Central 301 is at a pivotal moment, facing enrollment pressures that are straining our facilities and stretching our resources to their limits, impacting students across all grade levels. We are at full capacity—not just in our elementary schools, but throughout the district. The challenges we face today are just the beginning of what’s to come in the next 5 to 10 years and beyond. We are seeking a long-term solution that will carry our district into the future.
Last night, the Board of Education approved a resolution to place a $224.6 million referendum on the November 5 General Election ballot. This proposal is more than just a response to our current space issues; it’s a proactive plan to address both the space and programming needs of our students. We are currently unable to provide the space necessary to enhance educational opportunities and expand the programming our students deserve. The referendum includes building a new high school, repurposing the current high school into a unified middle school for grades 6-8, and converting Prairie Knolls into the district’s fifth elementary school—located on the East side of the district where the majority of our students reside. This directly addresses community requests for more elementary space and a consolidated middle school experience. Growth has happened and will continue to happen, as noted in RSP’s analysis, making it essential that we take action now to prepare for the future.
While other Chicagoland districts are pursuing referendums for renovations and upgrades, our proposal focuses on creating the necessary space for our growing student population. We’re not just thinking about the present; we’re planning for the future, avoiding the pitfalls of short-term fixes.
Community members have suggested an $80 million alternative plan, which is similar to one consideration discussed during our November 2022 Focus Group, where only two participants supported this option. This community-proposed plan included building a 2-story, 700-student grade school, adding 8-12 classrooms to PKMS, and addressing “pinch points” at CHS, such as parking. However, this approach presents substantial challenges, including:
- Increased enrollment at PKMS would require a new traffic pattern for pick-up and drop-off;
- An addition at PKMS would limit the current parking area for our growing bus fleet for the east side of our district;
- Elective spaces for art, band, career technical education, physical education, etc., would need to be expanded to accommodate the additional sections due to enrollment;
- Adding student parking near the CHS main entrance would be challenging as the stormwater basin on the property would need to be substantially increased in size, which may require either retaining walls or underground stormwater storage tanks beneath the parking area. This could represent substantial costs.
- Removing embedded lockers and creating locker banks would not widen corridors at CHS and would fail to relieve congestion;
- While the classroom addition will provide much needed core classroom space, it does not provide space for technical (i.e., medical, engineering) and hands-on programming (i.e., manufacturing, mechanical) and other elective coursework (i.e., art, music) where class sizes are generally smaller.
This plan would significantly restrict our ability to offer the diverse elective programming that our middle and high school students not only deserve but need to make informed choices about their futures. Middle and high school are critical times for students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and prepare for life beyond graduation. Limiting these opportunities would hinder their ability to make educated decisions about their post-secondary paths. It’s essential that our community understands the importance of providing a broad range of experiences that equip our students for success in whatever they choose to pursue.
Though we’ve worked hard to engage the community through focus groups, town halls, and special board meetings over the past two years, participation has been lower than desired. The decision before us is crucial, and it’s essential that we engage in meaningful, face-to-face discussions. We’re planning more opportunities for in-person dialogue next month and encourage you to join us. Let’s come together, recognize the urgency of this moment, and take bold action to secure the future of our schools.
We are already stretched, and based on the RSP analysis and what we are currently seeing, the referendum decision will be crucial to the educational experience of our students. We must ensure that our students have the space, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed—both today and in the years ahead. Let’s remember our mission: our kids. Your continued support of Central 301 is vital as we work together to provide the best educational environment for every student.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our district.
#WeAreCentral
Sincerely,
Esther Mongan
Central 301 Superintendent of Schools