District 89 may open doors to nonresidents

Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 officials may have found a way to slightly boost the district's declining enrollment: out-of-district students.

District leaders are considering a policy that, if approved, would allow students living outside the district's boundaries to request admission into District 89's schools.

Accepted students would have to pay an annual tuition fee of about $10,000 - an amount equal to how much the district spends per student, officials said.

So if a family from Itasca wanted to send their child to school District 89, they technically could. However, the family would be responsible for the student's transportation.

Superintendent John Perdue said every year a few families request to come into the district.

"We're trying to accommodate those families who request to attend our schools but are nonresidents," he said.

If the policy is changed in the coming months, students would be accepted on a space-available basis.

"We have been declining in students, so we have the space to accommodate additional students," Perdue said.

However, some school board members said only students with good academic standing should be admitted.

"I don't want to open our district up to people who are having problems and will be a problem for our teachers and students," said Mike Nelson, a board member.

Board Vice President Frank Zak agreed.

"The rules need to be complete," he said.

The district's staff will review the policy, which will be discussed again next month.

"So is this going to have a major influx of students in our district," Perdue asked. "No, the likelihood of that is small.

"It's certainly a small accommodation that we could possibly make for those few families who have requested to come (in the district) but don't reside here," Perdue said.