Summit Hill District 161 Considering School Closures

FRANKFORT, IL — Summit Hill School District 161 is holding a series of meetings over the next several weeks to consider school buildings for closure.

The next meeting, for the Buildings and Grounds Usage Committee, will take place on Nov. 7. According to the agenda, the school buildings being considered for closure are Indian Trail School, Frankfort Square School and Arbury Hills School.

There are also meetings planned for Nov. 15, Nov. 29 and Dec. 20.

According to the District FAQ, this process was started years ago, when it began to see continued declining student enrollment.

"What was once a 3,600+ student District, now rests at 2,433 students in 2033," the District said, adding that enrollment will again decline next year.

The District said it is looking at equity between its schools, adding it typically sees a drop in achievement scores when students come back together and attend fifth grade at Walker Immediate School.

"This again brings forth questions as to whether each and every [student] is being exposed to the same experiences and education," the District said.

According to the District, if it finds that students are not receiving an equitable education, then "all options are on the table," including neighborhood schools, grade centers, redistricting or closing schools.

In considering possible school closures, the District said it would not leave a building vacant, and would either sell the building or work with community partners to ensure usage.

The schools with the largest capacities — Dr. Julian Rogus, Walker and Summit Hill Junior High — are not a part of the discussion on closures. The three remaining schools, Indian Trail Elementary School, Frankfort Square Elementary School and Arbury Hills, are a part of the discussion.

Arbury Hills School was built in 1960, according to District documents. The school's latest addition was in 2000, and it has the capacity of 456 students. A 2021 facility report showed that estimated repair costs for the school would be around $3.5 million.

Frankfort Square School was built in 1973, and its latest addition was in 2000. The school has a capacity of 426 students. A 2021 facility report estimated repair costs at $2.6 million.

Indian Trail School was built in 1974, and has a capacity of 648 students. The latest addition to the school was in 2006. A 2021 facility reported estimated repair costs at $3.6 million.

When asked about the timeline on when the District will make its decision, Superintendent Paul McDermott said that he couldn't answer at this time, and that additional discussions need to take place first.