Officials in Lockport Township High School District 205 need to do a better job communicating how much building a new school will cost homeowners, according to several residents who spoke at a summit last week designed to address the district’s overcrowding problem.
Residents said they understand the schools are overcrowded and that the method of staggering shifts so juniors and seniors begin their day at 6:44 a.m. is not a good long-term solution.
Still, they said, they are feeling overburdened on their property tax bills, and with high unemployment and foreclosure rates and a weak economy, a tax hike to pay for a new school would not be easy.
More than 100 people attended the summit Thursday in Homer Glen, which brought together leaders from the high school and the three communities it serves.
Homer Glen Mayor Jim Daley hosted the summit, with another planned for April 22 at Lockport Township High School.
Residents were able to voice their concerns and offer suggestions on how to alleviate overcrowding, which now is at about 300 students over capacity.
Many residents were concerned about higher property taxes, especially for senior citizens and those facing hardships in tough economic times, if voters were to approve a tax increase to build a new high school.
School officials believe building a second four-year high school on district-owned land in Homer Glen would be the best solution, yet five referendum proposals have been voted down since March 2006.
This year staggered shifts were implemented at a cost of about $500,000 a year to clear up hallway and classroom space, but the staggered shifts have caused low morale among teachers, students and parents, according to an independent study released in December.
“It breaks my heart to think these children have to go in shifts,” Homer Glen resident Paul Passolano said. “It doesn’t seem like a fair and reasonable quality of life for these kids.”
Passolano urged leaders to come up with a solution to the overcrowding problem.
“I share everyone’s concern about tax overload,” he said. “But I see (a new school) as an investment in my children.”
Other residents said they see the district’s failed referendum measures as a problem that will extend far beyond the schools.
Property values will fall, and businesses and new homeowners are not going to build in these neighborhoods, they said.
“I moved here to be a part of something that was growing,” Lockport resident Sean Sweeney said. “I’m disappointed. … I implore you to put the finances out there to build the school, maintain it and retain the teachers. In my opinion, you guys have to build the school. If you don’t, I’m out.”
Some residents said they were concerned how the district would draw new boundaries and which high school their children would attend.
They suggested the district leave it up to individual parents on whether to send their children to the East Campus in Lockport or to a new school in Homer Glen.
Others suggested that if Crest Hill and Lockport taxpayers were opposed to building a school in Homer Glen, then Homer Glen could deannex from the district and form its own high school district.
The scenario stems from the 1970s, when the former Lockport West High School was removed from the district and became Romeoville High School.
A similar situation would be nearly impossible today, school officials said.
They are now in a listening mode, and no decisions have been made on when the next referendum will be.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services