NEW LENOX – Sandy Plourde is concerned what might happen to her children and others who attend Lincoln-Way High School District 210 if one of the schools close.
Plourde expressed those concerns at Lincoln-Way Central High School Wednesday to school board members and hundreds of other residents. School officials held a special meeting to give the public an update about their dire financial situation and potential solutions.
Some of them include a tax increase referendum, cutting the curriculum and closing a school. The last option had Plourde wondering how this might impact the bonds students develop throughout their high school years.
“The community needs to be taken into consideration. I hope that if you do have to close a school, that the seniors, the class of 2017, would be allowed to stay in their home school and be allowed to graduate with their friends,” she said.
Lincoln-Way Superintendent Scott Tingley said at the meeting that deciding on only one solution may not be enough to drag the school district out of its budget deficit. The school district needs to decide on a deficit reduction plan by September. State education officials have recommended closing two schools if Lincoln-Way is unable to come up with a plan.
“It may take more than one but it’s an order of operation,” Tingley said. “Which option would the community be comfortable with and which option would the board like to pursue first?”
Two board members seemed in favor of closing a school.
Board member Christopher McFadden said if the tax increase referendum school officials floated would be passed, it wouldn’t be enough to guarantee keeping one of the schools open.
“I don’t see a good way out of this other than to close one of the four high schools,” McFadden said.
Board member Christine Glatz agreed with McFadden, saying unfortunately closing a school might be the best option.
Board President Kevin Molloy insisted Wednesday that no financial solution will be decided just yet. He said a decision may be made in 30 to 60 days in an open session meeting.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, more than a dozen parents, residents and students spoke at the podium, even after public comment was finished. Some advocated for the tax referendum while others were in favor of closing a school
Others said school officials must consolidate staff. Some speakers demanded more transparency, as well as bring in a consulting firm to decide which school should close.
Samantha Nekola, a Lincoln-Way graduate with a younger sister who attends a high school, was disappointed by the meeting.
“What I witnessed tonight was a persuasive essay in the form of a PowerPoint. A PowerPoint followed by crossed arms, shaking heads and rolled eyes. … I must say I’m disappointed in the negative body language,” she said.
Bob Gordon, a 20-year Lincoln-Way resident, said a past referendum where Lincoln-Way wanted to construct more schools, school officials sold the public on smaller classes and more extracurricular opportunities. Now, they’re promoting larger class sizes.
He said the construction of newer high schools were based on projections, which now proved to be wrong. Now school leaders are basing their current solutions on projections as well, he said.
“Let’s make sure these projections are right,” Gordon said.