L-W Education Association: 'Decision Has Been Made, Now Follow Through'

—the following was submitted by the Lincoln-Way Education Association

Dear District 210 Board Members,

Recently there have been calls for the board to revisit or rescind the decision to close Lincoln-Way North. On August 13 the board voted to close that campus. The financial issues the district faces are significant. However, on August 13 the board took a step in the right direction to begin to solve those issues.

The LWEA urged the board to make its decision before the start of school in August because we were fully aware of what a huge task it was going to be to reconfigure from four to three high schools. To rescind the present plan would create more upheaval, confusion and uncertainty among the staff, students and the community in general. It would also waste valuable time that will be needed to properly plan a smooth transition for our students.

We knew what the effect of uncertainty would be for students and staff if the board did not make a decision before school started. Nothing in the short passage of time has changed the facts. The public is upset and they have a right to be upset. However, the board cannot waste any more time rethinking, revisiting or farming out its decision to consultants or others to do the job they were elected to do. The decision has been made, now follow through and complete the plan. There is no political cover here, hard choices need to be made because the board, for whatever reason, did not act sooner. At one of the meetings a board member said that the district could not afford to lose another $6,000,000 next year. That is precisely why the board must move forward with the transition plan that is presently in place.

To be clear, the LWEA is not in favor of closing one campus over another, but the decision has been made and time is critical in terms of students and staff transitioning.

Tim Conway

President,

Lincoln-Way Education Association

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