Parents raise concerns of gifted program in Grayslake schools

Some Grayslake Elementary District 46 parents concerned about the sudden halt of their children's gifted math program received encouragement after meeting with administrators.

District 46 board members last month approved budget cuts totaling about $2.8 million for the 2009-10 school year, which included elimination of 1.5 gifted teaching positions. In all, 29 positions were trimmed and a variety of money-saving measures enacted.

However, about a dozen parents who met with officials before a District 46 board meeting Monday night questioned why their children's accelerated classes recently ended - well before the 2009-10 academic year.

Parent Heather Lennartz said she had no idea her third-grade son's gifted math program for this year would be "stopped cold" at Woodview School in Grayslake. She said he was about to move up to fourth-grade-level math when the change occurred.

Lennartz said it didn't make sense to end the gifted classes now so her son and other children don't get too far ahead before changes in how they are taught are made in 2009-10.

After nearly one hour of discussion, District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll agreed it would be proper for the children already in the gifted math program to finish the academic year as they began it.

Correll said elimination of gifted programs is happening at other suburban school districts because of budget woes. She told the parents that dropping the 1.5 gifted teaching jobs for the 2009-10 academic year wasn't an easy decision.

"No matter what area you cut, there are people as concerned as you are about other things," Correll said. "So, I just want you to know it's not because I don't support the gifted. I certainly do."

District 46's assistant curriculum director, Kathy Ellison, said after the budget cuts were announced it was decided it would be best for this year's students to shift from designated gifted classes into an enrichment program for a deep learning experience.

Ellison said plans for next year are to have the higher-level pupils grouped at individual schools, with teachers differentiating curriculum to meet their needs. She said fifth-grade work will be provided to accelerated fourth-graders, similar to the gifted classes.

Some of the parents were concerned the enrichment program will amount to busy work and won't be challenging enough for their academically gifted children. Woodview School Principal Jeff Knapp tried to assure the parents that won't be the case.