Tensions are high as the district board attempts to propose a new zoning ordinance for the schools in district 202. What was once considered a small town in the 90s, Plainfield has since grown exponentially, and continues to today, approaching a new issue: overpopulation.
The district has recognized this matter and have turned to boundary changes as the solution. Currently, the district is divided into four different zones, notably named the red house, orange house, green house, and blue house. Each consists of elementary, middle and high schools.
Due to the new subdivisions that have surfaced over the past five to ten years, boundaries become increasingly unbalanced.
Depending on where students live, the new boundary proposal could change their school placement in the future. Superintendent Dr. Glen Wood clarifies the district’s overall intent.
“The goal is to balance enrollment, use resources more efficiently, and ensure equitable learning environments across the district,” Wood said.
Principal Lisa Smith adds that the proposal is designed to ensure that the district is using their resources as sustainable and equitable as possible, so that they can continue to do so in the future.
The proposal involves two phases. The first enacts the new boundary changes into the subdivisions during the next upcoming school year. The second starts the construction of a new middle school in the Red house in order to improve transportation routes and the use of natural boundaries dividing neighborhoods, like rivers.
To gather the most unbiased information and opinion, the district board hired a third party company to complete a two-year review and study the boundaries to determine if redistricting was necessary. Recently, the company, RSP, has presented their findings (the new mapping of the school divisions,)to the board and the community for feedback.
“Eventually we do believe we’re going to need to change the boundaries, whether it’s this year or next year or the future. So really, this will continue to be on our radar,” Wood said.
Families in District 202 exemplify mixed opinions on the matter at hand. Some show support in the effort the board is making to solve the overcrowding and equity concerns. Others–specifically those directly affected by the changes–have expressed strong opposition.
“Despite differing opinions, there’s a shared commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for students, and all input is being carefully reviewed as we refine the proposal,” Wood said.
Some concerns include “losing neighborhood school connections and skepticism about enrollment projections,” according to Wood.
A mother of two-one child attending Plainfield North as a sophomore and one still in middle school-shares the emotional toll that switching schools could have on her high school student.
“They are at such an influential age right now. If [they’re] uprooting them, [they’re] changing their identity from ‘Hey I’m a tiger, and now I’m a Bengal,’. That’s really going to negatively impact [some kids] from a mental health aspect,” said the mother from North who wishes to remain anonymous.
She also finds herself confused with some of the boundary changes, and believes that the district should only use one type of boundary, natural or man-made, in order to create a smoother map transition.
Serenity Palacios, a junior at Plainfield Central comments that all of her peers in her neighborhood are likely to be affected by the zoning changes if the proposal is passed.
“I think me and the others [in my neighborhood] would be upset as we’ve been going to the same high school [and have been] around the same people for so many years already,” Palacios said.
Although Principal Smith doesn’t believe that there will be a significant impact on the students at South, she’s prepared her administration team in case support is needed.
“At PSHS, we pride ourselves on providing a welcoming and supportive environment for every student. We are committed to extending this support to all new students, whether they join us due to boundary changes or transfer from another district,” Smith said.
As the proposal has not yet been made official, the board is committed to review all of the feedback received before voting, even extending the comment period to allow more input from the community. The final decision will be made on Dec. 17 of this year.