Woodland Jan. 24 Meeting Time Changes After Learning of State Charter School Commission Meeting

The start time for the Woodland Governing meeting is being changed on January 24 due to the Illinois State Charter School Commission unexpectedly rescheduling its meeting to the same day. The commission is considering renewal of the charter for Prairie Crossing Charter School and an increase in the charter's enrollment cap.

The Woodland Board of Education Governing meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., a half hour later than usual. The board convenes at 6:30 p.m., followed by a closed session and then the open session begins immediately after the closed portion.

Woodland Board members are planning to attend the state charter school commission meeting set for 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on January 24 at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. The meeting is a replacement for one cancelled in December in Grayslake.

Prairie Crossing Charter School is one of eight in the state authorized by the Illinois Charter School Commission. Woodland continues to object to the operation because the charter does not appropriately serve at-risk students living in the Woodland community. Also, if the commission approves of the enrollment increase, combined with the state formula change, that will mean significant additional funding losses for Woodland schools. Since 1999 when Prairie Crossing Charter School opened, the state of Illinois has diverted more than $44 million from Woodland to support operation of the charter school. Today, 385 Woodland students attend the school.