District Approves Wallin Oaks As Name For 18th Elementary School

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield School District 202 Board of Education approved a name for one of its new schools during the meeting on Tuesday. The 18th elementary school will be called Wallin Oaks, reflecting the nearby Wallin Woods and Indian Oaks neighborhoods.

The board had approved the new location last July and the building will be the district's 18th full-service elementary building. The new school is being built to help create enough space in all the district's elementary schools to allow for full-day kindergarten for all eligible students. It should also allow for additional space for special education classes and programs districtwide.

District 202 has always offered half-day kindergarten. However, it has been able to provide only one full-day kindergarten class at each elementary school — 408 students total — the last three years because of space constraints, while enrollment dropped, and finances stabilized.

Wallin Oaks will be a full-service, Pre-K-5 school, the same as the district's other elementary schools, and will be 10,000 square feet, making it larger than Elizabeth Eichelberger, the last elementary school to open before District 202’s growth stopped in 2008.

District officials surveyed a wide range of teachers, administration, and staff to ensure that the new building will meet all teaching, space, and logistical needs. The new school will also include a storm shelter as now required by state law.

Construction started in April and Wallin Oaks is expected to open its doors next August.

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