Dist. 300 fails kids, disregards residents
Recently, I again witnessed the arrogant incompetence of the District 300 school board in action. By voting to approve Boundary Proposal 3, the board failed many of the children of the district and the taxpayers, their constituents.
First, District 300 built the new multimillion dollar high school in far off Hampshire rather than in a location closer to current district operations. When the rooftops they predicted failed to materialize, the board had two choices:
• Draw boundaries to disrupt the fewest children and run the new school with few children; or
• Pursue a dramatic grand vision and move a large percentage (20 percent or more) of the children.
The school board requested public comment in December on three proposals drafted by the Attendance Boundary Committee (ABC) -- and they got comments in basket loads.
Far and away, the parents and taxpayers of District 300 selected Boundary Proposal 10 for the high schools and middle schools. This is the proposal that would have moved the fewest children.
So what did the school board do? It ignored the wishes of the taxpayers and voted for Proposal 3.
This foolish decision will move approximately 392 children into the new high school and will only modestly reduce the crowded conditions at Jacobs and Dundee-Crown high schools.
By voting for this proposal, this board again demonstrated a bewildering indifference to the wishes of district residents. Furthermore, the new boundaries will rip children from neighborhoods 2 to 4 miles from Jacobs and bus them 12 miles away to Hampshire.
Each high school has a stated capacity of 2,500 students. What is the end result of Proposal 3? Jacobs would have 2,392 students, DCHS would have 2,266 students and the new Hampshire High School would have 954.
In other words, two high schools would still be near capacity, while the third would be less than half full. And the lives of 392 children would be messed up by being sent away from long-time school and neighborhood friends who will go to Jacobs or DCHS.
Board members Monica Clark, Karen Roeckner, Joe Stevens and Mary Warren voted for Proposal 3, showing a disregard for the wishes of their constituents and an arrogant indifference to the feelings of the children and parents whose lives they have impacted.
They must be replaced at the next election with new board members who can offer pragmatic ideas to the board and respect for the community they represent.
Martin Matushek
West Dundee