District 200 to Discuss Revision to Proposed Boundary Changes

Staff of Community Unit School District 200 will recommend a revision to its proposed boundary changes for to allow students to elect to stay at Franklin without District 200 transportation.

Last month, District 200 staff recommended the boundary change to reduce overcrowding at Franklin, where enrollment rates continue to grow. With 780 students, Franklin's student population is 78 over its capacity. District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris told the Board of Education at a January meeting school officials have had to turn storerooms and the auditorium into makeshift classrooms to accomodate students. The proposed change would affect 89 Franklin students, Erica Loiacono, District 200 spokeswoman, said.

The revised plan—which is based on parent feedback, according to the District 200 staff report—would provide the affected families the option to choose when to change schools.

The board could approve a one-, two-, or three-year implementation option.

All affected students would move to Monroe per the one-year option. The two-year option would allow 7th and 8th grade students to move to Monroe or finish their middle school years at Franklin by submitting a "permissive transfer." The three-year option would allow all current students at Franklin the choice to attend Monroe or finish their middle school years at Franklin by submitting a permissive transfer.

Staff's original plan did not provide the option of grandfathering the changes because it would mean double bus routes, Harris said. The transfers would not include transportation for students, which is consistent with other permissive transfers in the district, 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).

The District 200 Board of Education will discuss the proposed revisions at the 7:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday, Feb. 8 at .

CORRECTION: The board will discuss the idea of a one-, two- or three-year implementation plan and could approve one of the three options, not all three options.