District 200 Moving Forward with Middle School Redistricting Plan

Despite strong opposition by some students and parents, District 200 officials are moving forward with a plan to to Monroe Middle School due to overcrowding.

The board unanimously consented Wednesday night to send notices to families who would be impacted by the proposed change, which could begin in the fall.

Franklin Middle School currently has 780 students, however it has a capacity of 702. District Superintendent Brian Harris said school officials have had to turn storerooms and the auditorium into makeshift classrooms to accommodate the large student population. With enrollment projections at Franklin predicted to reach 822 students by 2014, Harris said the district needed to find a solution to the situation.

But that proposal is being met with strong opposition from parents and students affected by the redistricting.

Four Franklin female students told the board their educational experience has not been hampered by the overcrowding. But redistricting would cause their friendships to suffer because two of the girls would be sent to Monroe, they said.

The negative impact on friendships was a theme picked up by several of the parents who urged the board to consider how the change would affect the emotions of young teens.

“This is not about numbers, it’s about kids,” said Alby Cander, a teacher and father of students who would be impacted by the new policy.

Megan Salgado, who has a 6th grader at Franklin, said she and her husband chose their home because of Franklin and Wheaton North High School. She said the proposed transition has been troubling for her daughter at Franklin. Calling ages 11-14-years-old a “fragile time,” Salgado said she’s afraid for the social and emotional toll on the children.

Kathleen Henson said her daughter will remain at Franklin but many of her friends are included in the 89 slated to be transferred.

“I’m sad for my daughter because she’ll be separated from her friends,” Henson said.

Parents also criticized the board for the way in which they found out about the proposed redistricting. Several parents said the district should have sent them a letter prior to Wednesday night’s board meeting informing parents about the proposal.

Mary Ann Vitone told the board that by not including parents in the redistricting discussion prior to bringing it in front of the board created a “lack of trust” between the district and the community.

“A letter should have been sent and meetings should have been set prior to posting it on the agenda. The way it was handled is what was unacceptable,” Vitone said.

Board President Rosemary Swanson said the board of trustees, like the general public, was hearing the proposal for the first time at Wednesday night's meeting.

The would affect students living in the Parkway Commons South apartments on Gunderson Drive in Carol Stream and students who live north of Geneva Road and south of Tubeway Drive, west of Schmale Road and east of Gary Avenue.

Harris said if the proposal is approved, they would not grandfather students because that would mean running a double bus route in the affected neighborhoods. Each bus route costs the district $20,000 annually.

Franklin parents will get a chance to voice their concerns with during a special meeting with district officials at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the middle school.