Favorite emerges on new District 300 maps

A clear favorite has emerged among the proposals for new middle and high school boundaries in Community Unit District 300.

The most popular of the three proposals recommended by the attendance boundary committee is proposal 10 -- the option that moves the fewest students.

Proposal 10 was the top choice of many of the more than 50 parents who addressed the school board at public meetings and by e-mail during the past month.

"This map was the most thought out, affected the least amount of students and families, was the least complicated, yet accomplished much of what the district is trying to provide for its western portion," Marisa Combs of Cary said at a hearing last month.

Many parents urged the school board to grandfather high school kids -- that is, to allow high school juniors to stay at the same school or to allow all current high-schoolers to remain at their school.

"I think grandfathering would be one of the best decisions you can make for kids in the next five to 10 years for our school district," Sue Ellett of Hampshire said at a December hearing.

Parents also expressed concern that the proposals would split up siblings, add time to morning and afternoon commutes, and change the demographics at the high schools.

Board members said they will take parents' concerns into consideration and are far from reaching a decision on the boundaries.

"We want to do everything we can to minimize that upheaval as much as possible," board member John Ryan said.

But board members said some changes are inevitable.

"There is growth in our community and with growth comes pain," board member Monica Clark said.

Clark and her colleagues said their concerns include maintaining the diversity at the high schools, providing equal opportunities at each school, and ensuring few students will have to move again in the near future.

"I want to do this so it makes sense for the long term," board President Joe Stevens said.

Board members encouraged residents to offer more feedback by attending the next public hearing from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 12 at Jacobs High School or by e-mailing district spokeswoman Allison Smith at allison.smith@d300.org.

You can find the maps at www.d300.org/web/attendanceboundarycommittee.html.

The board will discuss the proposals at a work session Jan. 19 and is scheduled to vote on the boundaries at its Jan. 28 meeting.