Much debate over proposed Kaneland boundary changes

Kimberly Camm lives in the Black Walnut Trail subdivision in northern Sugar Grove, but for the last three years her children have gone to school at McDole Elementary School in Montgomery in the southern part of the Kaneland Unit District 302. She says it's a 45-minute bus ride.

Camm and other parents in the subdivision hope their children can return to Shields Elementary School for the 2009-10 school year, as the district is looking at possible boundary changes prompted by the addition of a middle school.

"We were told three years ago, when the district was growing, our children couldn't stay at John Shields because it would create an overcapacity," Camm said. "We were told that someone had to move out, that someone had to take a turn. We feel like we have taken our turn and now we should be able to go back."

Camm has attended recent public hearings on the changes, but she has her own proposal, as well.

She suggests students from Sugar Grove's Windsor Point, currently at Shields, attend McDole because of proximity. That would allow students from Black Walnut Trail, as well as Windstone, to return to Shields.

But as parents and school officials weigh in with various scenarios, options and interests seem to increase exponentially.

"This isn't easy. This is hard," said Julie-Ann Fuchs, assistant school business official for the district.

School officials have already presented a proposal known as Option 2 that would send Camm's children back to Shields. But she doesn't like it.

"Our community would be further divided," she said. "Children from the village of Sugar Grove would go to three different elementary schools. Our goal is to regain our sense of community."

Fuchs noted Sugar Grove children currently attend only two elementary schools, McDole and Shields.

"If her goal is make sure they go to only two schools, that's currently happening," Fuchs said.

Camm also says Option 2 doesn't present clear boundaries, which is a criteria.

"It's very easy to listen to a person who is advocating for their child," Fuchs said. "And Kimberly is doing a great job. But at the district level, we must make sure that the decisions are in the best interest of all the students in the district."

Camm says she has friends in Windsor Point, and she wants families there to know about her proposal so they won't be "blindsided."

Rather than a flip-flop, Camm says, it make more sense to "swap neighborhoods."

"It's just because of the proximity," she emphasized.

School officials recognize Camm's proposal as Option 5, but she says they're not publicizing it.

Fuchs says that all considerations are on the table, and that it's hard to publicize Camm's proposal because three of four public hearings have already been held, and officials must be consistent. But Fuchs added the board will be informed "of the pros and cons of Option 5, as well as all other proposals."

The final hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Blackberry Creek Elementary School, 1122 S. Anderson Road, Elburn.