A new twist on D303 school combo

You have reported on the St. Charles District 303 proposal to consolidate Richmond and Davis elementary schools and introduce new programs to the new “sister schools.”

We want readers to know that the district’s proposal has merit, but there also are problems. After discussing the plan with community members, we developed an alternate proposal that maintains the positive aspects of the original while addressing some concerns expressed by the community.

We spoke about our concerns and our suggestions for a solution at the board meeting Feb. 28.

In a nutshell, we want to give the entire St. Charles community an opportunity to choose to attend a renaissance school, a new K-5 elementary school at the current Richmond that maintains the current school’s assets, enriches all students (K-5), intervenes for students below grade level, sustains the innovations and holds itself accountable with reliable data and results.

The school would include all the benefits of the current plan such as an extended day, increased science, technology, engineering, math and foreign language; but at the K-2 level rather than exclusively 3-5 in the district’s proposal, and the use of technology such as tablet devices for students in grades 3-5.

These education innovations would be available to those who choose to enroll in the school on a geographic priority basis.

Although the original proposal caused some conflict in the community, we believe this new plan could bring many members of the community together in an amazing opportunity to move St. Charles’ schools into the future.

If you are curious about more details, visit the new Facebook group “D303 Parents in Support of Educational Choice.”

Scott and Bridget Meyers

St. Charles