Don't break up Nature Ridge family

How does U-46 define a neighborhood?

The goal of the 2004 boundary changes was to create neighborhood schools. Nature Ridge in Bartlett has this, along with 120 students bussed in for programs and 89 students from Elgin bussed from within our boundaries as dictated by the previous boundary change.

These 89 children were removed from their neighborhood school and are now bussed a considerable distance here. Nature Ridge has been overcrowded ever since, at nearly 114 percent. It is an injustice to all children involved.

The district and the Enrollment & Facilities Committee are currently looking at capacities and boundaries for each school. The goal is to maintain neighborhood schools.

However, some solutions the administration recommends involve moving one of our immediate neighborhoods. My neighborhood is the only neighborhood not on the chopping block.

It was recommended that Lakewood Mill get bussed to Liberty. The children from this neighborhood are walkers. The district's transportation budget is $17 million in the red. It is fiscally irresponsible to make bussers out of walkers.

The two other neighborhoods with the possibility of going to Clinton in South Elgin are Heron's Landing and Bartlett Pointe. Some of those children live across the street from our school and most are within walking distance.

At Nature Ridge we define neighborhood as families who participate in school functions, the PTO, the CAC; parents who run Yearbook, Fall Fest, Fun Fair, Movie Night, Book Fairs, Holiday Shop; parents who lead our children in Scouts; parents who shelve books in the library; parents who coordinate holiday parties and volunteer in classrooms.

We have a wonderful neighborhood at Nature Ridge. If you saw our list of volunteers you would see active participants are from Westridge, Lakewood Mill, Bartlett Pointe and Heron's Landing.

This is our community. This is our neighborhood. The district will attempt to justify breaking up our community by saying they have to "consider the lawsuit" as stated in an E&F meeting.

That is unacceptable. Every child should have the opportunity to attend a neighborhood school, to feel as though they are part of a community.

Kevin Tolva

Bartlett