14^th.  Board member Dick Tirk seconded the motion.  Board member Gino Businaro objected to the reconsideration because "it's not on the agenda."  Each of the school board members then addressed its Victoria audience.
Brad Johnson, board member:  "I'm not necessarily in favor of the motion … Personally, I'll vote against the motion.  I still think we did the wrong thing, but that's life.  I have to go along with the majority decision the last two times.  We cannot set a policy of reconsideration of major issues.  We cannot drag things out, as a matter of principle.  We've learned quite a few lessons in this process.  We've made decisions that indicate there'll be a school in Victoria.  I'd like to hear the rest of the board speak their piece."
Gino Businaro, board member:  "No matter where we put the school, the children will be served.  Every day we find out how hard it is to find land for schools.  I would say the silent majority will say how well did we use our resources.  We cannot go on like this to do the District's business.  I'm sure we all think about the conse-quences if we change the decision.  We've made commitments."
Caroline Ness, board member:  "We all admit we failed on the process and we'll learn from that.  I truly believe we'll have a school built in Victoria.  I've lost a lot of sleep over this.  I wouldn't want to be in your shoes either.  I've heard the comment that District #112 won't support a referendum for a school in Victoria, but I believe it will.  Our entire community will all be there to support it."
Mary Welch, board member:  "Thank you for concerns expressed."
Steve Peterson, board member:  "I've bit my tongue, but now I'm going to break that.  Our families come first.  This board comes second."  [Regarding the absence of board member Caroline Ness from a past meeting which result-ed in a tie vote.  She was at a hockey game.  The board also did not resched-ule its meeting time or date to accommodate a full vote.]
Dick Tirk, board member:  "I do not see that when we have a unanimous vote that we don't have dissension on the board.  When we disagree does not mean there is dissension.  It's part of being on the Board.
"I suspect that in the next School Board election there'll be plenty of candidates.  I believe we can give the best possible education to our children.  There are good points and bad points about having long bus rides.  When I sat down last time, I didn't know which way I was going to vote.
"I am so impressed by the people of Victoria, how they fought the good fight.  I can understand their anger.  I hope that regardless of where we build the school that relationships will be rebuilt."
Kelly Von de Bur, board member:  "This has not been a flip of the coin decision.  Believe it or not, the School Board does care about your children.  We've heard from the people.  We've thought about it.  It's never been a competition."
Brad Johnson:  "I have not enjoyed this process.  We hope to mend our ways and carry through on things we say we're going to do.  We've learned our lessons."
Gino Businaro:  "I feel we did follow the process.  We did try very hard to follow the process.  If we like the decision, then we like the process.  If we don't, then we don't.  I don't think the Board has spent this much time on spending the $42 million in the referendum as we did on this site thing.  The administration did, but not the Board."
Board members then voted unanimously (0-7) to not reconsider their decision.   Click here for "the rest of the story" and Haunting Quotes.