Superintendent Discusses District Reconfiguration

From Superintendent Michael Bregy

I am writing with an update regarding the district reconfiguration plan under consideration by the District 112 Board of Education. As most of you are already aware, after months of planning, review, and extensive community discussion, the Board is currently evaluating a 7-building consolidation model.

This model offers opportunities for improved and enhanced educational experiences, allows for upgraded facilities that will support our programs for decades to come, and can be delivered within the district’s budgetary capacity. The main components of the 7-building model include:

• The construction of a new middle school campus on the current Red Oak/Sherwood site, which would have two buildings – one for grades 5-6, and the other for grades 7-8. Each school would serve approximately 1,000 students.
• The renovation of five existing schools, which would each serve grades K-4:

• Edgewood (Five classrooms per grade level)
• Indian Trail (Four classrooms per grade level)
• Northwood/Wayne Thomas (The renovated site would have one building, with five classrooms per grade level)
• Oak Terrace (Four classrooms per grade level)
• Braeside OR Ravinia (Three classrooms per grade level)

At a School Board work session held last evening, the Board addressed the question of whether the Braeside or Ravinia location should be retained in the 7-building model.

We understand that this is an important issue for all students, parents, and community members involved, and we want to share with you the information that will help support the Board’s decision.

As part of this discussion, our architect team Nagle Hartray presented the School Board with their recommendation, based on a comparative analysis of the two sites. Their review focused on several specific criteria, including building functionality, site accessibility and amenities, the impact on proposed renovation and construction on school activities, and overall cost.

Based on these factors, Nagle Hartray recommended that the Braeside school be included in the 7-building model because the required renovations and new construction/addition work will be less disruptive to school operations as compared to what would be required at the Ravinia School, and the overall project cost is lower and will provide a better functioning facility to meet the needs of the District.

Further information will be considered by the Board in making a final determination of whether to include Braeside or Ravinia in the 7-building consolidation model, including evaluating feedback already received and currently being gathered from students, parents, and other interested stakeholders in the neighborhoods served by these schools.

Additional real estate investigations, including property appraisals for both facilities and evaluation of appropriate potential future uses for the sites are also important factors that will be taken into consideration by the Board.

As our district staff continues to work on many details related to possible reconfiguration, we encourage your continued involvement in the process and welcome your questions and comments.

An online survey seeking your input has recently been launched and district administrators are currently visiting school PTA/PTOs to share information about the process and discuss next steps. Additional community meetings are also planned for January.

Information about the process and the 7-building model, including a frequently-updated FAQ page, is available on the District website, www.nssd112.org.

To ask questions or offer comments or suggestions about anything related to this important effort, please submit them online through the District’s “Let’s Talk” page.

Thank you again for your time, your thoughtful consideration, and your input and feedback as we work together to make these critical decisions to support the future of our District.