Sycamore school buildings capacity between 65% to 85%, district officials say

SYCAMORE – Sycamore school district buildings are operating at more than half to almost full capacity, according to district officials, who this week said they’re beginning to think of a longterm plan for building life.

Enrollment numbers and building capacity limits were discussed by the Sycamore School District 427 board this week.

All seven of the school district’s buildings have an operational capacity, meaning the rate of students a building can handle per state standards, between 65 to 85%, according to district documents.

Sycamore Superintendent Steve Wilder said that before any decisions are made on how to address capacity limits, which could include redistricting and construction of a new building in the future, “the community will have the opportunity to give their feedback and input.”

“Any changes we make will have an impact on all taxpayers with property tax, not only families that have children in the district,” he said. “We have to be good stewards of the resources that have been given to us by the community, so that five, 10 or 20 years down the road, we’ll be ready and prepared to make whatever changes are necessary.”

Sycamore Middle School has the highest percent capacity at 86%, documents show. South Prairie Elementary School has the lowest percent capacity at 65%.

Wilder said that capacity for each school building is calculated differently. Three different capacity numbers were discussed at the meeting: the recommended Illinois State Board of Education capacity, designed architectural operational capacity and the current operational capacity.

“Every school has a different design for how it operates on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “Capacity depends on many factors.”

Wilder said that the school board first discussed building capacities during a September meeting.

“It was a future focus item in September, and we will continue to bring it back, discuss it and make decisions,” he said. “It is our responsibility now to have discussions so that our decisions are not short-sighted. Any decisions that we will make will be longterm. In addition to a financial impact, there is also an emotional impact, so we will proceed carefully.”