NSSD112: It's Not About the Buildings.

NSSD112: It’s Not About the Buildings.

At a recent focus group, hosted by the Reconfiguration 2.0 committee, approximately half the group were parents of children enrolled in the District, and they were not happy. In fact, no one was happy. But it wasn’t about the closing of schools.

From the first question, frustration poured forth. Three-plus years of high drama over what schools to close, what to upgrade and what to build, and these parents, instead, wanted to talk about the sorry state of the curriculum and the misguided administration that brought us to this place.

Millions of dollars in taxes collected each year and we can’t give our children a quality education! Some schools assign homework; some don’t. Some schools provide increased classroom instruction; some worry more about “developmental” issues. Too many administrators, too many personal agendas and way too complicated.

Highland Park children should be able to get a solid, quality education, irrespective of where they live within the District. Such is not now the case and that needs to be addressed – time is of the essence. District enrollment has fallen over the last 3 years from more than 4,000 students to approximately 3,400 today. One parent in the focus group mentioned that she knew of 5 mothers that had, that day, visited Lake Forest Country Day School!

This Board needs to act to streamline administration and standardize curriculum across the District. They shouldn’t need more committees and consultants to fix this problem – only the will to take action.

Richard Hutner

Highland Park