School's new Oak Forest home is 'God's work'

When Homewood Christian Academy found itself without a home in late May, prospects for finding a new one by the start of the new school year looked bleak.

[Do not like it]

Just what O.F. needs, another group from east of us.

[Do Not Like It]

Do not like it wrote:

Just what O.F. needs, another group from east of us.

Has that school been inspected for asbestos and other code problems?

[Oak Forester]

Not recently.

[Justasking]

What is so appealing to the minority communities about Oak Forest? We have the same issues as any other community, Crime, lack of economic base, high taxes, section 8 blight. is it the "demographics"? I believe this school set up in a church. Does that mean no taxes to the City? I refuse to feel sorry for them. They are from Homewood, not from our community.

[Felix da Cat]

one would hope that a school not used as a school in 3 years would have a detailed and complete inspection for the safety of the children. And if the same standards are not met, it's up to the city to act BEFORE they open the place back up, not after they already start class.

[Its all About the Kingdom]

Why would anyone be so ignorant to say: "just what we need another group from the east of us" and the other comments. This school is within a church so why would they not have everything inspected before they moved in, the church has been open and has never been closed, so even if the school hasnt been used as a "school" in 3 years, it has been used by the church for meetings, sunday school, and everything else the church uses it for. Please get over yourselves,Oak Forest is the place where God wanted them to be and NO ONE AND NOBODY has to like it here on this earth, God doesnt need permission to do what he does. So please make a change in the way that you all are thinking, leave this school alone and be happy kids are being educated, go and pray and be happy that God has blessed you to live another day.

[Do Not Like It]

Just get your inspections or move back to Homewood.

[Good for the kids]

Glad to see they have a place to get educated.

As for "God's will", I'm not so sure. Maybe if you could have paid the extra rent, you wouldn't have been forced to move out of the old place. Just don't try peddling your bibles or theology at the public schools nearby.

"Many religions now come before us with ingratiating smirks and outspread hands, like an unctuous merchant in a bazaar. They offer consolation and solidarity and uplift, competing as they do in a marketplace. But we have a right to remember how barbarically they behaved when they were strong and were making an offer that people could not refuse."

[Just saying]

Heres the thing unless your child attends this school what do you care if its up to code or not. I am sure the parents of the children attending this school are not going to put them in harms way. I am sure they are seeing to it that the school is inhabitable. As far as it being in the church..it is a school it is a whole separate building that is attached to the church. The only thing that does bother me about it is the conditions surrounding the school. It is not appealing they have a garage that is gated with all kinds of debree lying around. THAT Oak Forest Code Enforcement should look into please. Its an eyesore!

[Old School]

Just saying wrote:

Heres the thing unless your child attends this school what do you care if its up to code or not. I am sure the parents of the children attending this school are not going to put them in harms way. I am sure they are seeing to it that the school is inhabitable. As far as it being in the church..it is a school it is a whole separate building that is attached to the church. The only thing that does bother me about it is the conditions surrounding the school. It is not appealing they have a garage that is gated with all kinds of debree lying around. THAT Oak Forest Code Enforcement should look into please. Its an eyesore!

That is a poor attitude. The codes are there to protect you and all other families that may enter the establishment. There are things that are beyond the average person's sight that could be unsafe or unhealthy for the children. If the city knows they are opening the school after it sat unused for a long period of time and didn't get involved, the city could be held liable if something happened to a child. They have to be inspected.

[Sideliner]

Old School is 100% correct.

[Just saying]

I was just saying that those parents im sure hav checked into all that and I am sure the city would not just let them open a building that has not been used for some time. You can't just open a school without going thru the proper channels. Those people that opened the church arent going to put those kids in harms way. Why gripe about something you dont know.

[wtf]

Its all About the Kingdom wrote:

Why would anyone be so ignorant to say: "just what we need another group from the east of us" and the other comments. This school is within a church so why would they not have everything inspected before they moved in, the church has been open and has never been closed, so even if the school hasnt been used as a "school" in 3 years, it has been used by the church for meetings, sunday school, and everything else the church uses it for. Please get over yourselves,Oak Forest is the place where God wanted them to be and NO ONE AND NOBODY has to like it here on this earth, God doesnt need permission to do what he does. So please make a change in the way that you all are thinking, leave this school alone and be happy kids are being educated, go and pray and be happy that God has blessed you to live another day.

So God booted them out of their very own community? What ties do they have in Oak Forest??? What good are they going to do in the Oak Forest community? Nothing! They will leave and go back East. Your right, a lot of neighbors don't like it. Are they even paying taxes like the rest of us in our COMMUNITY?

[Old School]

Just saying wrote:

I was just saying that those parents im sure hav checked into all that and I am sure the city would not just let them open a building that has not been used for some time. You can't just open a school without going thru the proper channels. Those people that opened the church arent going to put those kids in harms way. Why gripe about something you dont know.

You seem to be somewhat naive. You can't just assume the parents looking for a low cost school are smart enough to see the problems that may exist. They just pulled up roots in Homewood and showed up over here. The city didn't even know they were here until someone called. No way they could know. I guess now there are going to be inspections, and if they don't pass they will have to close until they do pass. It would be a trajedy if children were burned because the inspections required on the sprinkler system wern't made, or there were problems with the electrical system, or some of them got sick because of asbestos, or the plumbing systems were releasing sewer gas.

[Its All About The Kingdom]

God had another place for them to go and that is why they are now where they are at. When God moves, one can not stop it, one doesn't have to like it, or one doesnt have to understand it. If you are not of the Lord or have a relationship with him then you will not understand the ways and wisdom of God. Just by them being in the will of God and being where God placed them, the school is already blessed and that in itself is a blessing to Oak Forest. They are educating children so that is what good they are doing in the community. Really if this school needed your taxes, the parents wouldnt be paying school tuition to have their children go there. First before jumping the gun and getting upset, think about how the schools that you are actually paying taxes for are operating behind the scenes and if their school codes are being kept up.Thank God that children are getting educated, the codes are kept up and the school didnt need Oak Forest residents permission to open the school, and God didnt either, so leave the school alone and please remember that God loves you all in spite of what you say or what you may have done in your life. Conenct with God and your life will never be the same.

[children first]

Regarding the asbestos, we have a situation at our school that will be opening up in Chicago. They found asbestos but the state and city does not check. If any of your children are attending I would ask if they checked and the report that it was neg.

[Reality Check]

Hey Do Not Like It,

You need to crawl back under that rock you live under. Maybe you need to move a little further West so you don't have to worry about that "group East of us." And I wonder if Just Asking and Felix Da Cat would be so concerned about inspections and the children if the kids and staff were relocating from a Methodist church in Orland? The Church has operated for years at that location with no problems, no reason to expect the school won't do the same. And I'm sure the City will have then comply with any inspections or permits.

[Do Not Like It]

Is that the same rock where I met you? The school has been closed for more than three years. Don't you think they need to be inspected before moving in 200 kids, no matter where they are from. There have been no inspections to date according to the church people.

[Felix da Cat]

Reality Check wrote:

Hey Do Not Like It,
You need to crawl back under that rock you live under. Maybe you need to move a little further West so you don't have to worry about that "group East of us." And I wonder if Just Asking and Felix Da Cat would be so concerned about inspections and the children if the kids and staff were relocating from a Methodist church in Orland? The Church has operated for years at that location with no problems, no reason to expect the school won't do the same. And I'm sure the City will have then comply with any inspections or permits.

Yep, just as concerned as I would be for your safety, their safety, or my own. Hope that satifies your curiousity.

[Dont Like It]

It may be better to let the code violations exist, then when the kids start getting sick or injured they will leave.