Dist. 301 candidates square off at forum

About two dozen Central Community Unit District 301 community members got the chance to hear school board candidates square off on fiscal responsibility, projected growth and boundary changes at a candidates forum Tuesday.

Incumbents Steve Doty and Mike Roberts, both of Elgin, are running against challengers Angela Matijevic of Elgin and Jeff Gorman of St. Charles in the race for three, 4-year seats.

All but Gorman attended the forum at Howard B. Thomas Elementary School in Burlington.

Responding to a question on what changes they'd like to see made if elected, Matijevic and Doty both suggested keeping schools up to date with current technology.

Roberts said he believes that increasing dialogue with the community is vital. "There's still some uncharted waters there, so the community is aware of everything going on in the district."

All three candidates agreed that a tight budget will be the biggest issue the district faces in the coming months.

With a drastic decline in housing growth, it "is going to put us in some difficult times," Doty said. "We're going to have to be very prudent and fiscally responsible."

Roberts added to Doty's statement, saying slow growth has "put a lot of our little projects on hold."

Along with a decline in funds in developer fees and state aid, Matijevic said she's unsure of just how fast - or slow - the 3,300-student district will grow. "Nobody has a crystal ball," she said.

Referencing last week's proposed boundary changes, "Are we going to make the correct decision? How are we going to pan out in 2-3 years time when the market rebounds?" she asked.

If approved by the school board, between 100 and 200 students from six subdivisions would move from Prairie View Elementary to Country Trails Elementary next fall. The district also is considering a plan to balance the student populations between Howard B. Thomas Elementary in Burlington and Prairie View in Elgin, as well as the district's two middle schools.

Educating the district's growing population of English Language Learners is a challenge that District 301 has met well compared to surrounding districts, Doty said.

Neighboring U-46, he said, "is cutting aides instead of identifying problems. We've been fiscally responsible. We've gathered data and facts before we've made (cuts)."

Will the district be building another high school in the near future, one parent wondered.

One bigger high school, instead of two smaller ones is ideal, Roberts said.

"Trying to keep things under one roof as long as possible is going to be our best bet in the end," Roberts said. "Just the cost of staffing two high schools alone is huge."

Currently the enrollment at Central High School is 900 students. Capacity is 1100. "The building we have here can only be extended so far," Matijevic said. "I think it would be wonderful to keep one high school, to keep everybody together."

Practically, she said, she's not sure it's possible. "But then again, none of us knew the market was going to tank the way it has now," she said.

New school board members will be elected April 7, the day after district boundary changes are announced.