Open house helps Dist. 220, residents communicate

School board members in Barrington Area District 220 held the first of three special meetings Thursday designed to give residents the chance to sound off on several proposed plans for redistricting.

Board President Brian Battle said the open houses were designed to give residents the opportunity to share their opinions in a relaxed setting.

"Tonight is a chance for community members to have an informal dialogue with board members, administrators and members of the (enrollment monitoring committee)," Battle said.

Previously, the board has only heard from residents during board meetings. At those times, board members only listen to the residents and aren't able to have a running conversation about their issues.

The school board is considering four different options for redrawing attendance boundaries as a way to better spread out the district's 3,300 elementary school students.

The maps the district is considering show anywhere from 180 to 235 students changing schools. Most of the changes are being proposed for the start of the 2008-2009 school year; however, some changes would not go into effect until certain areas become fully developed.

Many of those who attended Thursday's meeting were from the new The Woods subdivision in South Barrington.

Residents there are unhappy with proposals that have them moving out of the Barbara Rose School attendance area, which is the closest school to their homes.

"I think the big thing for us is that we live where we can see (Rose) school from our backyard," Jose Thomas said.

Bob Steffen said residents of The Woods may be feeling the effects of living in a recently-developed subdivision.

"We shouldn't be punished by the newness of our community," Steffen said.

Colleen Poulos of Barrington Hills attended the open house because she is worried about her kids possibly being moved from Countryside School to Hough Street School.

If they were moved, Poulus said her kids would have to cross the EJ&E rail lines to get to school. The tracks, if sold to Canadian National, will see an increased amount of freight traffic in the coming years.

"We will have to cross those tracks, and that will add to our commute," Poulus said.

She was happy, though, to see the school board so willing to listen to what everyone had to say.

"I have been very pleased that they have been receptive to listening and talking to (people)," Poulos said.

There will be several more chances for residents to voice their opinions on the proposal.

For those not able to attend Thursday's open house, a second meeting is being held between 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Barrington High School.

A formal public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19, also at Barrington High School.

A final decision on any changes will not be made until the board's regularly scheduled March 4 meeting, though the decision won't necessarily be made then.

To view each of the four proposals being considered, visit www.cusd220.org.