Families address D-26 about possible school closure
By BRETT ROWLAND - browland@nwherald.com
CARY – A group of concerned parents asked the District 26 School Board for information about a proposal to close one of the schools in the district.
Parents packed into a board meeting Monday night seeking answers about which of the district’s six schools could be shuttered and how that would affect students. Several spoke out urging the board to look at alternatives.
Lauren Lukowski, a mother of three District 26 students, attended Monday’s meeting after getting an e-mail about the possible closure from another parent.
“Our taxes are already high, and the schools, to my knowledge, are at capacity,” she said. “Where are all those students going to go if a school is closed? What is going to happen to class sizes?”
Those questions weren’t answered Monday. Board President Dave Ruelle said discussions were ongoing and pressed parents to remain engaged.
“Please stay involved,” he said. “Nothing has been set in stone.”
In budget talks this year, Superintendent Brian Coleman said district staff members and the school board would consider all options for balancing the district’s budget, including closing a school and another bond referendum. District enrollment has dropped by about 300 students in recent years.
Closing a school could possibly help the district save money and streamline operations and is one of many options under consideration, Coleman said. The district’s expenses have exceeded revenues for about a decade and the board has vowed not to pass another unbalanced budget.
The board has not taken any action on either of those proposals. No school could be shuttered this year, Coleman said.
Several of the parents at the meeting Monday had students at Maplewood School, although officials have not said which school, if any, they would consider for closure. Theresa Slavik, the parent of two children at Maplewood School e-mailed other parents and urged them to address the board. She said closing one school would affect the entire district.
“We are all concerned; this is not just Maplewood parents,” Slavik said.
“We all want the budget balanced, but we also want to maintain the quality of education,” Slavik said.
Many already frustrated parents were further irked when the board meeting scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. commenced at 7:44 p.m. The tardy start was the result of a closed session discussion that went longer than anticipated, Ruelle said.
Ruelle asked those concerned about a school closure to attend the district’s next Finance Committee meeting at 7 p.m. July 13, at Cary Junior High, 2109 Crystal Lake Road, in Cary. He said discussions at that meeting would address the issue further and allow time for community interaction.
