District 300 gets first crack at school maps

The Community Unit District 300 school board and the public got their first look at a boundary panel's top three proposals for middle and high school boundaries on Monday.

All three proposals aimed to alleviate crowded middle and high schools, shifting students to under-capacity schools -- especially to the new Hampshire High School that is set to open next year at Big Timber and Ketchum roads.

After a series of hearings where the public can offer feedback on the options, the board plans to vote on the proposals Jan. 28.

The three proposals recommended by the district's attendance boundary committee are groups 3, 6 and 10 -- named after the 10 work groups formed to study attendance boundaries.

Group 3 changes would move a total of 469 students:

• 77 would move from Dundee Middle School to Hampshire Middle School

• 303 would move from Jacobs High School to Hampshire High School.

• 89 would move from Dundee-Crown High School to Jacobs.

Group 6 would move the most students, 628:

• 64 would move from Carpentersville Middle School to Algonquin Middle School.

• 53 would move from Dundee Middle School to Hampshire Middle School.

• 303 would move from Jacobs to Hampshire High School.

• 208 would move from Dundee-Crown to Jacobs.

Group 10 would move the fewest students, 363:

• 116 would move from Dundee Middle School to Hampshire Middle School.

• 47 would move from Dundee-Crown to Jacobs.

• 200 would move from Jacobs to Hampshire High School.

In its report to the board, Group 3 suggested the enrollment projections the district provided each work group were flawed.

"The growth numbers are grossly overstated in light of the current market conditions and builders slowing down and even declaring bankruptcy," the report reads.

All three proposals struggled to address crowding at Westfield Community School, which would be over-capacity in all three plans.

Although it was not their charge, Groups 3 and 6 both recommended that the district tackle crowding at Perry Elementary School and Lakewood School.

You can view the plans online at www.d300.org or in-person at the district's middle and high schools. You can offer feedback at one of three public hearings on Dec. 13, Dec. 17 and Jan. 12.