'Kids Will Bounce Back,' L-W North Student Tells Board

As news that closing a school to improve a bleak financial status seems all but certain for Lincoln-Way District 210, the community has plenty of questions for the Board of Education. Which school? How soon? What about district boundaries? Would kids acclimate?

Lincoln-Way North student Rob Harrington stood before a packed Lincoln-Way Central Fine Arts Center Wednesday, and assured the crowd and board that they were not giving the students nearly enough credit.

“Whatever borders you draw, kids will make new friends,” said Harrington. “They will foster a good sense of community. Kids will bounce back because it’s not a matter of where they will go but that they will graduate with Lincoln-Way in front of their name.”

District 210 has been weighing the likelihood of closing a high school, cutting a class period, seeking a tax hike or some combination of those options to address withered finances. This spring, the district was placed on the 2015 Financial Watch list, the lowest possible financial rating made by the Illinois State Board of Education.

>>Read: ‘We Cannot Have 4 Schools Open,’ Says D210 Board Member

Board member Christopher McFadden Wednesday told the crowd that although the board acted “in good faith” in 2006 with its decision to build two high schools, that the $6 million spent this year on a fourth high school, ”is the last $6 million we are going to spend on a mistake.” He added that even with a tax rate increase, the board could not promise to keep all four schools open. None are operating at capacity, and current projections show total enrollment down to 6,000 by 2023—a stark contrast to those made a decade ago, predicting 10,000 students districtwide by 2014.

“It was not for consideration of schools less than 2,000 (students),” Tingley said. “At the time we didn’t assume we’d be sitting at 7,000 students in the fall 2015.”

Many queried how district boundaries would be redrawn should the district close a school. Lincoln-Way North, which opened its doors to students in 2008, draws students from Frankfort Square, Tinley Park and parts of Mokena. Opened in 2009, West students come from New Lenox and Mokena. North has been the subject of much of the school-closing talk, although administrators and board members have been quick to point out no “formal” discussions or decisions have taken place. In a district with more than 22,000 households and 70,000 residents, Superintendent Scott Tingley cited an informal online survey the district conducted, which garnered 550 responses. Tingley said the majority favored closing a school, while a tax hike received the second-most support. A strong majority was opposed to eliminating a class or extracurricular activities, and Tingley informally stated the board will no longer consider cutting extracurriculars as an option.

But which school will close? And when? The board said a decision is expected within 30–60 days, and that the closure would go into effect in fall 2016.

» Read: ‘I Am Disappointed,’ LW Grad Tells School Board. ‘Figure This Out’

For Sandy Plourde, it’s an issue of consistency for her daughter, who is currently a sophomore at Lincoln-Way East. If boundaries are re-established and classmates are separated, Plourde fears it would have a drastic impact on her learning and personal development.

“If you split these kids up, that’s going to wreak havoc on their lives,” she said.

One parent suggested deciding the boundaries based on junior high location, in an effort to cause as little disruption to students’ lives as possible.

“We know there are many options to consider in this monumental decision,” said Cynthia Grobmier. “Two months has not been much time.”

Her worry is that, in closing a school, students will be lost in the shuffle of new settings, different classmates, and changing identities. The idea of closing a school indefinitely, but retaining the campus and building with the possibility of someday reopening seems questionable, she said.

“Are we creating a lost generation of students because of our financial mistakes?” she asked. “Let’s have a four-year plan, so that students going in as freshman can know which school they will graduate from.”

>> Read: The Board’s latest financial update presentation, FAQ

Christina Zubenko said she would only feel right supporting a referendum if the district also closed a school.

“It doesn’t make any sense to hold a school open and ask people to pay for all this extra space when it’s not being used,” she said “If we needed to, we could close two.”

The state board has recommended closing two schools as the most efficient solution to the district’s financial woes, but Tingley stressed that while it is a drastic move, it is a possibility should the district not be able address its finances, and the state steps in for takeover. Board member Kevin Molloy stressed that a decision must be made quickly, but parents urged for ample debate and transparency throughout.

“I feel that this is very rushed,” said Elizabeth Burghard. “Put the brakes on a little bit. Slow down, include us in this decision. If we decide we need to close a school, we need to come to that decision together.”

Lincoln-Way North student Sarah Mirabella said the board’s decision-making process has been a distraction, particularly during finals week.

“I would like to finish my senior year as a Phoenix,” she said, “but if not, I would like to mentally and physically prepare for that change.”

The next board meeting is set for Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln-Way Central Fine Arts Center.