Unit 5 schools' superintendent said public feedback helped shape the district's plans to realign school enrollments.
A committee of school board members and educators completed a multi-year process on Thursday when it presented a final recommendation to the school board. That recommendation avoids two of the most controversial options the district considered — closing Carlock Elementary northwest of Normal and repurposing Glenn Elementary south of the Illinois State University campus.
The district's survey showed heavy opposition to the option that included relocating students from both schools.
“While there were some loud voices, there were also many quiet voices who either called, stopped by, when you ran into people they would share feedback,” Superintendent Kristen Weikle said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
Weikle said the committee came up with two “strong” options, one that provided more cost savings — up to $2.4 million annually — and another that minimized student impacts. She said the district listened to parents before deciding to go with the option that was less disruptive to students.
“We tried to look at the big picture of serving almost 12,000 students, serving a really large community that has differing opinions. That’s really what helped shape the recommendation,” she said.
The recommendation the school board will consider on April 15 directly affects about 600 students who could end up moving to different schools to better balance enrollments.
Carlock
Weikle said the district will continue to monitor the village of Carlock's projected growth as Unit 5 assesses the long-term future of the grade school there.
Initially, Carlock Elementary was targeted for possible closure because of low enrollment. Carlock parents vocally opposed closing the school, as they did three years ago before voters approved a tax referendum that likely saved it.
The study conducted by consultant Cropper GIS projected Carlock Elementary’s enrollment growth over the next 10 years at 8.6%, while the district’s overall grade school enrollment is expected to drop nearly 5%. Weikle said that’s due largely to families having fewer children and other enrollment trends seen nationwide.
Weikle made no long-term promises about any of Unit 5's schools.
"I think that's going to be really telling to watch," she said of the enrollment projections.
Weikle said the school district has asked to participate with the village on a committee that’s working on ways to bring more people to the village of about 550 residents, adding the board of education should look to set cost and enrollment guidelines for all Unit 5 schools.
“We always have to monitor and sometimes reevaluate who are we serving, how are we serving, where are we serving students? Is it to the best of our ability?” she asked.
Weikle said the countywide school facilities tax that voters approved last year enables the district to plan for up to $45 million in building improvements without any additional taxes.
