Summary of Board Meetings, Monday, May 12, 2008

The Board conducted two meetings on May 12, a special meeting to conduct business and a Committee of the Whole meeting on a single topic: solutions for overcrowding at Clarendon Hills Middle School.

Business Meeting
Superintendent’s Comments

Dr. James Tenbusch said the board would begin discussing 14 options for consideration this evening, and he requested that all public comment be held until after his presentation. He invited the community to a roundtable discussion on Wednesday evening with a focus on enrollment issues.

New Business
The board voted 6-0 to approve the personnel agenda, which included one item: the resignation of Nancy Hindel, Monroe principal, effective June 30, 2008.

Committee of the Whole Meeting
The board presented the Ambassador of Excellence award to 56 students and four staff members for their accomplishments in competition outside of the district, including chess tournaments, mathematics contests, Special Olympics, and French language testing.

Clarendon Hills Middle School Overcrowding Solution Presentation

Dr. James Tenbusch presented an overview of options that have been examined or are recommended for consideration for addressing the overcrowding at Clarendon Hills Middle School. The following options represent either a solution or a partial solution in combination with other options:

  1. Form a task force to explore the possibility of building a new middle school or adding a new addition to Hinsdale Middle School.

  2. Install four-room portable building for instructional use on Park District land behind CHMS on the volleyball court.

  3. Seek voluntary transfers to HMS through the 21st Century Academy pilot.

  4. Redistrict The Lane to HMS.

  5. Swap The Lane for Elm.

  6. Seek voluntary transfers of incoming 5th grade students who live closer to HMS than CHMS.

  7. Seek voluntary transfers of current CHMS students to HMS.

  8. Make CHMS and HMS Junior High Schools only.

  9. Divide middle school population into 6th and 7th grade building and a 7th and 8th grade building.

  10. Develop plan for new middle school attendance zones independent of elementary attendance zones.

  11. Form a task force to study all redistricting options and submit plan to board by January 2009.

Temporary Options for 2008-09:
  12. Develop plan to have fewer students passing in the hallways at the same time.

  13. Install one- or two-room portable on CHMS land for instructional use.

  14. Install four-room portable on district-owned land for instructional use (auxiliary parking lot between CHMS and Prospect.)

These options have been ruled out for the 2008-09 school year: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9. The administration recommends further study of options: 4, 5, 11, 12, 14. The administration recommends proceeding with options: 6, 7, 10 and 13.
The board reviewed the presentation, engaged in follow up discussion on the what steps have been taken or are being considered to relieve congestion at CHMS and how HMS would be affected with the possible addition of 60 students during the next school year. Approximately 32 audience members addressed the board on the options. Board consensus was reached around the following:

• Any overcrowding solution that divides the population of an elementary school between two middle schools should be avoided.
• The district’s funds should be used for improving programs for students, not adding space that is not needed.
• The voluntary transfer option may not generate a large number of requests.
• Board members should visit the two middle schools to see the needs at both before the next meeting.
• Any solution should focus on what is best for children.
• The board would like more information on the impact of open enrollment on the schools.
• Consideration should be give to “grandfathering” families for whom new boundaries would result in children at two middle schools.
• The administration should investigate an adjustment to the boundary between The Lane and Monroe’s attendance areas.
• The board requested more information on what HMS would need in terms of staffing, teaming if 60 more sixth graders were to be sent there next fall.

The board scheduled a special meeting for Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at HMS to discuss the following:

• Redistricting of The Lane School, beginning with incoming
sixth-graders, to HMS for the 2008-09 school year.
• Formation of a task force to examine boundaries.