Dist. 300 weighing options for too-full schools

A group of educators in Community Unit District 300 unveiled a much-anticipated report Monday on how to fix crowding on the district's east side.

Two Carpentersville elementary schools, Perry and Golfview, have no more classroom space left, and the district's latest enrollment study predicts slight to moderate growth in east-side schools over the next decade.

The Eastside Study Committee Report details three plans for the east side, each of which would move hundreds of students and build at least 12 new classrooms at east-side elementary and middle schools.

• The first plan would add six classrooms at Parkview Elementary School and six at Golfview; 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale elementary schools; 48 students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes Elementary School. Plan one would be the cheapest, at an estimated cost of $5.3 million.

• The second plan would add six classrooms at Parkview, six at Golfview and six at Algonquin Middle School; 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale; 75 students would move from Meadowdale to Golfview; 48 students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes. Plan two would be the costliest at an estimated $16.8 million.

• The third plan would also add six classrooms at Parkview, four at Golfview and at least six at Algonquin Middle School; 230 students would move from Perry to Parkview and Meadowdale. 48 students would move from Meadowdale to Algonquin Lakes. Plan three would cost an estimated $16.1 million.

All three of the plans would create more space in east-side elementary schools for full-day kindergarten and preschool.

"The significant positive impact of preschool on later school success merits continued efforts to increase the number of children that can be served," the report reads.

The District 300 School Board plans to vote on the proposals at its next meeting on June 23.

The district plans to implement the proposal the board selects for the 2009-10 school year.

Perry and Golfview will have more mobile classrooms next year while the schools await a long-term solution to the enrollment crunch.