District 200 Staff to Recommend New Boundary to Curb Overcrowding

District 200 staff tonight will recommend to the board a boundary adjustment for Franklin and Monroe middle schools to alleviate overcrowding at . 

While enrollments at the other three middle schools have declined over the past five years, Franklin’s population has grown from 709 students in 2007 to 780 students this year, according to a staff report. Projected enrollments continue to climb to 798 for the 2012-13 year, 816 for 2013-14 and 822 for 2014-15.

Adjusting the attendance boundary for all Franklin students, grades six through eight, would provide an “immediate and long term” solution, according to the staff report. District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris said Tuesday staff determined the proposed changes after looking at the cohort kids that feed into Franklin. 

If approved for the 2012-13 school year, 89 students would move from Franklin to , according to the staff report.

The new boundaries would affect students living in the Parkway Commons South apartment complex 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 (see map).

There are two Parkway Commons apartment complexes located on the north side of Gunderson Drive, where students attend Monroe. Students who live in the complex on the south side of Gunderson Drive attend Franklin, according to the staff report. The neighborhood near Geneva Road, Schmale Road, Gary Avenue and Tubeway Drive is contiguous to the current Monroe boundary and would be a “natural addition” for the school, according to the staff report.

Of the 89 affected students, 66 are from the Geneva/Schmale neighborhood and 23 are from the Parkway Commons apartments. District 200 Spokeswoman Erica Loiacono said keeping families together is one reason the change, if approved by the board, would not be grandfathered over time. Harris added grandfathering would mean running a double bus route in the affected neighborhoods.

Monroe's enrollment is currently 712 students, according to the staff report. Harris said Monroe can "easily" accommodate more than 800 students. "It has a lot of room," he said.

Classroom and specific program staff would also be transferred as necessary. With 89 students, approximately 30 per grade level, "we anticipate moving a minimum of three teachers," said Harris. He added if there are special needs such as English Language Learners (ELL) or special ed, those services would follow the kids.

If the board is comfortable moving forward with the proposed changes, Harris said staff will send letters to the affected families Thursday and hold a parent information meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18. at Franklin.

The Board of Education meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 at , 119 Woodlawn Street, Wheaton.