District 26 grade-level debate: 'We don't need to be saved'
When Rachelle Sokan stood up Tuesday, she spoke to her fellow parents and the River Trails Elementary District 26 school board.
"I'm a Euclid parent and we don't need to be saved," she said.
Sokan was one of about 150 parents who crammed into the River Trails school library to hear the results of a study about switching from neighborhood schools to grade-level centers.
District 26's two elementary schools are Euclid and Indian Grove. About half of Euclid's student body is Hispanic compared to less than 10 percent of Indian Grove's students. River Trails is the only middle school and wouldn't be affected.
The school board did not discuss the 137-page report Tuesday, but it is expected to be available on the district's Web site by Thursday night.
But some parents said the topic of switching to grade-level schools has turned ugly, with some parents accusing others of being racist for not wanting the change. Many brought anti-grade-level center signs to Tuesday's meeting.
"It breaks my heart that some people think race has anything do to with this," said Amy Laures. "I'm a part of a multiracial family and race has nothing to do with it. I'm against this for academic reasons because I'm the mother of a special-needs child."
Peggy Tsevis handed board members a petition signed by almost 1,200 people against grade-level schools.
"This community doesn't want to change," Tsevis said. "They love their neighborhood schools."
Elizabeth Bialobrzewski was one of the few parents who spoke up in favor of grade-level schools.
"Right now there is a big split," she said. "Our children should all have the same opportunities no matter what side of Wolf (Road) they live on."
District 26 spent $18,000 to hire consultant James H. Warren to complete the study, which included a surveying District 26 parents. His final report Tuesday listed 21 advantages and 21 disadvantages to switching to grade-level schools.
Some of the advantages include sharing resources and saving about $200,000 by eliminating four staff members. Some of the disadvantages include spending $162,000 on more bus routes and causing families to have multiple students at multiple schools.
"If you decide to make the change, remember children adapt better than parents," Warren said. "If you don't change, this district needs to heal. Things have been said and feelings have been hurt."
District 26 has about 2,500 students and about 250 full- and part-time staff members.
Most elementary districts in the area use neighborhood schools, including Arlington Heights District 25, Mount Prospect District 57 and Des Plaines District 62.