In the mid-1980s, District 214 had budget concerns with declining enrollment. As a result, the district board members decided to close Arlington High School in 1984, and Forest View High School in 1986.
The closing of Arlington High School was a significant community event in 1983 and 1984, which embattled residents of the district who did not want to see their high schools close. The school district administration completed its first report in April 1981 to the District 214 Board of Education stating that one of eight high schools should close by 1983 due to declining enrollment. Weeks later a report was submitted that two high schools should close by the 1985-1986 school year. Residents responded by presenting arguments to support their own schools. Pro-Arlington supporters declared that Arlington, being the oldest school, had an important community tradition and an important location near downtown Arlington Heights that helped develop and maintain community values and support downtown businesses. Arlington supporters also declared that Arlington had dense residential surroundings, which allowed most students to walk to school. Arlington supporters also underscored the benefit of the agreement with the Arlington Heights Park District to use the swimming pool, which was across the street from the high school, for education and competitive swimming events. Only Wheeling and Buffalo Grove High Schools, which were not at risk of closure, had swimming pools.
In April 1982 a computer study listed Rolling Meadows, John Hersey High School, Forest View and Prospect High School (in order) as the most likely schools to be closed. Non-Arlington High School residents sought to keep their schools open by declaring that Arlington High School was the oldest school and the most expensive to maintain and remodel. They even cited a tragic accident in 1971, when a brick partition wall in a bathroom collapsed when three male students (trapped in the bathroom) braced themselves to open a door that had been secured by a piece of wood as a prank. One of the students eventually died from his injuries. The partitions were immediately re-designed for safety reasons.
On May 3, 1982, District 214 adjusted data for a computer study and corrected the target list for school closures: John Hersey High School, Arlington, and Prospect High School. On May 17, 1982, the District 214 board voted 5–2 to close Arlington High School. A group of Arlington High School parents formed the Assembly of Citizens and Taxpayers (ACT) to study the possibility of seceding from District 214 and forming their own district (August, 1982). Eventually a lawsuit was filed by five Arlington Heights residents and ACT against District 214, charging the board ignored facts from its own studies (November 18, 1982).
In the subsequent lawsuit, District 214 planner Howard Feddema testified that board member Donald Hoeck called him to ask that a computer study's data be manipulated to have Arlington High School move to the top as the candidate for closing. Hoeck replied that he was only trying to demonstrate that numbers could be manipulated many ways (March 10 and 11, 1983). Circuit Court Judge James C. Murray overturned the District 214 decision to close Arlington High School. Judge Murray's opinion states that the board created standards to follow in the closing of schools and then failed to follow them (May 26, 1983). District 214 appealed on June 1, 1983, but Arlington High School freshmen still enrolled in Fall 1983.
On the second day of the new school year in 1983, Illinois Appellate Court (Justices James J. Mejda, Kenneth E. Wilson, and Francis S. Lorenz) overturned Cook County Judge James Murray's ruling blocking the closing of Arlington High School. The Appellate Court stated that they "cannot question the wisdom of the final action. Right or wrong, it is the decision the board adopted as a quasi-legislative function within its powers ..." and that the court is "unable to say that the ultimate decision itself, the decision to close Arlington and reassign the freshmen students was so palpably arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable as to render it null and void" (August 31, 1983).
Post closure uses
In May 1984, District 214 put Arlington High School up for sale and then for auction. Arlington High School closed its doors to public high school students in June 1984. The following year in April, Christian Liberty Academy of Prospect Heights purchased Arlington High School for $1.51 million. Christian Liberty Academy continues to operate from the Arlington High School building.
Interior and exterior scenes from the 1986 film Lucas starring Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim were shot at the school during the summer immediately after its closing, including some scenes with the Prospect High School Marching Band which at that point contained former Arlington students.
^Daday, Eileen (30 January 2008), "Longtime high school trainer was dedicated to athletes", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL, USA), retrieved 21 February 2011, As an athletic trainer for 23 years at the former Arlington High School, James Donald Sheehan helped many of its athletes recover from injuries. One of his most famous was Doug Betters, who went on to play defensive end for the Miami Dolphins after college and played in two Super Bowls.
^Bell, Taylor (19 September 2010), , Your Season: Chicago Sun-Times, archived from the original on 22 September 2010, Arlington won 13 state championships ... Red Koelling, Norb Rohlwing, Ozzie Aldrich, Bill Robinson, Bill Beckman, Bob O'Hagan, Augie Mayerck, Augie Krause, Dick Winterbauer, Johnny Sujack, George Bork ... The best players? Dundy, Allen, Dougas and North were Frisk's personal favorites but Bork went on to achieve more glory as a Little All-America quarterback for Howard Fletcher's great teams at Northern Illinois in the early 1960s. Later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
^"Arlington Heights years 'shaped' VA chief nominee". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
^Frisk, Bob. "Local athletes gain national prominence". Daily Herald. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
External links
Illinois High School Glory Days -- a record of high schools closed in Illinois
March 12, 2023
arlington, high, school, illinois, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, arlington, high, school, illinois. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Arlington High School Illinois news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Arlington High School was a public high school located in Arlington Heights Illinois which operated from 1922 to 1984 It was the oldest school in Township High School District 214 which served students in Arlington Heights Buffalo Grove Elk Grove Village Mount Prospect Prospect Heights Rolling Meadows and Wheeling Illinois The school occupied a site that is approximately 1 3 km due east of Arlington Racetrack Arlington High SchoolAddress502 West Euclid Ave Arlington Heights IllinoisUnited StatesCoordinates42 05 25 N 87 59 22 W 42 0902 N 87 9894 W 42 0902 87 9894 Coordinates 42 05 25 N 87 59 22 W 42 0902 N 87 9894 W 42 0902 87 9894InformationSchool typepublic secondaryEstablished1922StatusReopened as Christian Liberty AcademyClosed1984School districtTownship HS 214Grades9 12GendercoedCampus typesuburbanColor s red whiteFight songHail to Ol ArlingtonTeam nameCardinalsNewspaperThe CardinalYearbookHeightsIn the mid 1980s District 214 had budget concerns with declining enrollment As a result the district board members decided to close Arlington High School in 1984 and Forest View High School in 1986 Contents 1 History 2 Post closure uses 3 Notable alumni 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe closing of Arlington High School was a significant community event in 1983 and 1984 which embattled residents of the district who did not want to see their high schools close The school district administration completed its first report in April 1981 to the District 214 Board of Education stating that one of eight high schools should close by 1983 due to declining enrollment Weeks later a report was submitted that two high schools should close by the 1985 1986 school year Residents responded by presenting arguments to support their own schools Pro Arlington supporters declared that Arlington being the oldest school had an important community tradition and an important location near downtown Arlington Heights that helped develop and maintain community values and support downtown businesses Arlington supporters also declared that Arlington had dense residential surroundings which allowed most students to walk to school Arlington supporters also underscored the benefit of the agreement with the Arlington Heights Park District to use the swimming pool which was across the street from the high school for education and competitive swimming events Only Wheeling and Buffalo Grove High Schools which were not at risk of closure had swimming pools In April 1982 a computer study listed Rolling Meadows John Hersey High School Forest View and Prospect High School in order as the most likely schools to be closed Non Arlington High School residents sought to keep their schools open by declaring that Arlington High School was the oldest school and the most expensive to maintain and remodel They even cited a tragic accident in 1971 when a brick partition wall in a bathroom collapsed when three male students trapped in the bathroom braced themselves to open a door that had been secured by a piece of wood as a prank One of the students eventually died from his injuries The partitions were immediately re designed for safety reasons On May 3 1982 District 214 adjusted data for a computer study and corrected the target list for school closures John Hersey High School Arlington and Prospect High School On May 17 1982 the District 214 board voted 5 2 to close Arlington High School A group of Arlington High School parents formed the Assembly of Citizens and Taxpayers ACT to study the possibility of seceding from District 214 and forming their own district August 1982 Eventually a lawsuit was filed by five Arlington Heights residents and ACT against District 214 charging the board ignored facts from its own studies November 18 1982 In the subsequent lawsuit District 214 planner Howard Feddema testified that board member Donald Hoeck called him to ask that a computer study s data be manipulated to have Arlington High School move to the top as the candidate for closing Hoeck replied that he was only trying to demonstrate that numbers could be manipulated many ways March 10 and 11 1983 Circuit Court Judge James C Murray overturned the District 214 decision to close Arlington High School Judge Murray s opinion states that the board created standards to follow in the closing of schools and then failed to follow them May 26 1983 District 214 appealed on June 1 1983 but Arlington High School freshmen still enrolled in Fall 1983 On the second day of the new school year in 1983 Illinois Appellate Court Justices James J Mejda Kenneth E Wilson and Francis S Lorenz overturned Cook County Judge James Murray s ruling blocking the closing of Arlington High School The Appellate Court stated that they cannot question the wisdom of the final action Right or wrong it is the decision the board adopted as a quasi legislative function within its powers and that the court is unable to say that the ultimate decision itself the decision to close Arlington and reassign the freshmen students was so palpably arbitrary capricious or unreasonable as to render it null and void August 31 1983 Post closure uses EditIn May 1984 District 214 put Arlington High School up for sale and then for auction Arlington High School closed its doors to public high school students in June 1984 The following year in April Christian Liberty Academy of Prospect Heights purchased Arlington High School for 1 51 million Christian Liberty Academy continues to operate from the Arlington High School building Interior and exterior scenes from the 1986 film Lucas starring Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim were shot at the school during the summer immediately after its closing including some scenes with the Prospect High School Marching Band which at that point contained former Arlington students Notable alumni EditDoug Betters was an NFL All Pro defensive end 1 Dick Bokelmann former MLB player St Louis Cardinals George Bork is a former football quarterback who played for Northern Illinois University before playing for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League The first college quarterback to pass for 3 000 yards he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame 2 Charles Dickinson 1969 Author Alan Gratzer 1966 is a co founder of REO Speedwagon citation needed Robert A Bob McDonald 1971 U S Secretary of Veterans Affairs Chairman President and CEO of Procter amp Gamble 3 Ed Paschke 1957 was a highly acclaimed artist a leader in the Chicago Imagist style Fritz Peterson was a pitcher for the New York Yankees who pitched in the 1970 All Star Game 4 5 Paul Splittorff was a star pitcher with the Kansas City Royals 6 Coincidentally Splittorff pitched against fellow Arlington grad Fritz Peterson at Yankee Stadium in 1971 7 Jim Staahl 1965 is an actor George Vukovich former MLB player Philadelphia Phillies Cleveland Indians References Edit Daday Eileen 30 January 2008 Longtime high school trainer was dedicated to athletes Daily Herald Arlington Heights IL USA retrieved 21 February 2011 As an athletic trainer for 23 years at the former Arlington High School James Donald Sheehan helped many of its athletes recover from injuries One of his most famous was Doug Betters who went on to play defensive end for the Miami Dolphins after college and played in two Super Bowls Bell Taylor 19 September 2010 Arlington Gone But Not Forgotten Your Season Chicago Sun Times archived from the original on 22 September 2010 Arlington won 13 state championships Red Koelling Norb Rohlwing Ozzie Aldrich Bill Robinson Bill Beckman Bob O Hagan Augie Mayerck Augie Krause Dick Winterbauer Johnny Sujack George Bork The best players Dundy Allen Dougas and North were Frisk s personal favorites but Bork went on to achieve more glory as a Little All America quarterback for Howard Fletcher s great teams at Northern Illinois in the early 1960s Later he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame Arlington Heights years shaped VA chief nominee Retrieved 15 January 2015 Fritz Peterson Page Retrieved 19 July 2012 Fritz Peterson Bio Retrieved 19 July 2012 Arlington star Royals legend Splittorff dies Daily Herald Retrieved 19 July 2012 Frisk Bob Local athletes gain national prominence Daily Herald Retrieved 21 July 2012 External links EditIllinois High School Glory Days a record of high schools closed in Illinois Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arlington High School Illinois amp oldid 1095124276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
