Solutions for the overcrowding situation at Clarendon Hills Middle School remain a question mark for Community Consolidated School District 181. Redistricting may be in the district’s future.

Superintendent James Tenbusch announced Monday the Clarendon Hills Park District denied the district’s request to place portable classrooms on their property behind Clarendon Hills Middle School next year. Tenbusch met with park commissioners April 28 to request putting in four portable classroom units on the park’s sand volleyball court directly behind CHMS. Park Commissioner Mary Williams said she was concerned because when she first heard of the plan, it was for 18 months, and it has since changed to up to three years in Tenbusch’s presentation. Williams said the Park Board did not feel District 181 had any firm plans to solve overcrowding. Without a specific timeline and it being a pretty expensive proposal, the Park Board denied the proposal.

“The Park Board wants to be a good neighbor, and we do want to help where we can,” Williams said. “But I think our feeling was what was presented to us was really not sound, and we’d like to see District 181 come up with a more concrete plan.”

Tenbusch said there is an alternative proposal that is currently being discussed that would provide additional space on site without the need for temporary buildings or new construction. He did not elaborate on the idea, but did add he is unsure if it will provide the necessary relief they are looking for in the short-run. Tenbusch recommended that the Monday, May 12 meeting be entirely devoted to exploring remaining options, including redistricting.

“During the interval, I will be personally contacting more than 100 families of current fifth-graders that reside in the CHMS attendance zone, but who in fact live closer to (Hinsdale Middle School) than CHMS, to encourage voluntary transfers next year,” Tenbusch said. “The Board and I will be looking for ways to incentivize this change in enrollment.”

Parents at Monday night’s board meeting expressed interest in redistricting. 

“I'm relieved to hear that redistricting is being considered because if you remove the emotional and the political issues behind it, it seems to be the most practical,” said CHMS parent Robin Randall.

Parent Desiree Tucker-Sorini said in order to move forward, parents and school officials must work together. She proposed the district promote open enrollment at HMS and hold an open house at HMS for families from Walker, Prospect, Monroe and The Lane to see the advantages of attending that school in 2008-09.

Tucker-Sorini then suggested the district explore the implications of changing the boundaries for middle school attendance during the summer and propose a plan in the fall for redistricting to begin in 2009-10. 

“In my opinion, we must redistrict. But we need to explore all the different options for redistricting and look at the long-term effects and budget implications,” Tucker-Sorini said. “This is not as simple as some assume.”