Dist. 158 changes boundaries for students from Wing Pointe

For the second time in as many years, Huntley Unit District 158 has adjusted its middle school boundaries.

Starting next year, incoming sixth-graders in Huntley's Wing Pointe subdivision will attend Marlowe Middle School instead of Heineman Middle School, where they were slated to go.

"If we don't do something, we're going to have classes of more than 30 at Heineman," Superintendent John Burkey said. "We just feel (students at Wing Pointe) can have a better experience."

The adjustment comes just one year after the district shifted kids who live in Huntley's Woodcreek subdivision from Heineman to Marlowe.

Burkey said he doesn't expect more middle-school boundary changes in the 2009-10 school year but said more kids will probably shift to Marlowe in 2010-11.

This year's change affects 43 students who live in Wing Pointe and currently attend Leggee Elementary School. Students who live in the subdivision and already attend Heineman will stay at the school through eighth grade.

Parents who already have a child at Heineman will be able to move that child to Marlowe to be at the same school as a younger sibling.

Wing Pointe was chosen because it is closer to Marlowe and has enough students to keep class sizes down at Heineman, Burkey said.

The district will provide transportation to Wing Pointe students who attend either middle school.

The district will not need additional buses or routes to accommodate the boundary change, Burkey said.

Both middle schools were the same size when they opened in 2005. An addition that opened in 2007 doubled the size of Marlowe.

Because Heineman is already at capacity, Burkey said he expects all students who attend Leggee to shift to Marlowe within five years.