Family And Consumer Sciences To Be Dropped At Plainfield Middle School, Parents Claim

PLAINFIELD, IL — As Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 navigates the recent slash in state funding, home economics classes at Indian Trail Middle School are under the lens.

A petition circulating on Change.org claims District 202 plans to remove family and consumer sciences from the middle school just off Route 126 northeast of downtown Plainfield.

With more than 1,000 signatures in the week since a seventh-grader created it with the help of her mother, the petition urges administrators to change their minds about the class that teaches students real-world skills such as cooking, sewing, laundry and kitchen safety.

"Classes like Art, STEAM, and FACS are not extras," the petitioner wrote. "All are valued and should be safe. They teach important lessons and need to stay at our school. I know budgets are hard, but maybe the district could share a FACS teacher between schools so Indian Trail students can still have this class."

The petitioner alleged FACS is still being offered at other middle schools within the district, "which is why many students and families at Indian Trail feel this is unfair," she wrote.

Asked for confirmation that FACS was being removed from Indian Trail Middle School but not from others, administrators did not provide a definitive answer.

"School districts across the state, including District 202, are evaluating all programs, projects, and staffing due to reductions in state funding," administrators told Patch in a statement. "District 202 lost approximately $7 million last year, with losses projected to increase to $14 million in fiscal year 2027. District 202 administrators are working with our seven middle school administrators to creatively design encore schedules that provide a variety of experiences for students."

RELATED: Board President 'Ticked Off About' $7M Funding Loss As District 202 Outlines Strategic Plan

Indian Trail staff shared the news of FACS being dropped from its offerings with students in the school announcements recently, a parent told Patch. They also announced the teacher of the class, Marie Benjamin, would move to a different school.

The parent told Patch that she and other parents are unsure of what's to come, as neither the district nor the school has shared any information.

Linda Taylor, director of community relations, could not confirm whether Benjamin was moving schools.

"District 202 has not finalized any of the middle school master schedules, and we are still reviewing staffing assignments for next year," she said. "Teachers will get 'tentative assignments' that are always subject to change."

Supporters shared a plethora of comments urging the district to keep what many of them considered one of the best classes.

"FACS has to be awarded one of the best classes! And to get rid of it!?!" one person wrote. "Mrs. Benjamin was amazing teacher, FACS taught me how to cook, sew, and know how to read laundry symbols. It wasn't just a class, it was an unforgettable experience that made school a little bit better."

"We need to keep these classes going if nothing else to ensure this new generation is self sufficient and educated in these basic life skills!" someone else wrote. "What will it be replaced with, a vacant slot??"

"I took FACS at Indian Trail in the early 2000s and it was a huge part of me majoring in FACS in college," another supporter wrote. "I would not have my current degree if I didn't have access to this program in middle school. Cutting this program or any other art/life based course would be a HUGE mistake. I'm sure you can find another solution if you try hard enough."