Mobile classrooms OK'd for Glen Ellyn school

The notion of overcrowding -- and adding space -- at Hadley Junior High School in Glen Ellyn continues to foment polarizing viewpoints.

By a vote of 3-2, the school board in Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 agreed to lease a six-room portable building for three years, ostensibly while awaiting some form of building addition.

"I think that it's sort of a chicken-and-the-egg scenario," board President Terra Costa Howard said. "We have a space crunch, so we have a need. Do we not address the need while we're waiting for a permanent solution?"

That's a twist on the rationale the two opponents to the mobile classrooms gave in voting against its placement at the Glen Ellyn school.

"If we need the space, I'd prefer we use the resources for a permanent solution," board member Steve Vondrak said.

That brings up a touchy subject, as Vondrak was opposed to the referendum asking voters to spend $40 million to expand Hadley, move all the district's fifth-graders there and renovate all other buildings. Voters rejected the plan.

"I feel as if a number of people who were vehemently opposed to the (previous) solution are now saying we need a permanent solution," Howard said. "Part of my support in this is that we have a need now. Yes, we have a permanent space need. In a perfect world, we are three years away from a permanent space."

Vondrak said it wasn't the idea of adding space at Hadley to which he was opposed, just the particular plan the district presented.

Board members voting for the mobile were Howard, Erica Nelson and John Vivoda, while Vondrak and Bob Solak voted against it. Two board members, Kevin Cosgrove and John Kenwood, were invited to phone in their votes but declined to do so.

"According to them they had business commitments and couldn't phone in," Howard said.

In the three years, the mobile is expected to cost the district $739,850 -- $300,000 for installation; $225,000 for site preparation and furnishings; $164,850 for the lease; $40,000 for removal; and $10,000 to restore the site.

Superintendent Ann Riebock proposed adding the mobile earlier this spring because Hadley's curriculum and schedules are being revamped, particularly relating to students with specialized academic needs. That means the building requirements will change.

Additionally, the new literacy program introduced last year requires 90-minute teaching blocks, which are now not possible because of space and teaching assignments. The six classrooms would serve as a dedicated language arts area.

But officials say moving the language arts classes will also have a trickle-down effect on scheduling for other classes, allowing for more flexibility. A consultant's building study earlier this year concluded Hadley is short 10 classrooms -- and that's with no changes to its program.