Parents, community surprised by needs at District 200 schools
What work needs to be done at the Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school you care most about?
Community members had a chance to get that question answered Wednesday at Hubble Middle School during one of four community engagement sessions about facilities.
Information presented at the meeting also is available online for public review at www.cusd200.org.
The night started with a short presentation from Steve Turckes of Perkins+Will, the architectural firm hired by the school board earlier this year to create a master facilities plan.
Perkins+Will recently did an educational assessment of the schools by looking at how each building meets the educational needs of the district.
The firm concluded there are seven key areas that could use improvements: science spaces, library learning centers, classroom furniture, instructional technology, small and large group areas, building security and Jefferson Early Childhood Center.
Attendees then visited with principals from two schools of their choice to hear what kind of physical and educational needs exist in the buildings they care most about.
"It was good information," said Wheaton resident Michelle Brandseth, who talked with the principals at Jefferson and Wiesbrook Elementary. "It's information that needs to be gotten out to the entire community. That's not an easy task to do."
Brandseth said she was surprised by the needs at some of the schools that have had renovations in recent years, but overall, she believes a lot of the needs listed Wednesday should be addressed. She just worries about who will pay for it.
"Those of us who send our kids to public schools are all, for the most part, middle class citizens who are all struggling," she said. "It's a much bigger picture issue than just what's being addressed tonight."
Janet Alman of Wheaton said after attending Wednesday's session she believes the district is headed toward a referendum, but "they're very careful to not completely say that."
"I just think it's scary to hear this financial piece," she said. "I have four younger kids. It kind of scares me to think about how much money is needed to bring our buildings up to standards. "
Kristin Buck of Wheaton said the meeting was "incredibly helpful."
"I would not have known all the physical issues of the schools had it not been for this. As a parent, to see the possibilities, when Perkins+Will was showing potential classrooms ... to see what a school could be, where it could go, is really exciting."
Buck moved into the area shortly before voters rejected plans to build a $17.6 million early childhood center in 2013. Since then, two of her students have attended Jefferson and she said the building is "woefully outdated and very sad compared to the other buildings."
"I just feel like it's a shame to have the least inspiring building for the most inspired group of students, if that makes sense," she said. "Jefferson is kind of my passion right now in terms of the changes they could make in the district."
Facility master plan options will be presented and revised at two future community engagement meetings beginning at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 at Monroe Middle School.