U-46 releases proposed set of boundary guidelines

Two weeks after the results of a capital planning and facilities study found several schools packed to the brim and in need of quick relief, Elgin Area School District U-46 released a proposed set of attendance boundary guidelines for its Citizens Advisory Council.

According to the proposal, the Council's Enrollment and Facilities Committee, charged with making boundary change recommendations to the school board, will be looking at the following criteria:

• Distance and travel time of students to and from school.

• Alignment of elementary schools to middle schools, and middle schools to high schools.

• Projected growth in the area.

• The proximity of schools to where students live

• Over- and underutilization of schools.

• Natural boundaries including wetlands, railroad tracks, forest preserves and main thoroughfares.

The study, the first for U-46 since 1998, was conducted between September 2008 and June by Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm Wight and Co., and Texas-based facility assessment firm Magellan Consulting Inc.

Hillcrest Elementary in Elgin was found to be the most overcrowded campus, at 130 percent capacity this past school year with 656 students.

Lincoln Elementary in Hoffman Estates; Coleman, Highland, Fox Meadow, Lords Park and Lowrie Elementary in Elgin; Nature Ridge Elementary in Bartlett; Oakhill Elementary in Streamwood; Laurel Hill Elementary in Hanover Park; and Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin; Larkin High School in Elgin and Streamwood High School were also among some of the most overcrowded.

The district will be looking for relief at those schools first, and then begin work on a long-term, districtwide strategy, Superintendent Jose Torres has said.

The board will consider approving the guidelines Aug. 17.