District 112 Postpones Referendum

The planned referendum that would create a middle school campus with about 2,000 students and consolidate from 12 to seven schools will not be on the ballot for voters in North Shore School District 112 in April.

An email sent late Sunday night and signed by all seven District 112 board members indicated plans to postpone the possibility of placing a referendum regarding school consolidation on the ballot until 2016.

“It is of utmost importance that we move forward responsibly,” the email read. “After much consideration, we have come to the consensus to continue planning efforts and community discussions to seek a bond referendum in March 2016. Specifically, we recommend that we continue developing and refining the work that has been initiated. We are committed to open and transparent dialogue, and will continue to provide multiple avenues for input from parents, staff, and all community stakeholders to ensure our path forward best serves North Shore School District 112 now and well into the future.”

The decision to postpone comes four days before a board vote on whether or not to place the initiative on the ballot was scheduled to take place. If it had been passed by the board, the referendum would have, if approved by voters, meant the District would be reduced to five elementary schools of students from K-4 and a single middle school campus, with one building for fifth and sixth graders and another for seventh and eighth.

A public comment session during the board’s last meeting held January 6 lasted more than two hours, with a majority of the speakers expressing their opposition to the plan. Concerns raised included the increased traffic in the area of Red Oak and Sherwood (the planned middle school site), students increased time busing to school and the success probability of fifth graders - who would be attending school with older students.

A political action committee known as CARE (Citizens Against the District 112 Referendum) was also organized under the premise of not opposing change, but just this plan in particular.

“CARE is pleased the Board has decided to postpone the referendum, but this is only the first step,” said CARE member Davis Schneiderman. “We need a collaborative process going forward that addresses the wide array of serious concerns raised by the 7-Building plan. CARE is committed to collaboration, and calls for a plan that better fits our District. There are so many unanswered questions because the plan is undeveloped. Instead of a rush toward a Big Box school, we need a plan that respects the many communities that comprise Highland Park, and we will only get there one way: together.”

The board’s email indicated the additional time for review and consultation “will allow us to further evaluate critically important decisions to be made in the coming months.”

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