New District 200 Boundary Change Would Include Grandfathering, Transportation

Community Unit School District 200 administrators will recommend a new plan to adjust the district's boundaries to alleviate overcrowding at Franklin Middle School at the Board of Education meeting Wednesday.

District staff in January recommended to move 89 Franklin students living in the Parkway Commons South apartment complex on Gunderson Drive in Carol Stream and north of Geneva Road, south of Tubeway Street, west of Schmale Road and east of Gary Avenue to Monroe Middle School next year.

After parents provided feedback, staff adjusted the recomendation and presented options in February that would allow the boundary change to be phased in over time.

Staff's final recommendation would allow the change to be grandfathered in over the next three years, and would allow Franklin students the choice to attend Monroe or finish their years at Franklin, according to a District 200 staff report. The district would also provide transportation for the students who elect to stay at Franklin.

The original proposals did not include transportation, but, "The board (and staff) felt, based on feedback, that was something they'd like to offer," said District 200 spokeswoman, Erica Loiacono.

Providing transportation will cost $20,000, according to the staff report.

District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris said the boundary change would result in one new bus route—in addition to the district's 18 current routes. He said the district will probably eliminate two to three elementary school bus routes to help compensate for the additional route.

If the board approves the recommendation, fifth-graders at Washington Elementary School will attend Monroe starting with the 2012-13 school year. Current sixth- and seventh-graders at Franklin could stay at Franklin and have transportation, Loiacono said.

The District 200 Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at .