Orland School District 135 will risk having larger class sizes to offer full-day kindergarten in four neighborhood schools.
The school board on Monday voted 6-0 to rescind its decision to spend $4 million to convert Park School to a districtwide early education center for the fall 2016 start of all-day kindergarten.
Board members pinned the reversal on state funding worries and parent concerns.
“I’ve spoken to dozens upon dozens of people who would prefer to keep their kids in their (local) school,” board member Michael Carroll said.
The board last fall backed the plan to build six more classrooms at Park and last month gave FGM Architects a $310,000 design contract. But board President Joe La Margo raised a concern that FGM had done the study recommending a kindergarten center, so he pushed for an “independent” analysis.
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That review found that converting computer labs, library space and even part of an oversized kitchen used only for warming meals at Center School would give the four schools — Center, Park, Centennial and Prairie — the classroom space needed for full-day kindergarten.
The catch is that first- and second-grade class sizes could exceed the board’s recommended levels.
Study author Pat Callahan, senior principal at Chicago architecture firm Studio GC, said first- and second-grade class sizes could grow from 23 to 26 students at Park and Prairie schools and to 25 students at Center. But those figures are based on optimistic enrollment growth for a district that actually has seen a dip in recent years.
“I’d rather take my chances right now and increase the class sizes by one or two students,” La Margo said, emphasizing that would only happen in a “worst-case” enrollment scenario. “We have a responsibility to taxpayers.”
The board gave its attorney permission to start negotiating with Callahan, whose plan to convert existing areas and add space-saving storage “learning walls” to classrooms comes with a $750,000 price tag.
Computer labs were deemed expendable with Monday’s approval of an $850,000 Apple purchase that next year will complete the district’s plan to provide all students in third through eighth grades with their own computers. Computer resource carts are shared among lower grades.
Callahan’s hire nixes FGM’s contract. The more than $3 million in savings associated with switching plans was touted by board members in light of potential state education cuts and Gov. Bruce Rauner’s wish to “freeze” property taxes, the main source of local funding for schools.
“I’m not in favor of increasing class sizes, but it may be a reality that we have eventually because we wouldn’t have money to make the payroll (pending state funding cuts),” board member Laura Berry said.
The reversal comes less than a month before La Margo and Tina Zekich go before the voters in re-election bids. Board member Greg Okon, who was absent Monday, also is on the April 7 ballot along with newcomer Angie Sexton. Three seats are up for election.
Patrick Guinane is a freelance reporter.