Glen Ellyn Dist. 41 study on portable classrooms expected in spring

A task force commissioned by the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 school board plans to unveil a study this spring on how to eliminate portable classrooms at Hadley Junior High.

By late March, the volunteer group of about 25 active members also expects to recommend where to house a possible full-day kindergarten program. The co-chairs, Lori Taylor and Tom Voltaggio, updated the board Monday on what they called a "methodical, objective process" to vet potential projects.

The district has spent roughly $15 million to remove portables and replace them with brick-and-mortar additions at the four elementary schools. Officials have said the district doesn't have enough funds to also expand Hadley and move students out of the school's portables, the last in the district.

Voltaggio, a Hadley alum and former Glenbard High School District 87 school board member, said the task force may produce several options to remove the Hadley portables and price tags to do so. Their report also will include "a pathway" to implement their ideas.

"Otherwise, it's another study to gather dust on the shelf," he said.

The task force of parents and taxpayers began meeting twice a month in August, and its members have toured Hadley.

"We wanted to start off with something that would be easier and more manageable to handle, so we started with (studying) Hadley," said Taylor, who sought a seat on the school board last April. "And then that allowed us to be able to get familiar with the process, so then we can add the elementary schools because we've worked out all of the kinks."

The group is scoring conceptual proposals at Hadley against a dozen goals aimed at minimizing the impact on property taxes and operating costs, conserving outdoor activity spaces and improving safety, among others. They're also looking at whether "core" spaces are flexible enough for programming in the years ahead.

Though the building is "in good repair," Voltaggio said, "there's certainly some obsolescence."

The next step is a similar inquiry in the district's four elementary schools and determining where to house potential full-day kindergarten classes. The district has proposed three options: building a new school on five acres of district-owned land, building an early childhood center on the so-called Spalding site, or building additions to existing schools.

Any of those projects would require voter approval, officials have said. The task force won't be recommending a timeline for such a measure, Voltaggio said.

Several board members expressed confidence in the group's expertise.

"I know this is a herculean effort, and I'm very impressed that you've gone as far as you have," board member Drew Ellis said.

The task force will next meet at Hadley 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.