Former Mayor Opposes District 112 Reconfiguration Plan

Former Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky has spoken out against the North Shore School District 112 reconfiguration plan that involves one middle school campus.

The District 112 board of education recently decided to only look at proposals for reconfiguration that included a single middle school campus with two buildings at the current site of Red Oak and Sherwood schools in southwest Highland Park. But Belsky says that plan, which would have the District go from three middle schools to one, is “against the spirit of our great city” and “ignore the history and culture” of Highland Park.

“The plan has high and definite costs, but the potential benefits are smaller and more uncertain,” Belsky wrote in an email to Patch on Monday. “In this plan, class sizes and commuting distances will increase. More of our students who are currently walking will be forced to ride the bus, and the projected traffic problems will require significant changes to city property.”

Belsky also takes issue with the closing of some schools that are involved in the plan.

“We will be asked to sacrifice nearly 40% of our neighborhood schools - schools that strengthen our neighborhoods and community, foster friendships, and make our city attractive to new families.”

Neighborhoods, he said, are what makes the city.

“We are a city of neighborhoods,” he said. “Neighborhood schools are where friendships are forged. These friendships strengthen our neighborhoods and community as a whole.

“The proposed consolidation plan contradicts our city’s values and heritage. Therefore, I join the residents who are calling for a better plan.”

Belsky serves as Mayor from 2003-2011 and previously had been a member of the Highland Park City Council.