District 210 Board Answers Community Concerns of School Closing

The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education Saturday was prepared for a standing room only crowd at its special meeting covering its looming decision of closing a school. Monitors and sound were switched on in the hallway outside the Fine Arts Center at Lincoln-Way East.

There were many empty seats, though, as the board fielded queries from more than 300 emails from parents and district residents concerned over the future of Lincoln-Way’s four schools. The scope of information included savings associated with building closure, functional capacity of each building, development of closing scenarios and more.

“We sit here today because in 2008 the bottom dropped out,” said board President Kevin Molloy. “People lost homes, the economy tanked. ... The district suffered a ’severe blow,’ and the board is working hard to fix and bring these students out the best we can.”

The board’s move to close a school will help it overcome a $5.5 million deficit. If a plan is not in place and submitted to the Illinois Board of Education by September, the state could force closure of two schools.

>>Read: LIVE: District 210 Board Responds to Community Concerns of School Closing

Board member Christopher McFadden said that outcome might still be unavoidable.

“I think in five years it’s more likely we’ll have two high schools than three,” McFadden said, as he believes the state funding will continue to suffer.

“We are faced with closing a school,” said board member Ron Lullo. “It’s not about watering down L-W. We’re reducing it. Instead of the face of four buildings, it will be the face of three schools. It’s not about who has the most spirit, the biggest Facebook page. If we were voting with our hearts, we could make a decision today. ...We have to use our heads. ... No matter what we do, probably will not be the right decision for everyone, but we have to do what’s best for the community as a whole.”

The board addressed parents’ concerns of enrollment projections, class sizes, and availability of activities for students. Molloy predicted the average class size for core classes will be about 21 students but some elective courses could average about 28 students.

Projections for enrollment from the district’s feeder schools are based on numbers provided by those districts in Sept. 2014, said Superintendent Scott Tingley, and do not include growth or construction figures. Conservative estimates are more realistic for the district to consider, he added. Current projections show 6,400 students in first through fourth grade.

“We’re using that number as our baseline for 5-6 years from now. 6,400 students, three high schools, we’re fine. ... 6,400 students, two high schools, we’re fine,” he said. “I know we’re not going to be off by 1,000 [students] five years from now. The economy would have to go gangbusters for us to get to 7,200 students in those first through fourth grades.”

Board members assured the crowd that they have the students’ best interests in mind during the decision-making process.

Lincoln-Way North parent Cyndi Grobmeier pleaded for the board to consider her school’s vital place in the community.

“Lincoln-Way North has become the heart of our community,” she said. “I just wanted everyone to understand where we’re coming from. We were trying to save our school because it’s the heart of our community. We will accept whatever decision the board makes, but I hope everyone else will accept us into their schools [if that is the outcome]. I hope we can come together as a community and heal.”

Mokena resident Renee Firestone told the board she worries Mokena “is getting a raw deal.” She is concerned about students missing out on leadership opportunities in sports and activities, following a transition into a new school. She questioned if the board has weighed impact on students’ mental health a school closure would have, and if additional counselors would be considered.

“The devil is in the details in how we implement this,” said Board member Chris Kosel, of concerns for students’ comfort levels throughout transition and beginning at new schools.

“We are faced with closing a school,” said board member Ron Lullo. “It’s not about watering down Lincoln-Way We’re reducing it. Instead of the face of four buildings, it will be the face of three schools. It’s not about who has the most spirit, the biggest Facebook page.

“If we were voting with our hearts, we could make a decision today. ...We have to use our heads. ... No matter what we do, probably will not be the right decision for everyone, but we have to do what’s best for the community as a whole.”

RECENT COVERAGE

• Could Closing a School be in LW’s Future? Lincoln-Way 210 Faces Tough Financial Questions: District dismisses rumors and says “no formal discussions” of closing LW North or West as officials look for a way off the state’s Financial Watch list. (May 5, 2015)

• ‘I Am Disappointed,’ LW Grad Tells School Board. ‘Figure This Out’:Former student delivers a strong message to the District 210 Board of Education at Wednesday’s presentation about cutbacks. (July 1)

• ‘We Cannot Have 4 Schools Open,’ Says D210 Board Member: Board of Education members say they anticipate a formal decision will be made in 30 to 60 days. (July 2)

• ‘Kids Will Bounce Back,’ L-W North Student Tells Board: If a school closes and students have to be relocated, they will be just fine, one student told the Lincoln-Way Board Wednesday. (July 3)

• D210 Board Member: ‘Numbers Speak for Themselves,’ School Closing Only Way Out: Board members vote to table tax hike and cutting extracurriculars, saying neither would ultimately be enough. (July 17)