Independent consultants are sticking with two proposals to consider for the Unit 5 enrollment study. The two options were presented Wednesday at a marathon Unit 5 school board to move forward with the districtwide enrollment study.
The options were largely unchanged from how they were presented in February. Unit 5 provided more detail as to next steps if either option is taken when the board acts next month.
PDF: What's in Proposal 1 and Proposal 2?
While Proposal 2 impacts about half the number of students as Proposal 1, consultant firm Cropper GIS president Matthew Cropper said both were kept to a minimum.
Proposal 1 has more projected annual cost savings for the school district [$1.5-$2.4 million] than Proposal 2 [$122,000].
Still, the ranges of estimated renovation and construction costs are similar between both proposals — $33.15 million to $45.9 million in Proposal 1 versus $32.3 million to $45.3 million in Proposal 2.
For families interested in providing more feedback — particularly those who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting that stretched into the morning hours — a virtual meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Proposal 1
Under Proposal 1, for the 2027-28 school year, families would see boundary changes for certain Benjamin Elementary students to switch to Colene Hoose Elementary. Some Normal Community High School students also would switch to Normal West through boundary changes. The Sugar Creek Elementary students in a neighborhood closer to Grove Elementary would switch to that grade school. The western portion of Cedar Ridge would go to Pepper Ridge.
Carlock Elementary would close, with Unit 5 selling the property. In that scenario, students living north of Interstate 74 would attend Hudson Elementary School. Those south of the highway would go to Fox Creek.
In the 2028-29 school year, Pepper Ridge Elementary students would go to Parkside Junior High as they reach sixth grade, rather than Evans.
In 2029-30, building expansion would allow some Benjamin Elementary students to switch to Towanda Elementary. A new early learning center would open, with Brigham Elementary being sold. And Glenn Elementary students would move to Sugar Creek Elementary, with Eugene Field students moving to Glenn. Eugene Field would be sold.
Estimated annual savings for closing Carlock include $721,000-$922,000 in staffing costs, $41,000 in utilities and maintenance and $61,000 in transportation route funding.
Proposal 2
Under Proposal 2, in the 2027-28 school year, Benjamin Elementary boundary changes would move some students to Colene Hoose. Open enrollment in the Traditions neighborhood west of Interstate 74 in Bloomington would allow more students to attend Carlock Elementary, which would stay open.
A small addition would be made at Towanda Elementary School. Some Sugar Creek students would be switched to Grove Elementary. The western portion of Cedar Ridge would switch to Pepper Ridge. And a Normal Community boundary change with Normal West would take place.
The next school year, Pepper Ridge Elementary students would go to Parkside Junior High when they reach sixth grade, rather than Evans.
And in 2029-30, a new early learning center and new or renovated space for the 18-22 year old program would open. Rather than Towanda, Benjamin Elementary students would switch to Sugar Creek.
The Pepper Ridge area north of Six Points Road was originally presented as moving to Fox Creek, but after public feedback showing concern of hurting enrollment balances at Fox Creek, that plan was removed from the proposal.
In both proposals, Tracy Drive in Bloomington and Northbrook Drive and Golfcrest Road in Normal would move to open enrollment next school year. Open enrollment areas are where students have two schools they may potentially attend. Unit 5 uses this tactic to manage class sizes and school enrollment.
Public comment
There were 44 public commenters during the meeting Wednesday.
Among the points made during public comment were:
- Concern that the plan to switch certain neighborhoods to open enrollment would increase poverty concentration at Fox Creek. “Why are the most vulnerable communities being placed into a system where they have less stability, less predictability and potentially less choice?” said David Cobb. “Did the district conduct a formal racial, socioeconomic impact analysis before identifying these open attendance areas?”
- The majority of survey responses were in opposition to a solution that closes Carlock Elementary and repurposes Glenn Elementary. Only 23% of responses approved of that resolution, with 67% opposing it. Over half [59%] approved of the proposal that does not close and repurpose those schools, with 25% opposing it.
- Concern that information disseminated by Unit 5 on the enrollment study has not been made accessible in other languages than English.
- Lack of detail on the financial side of why Carlock’s closure may be warranted. While the financial impact was presented later in the meeting, parents showed frustration that it had not been communicated.
