District 113A Faces Reality of Closing Central School

After several years of discussion and speculation, the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education is expected to vote Monday night on the possible closing of Central School.

During a special meeting Thursday night, District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker, Asst. Superintendent Mary Gricus and Central School Principal Gina Rodewald presented a report on possible reorganization scenarios for next year. The plans were originally presented to the board in February, but were updated to reflect the failure of the $20 million working cash bond referendum last month.

Taking into consideration the district's financial condition, the declining enrollment patterns and the potential to maximize resources and facilities, the administration is officially recommending that the district close Central School "until the financial situation can accommodate the addition of staff and programs."

The recommendation is based on the district's need for a "sound long range plan," "fiscal responsibility," "optimization of facilities" and "optimization of staffing resources," according to the presentation.

The closing of Central School would save approximately $356,747, according to district documents.

In terms of reorganization, the district would have two options should Central School close. In the first option, the buildings would remain at status quo. However, the total population at the River Valley/Oakwood campus would exceed 1,500, which is greater than the population of Lemont High School:

• Oakwood School: Early Childhood, Grades K-2 (750 students)
• River Valley School: Grades 3-5 (798 students)
• Old Quarry Middle School: Grades 6-8 (872 students)

The second option would be to reorganize the schools so that fifth-graders are sent to Old Quarry, essentially creating two schools in one building:

• Oakwood School: Early Childhood, Grades K-2 (750 students)
• River Valley School: Grades 3-4 (537 students)
• Old Quarry Middle School: Grades 5-8 (1,133 students)

"We at Central School have been preparing for this for two years," Rodewald said. "I have been preparing my teachers for this, I have been preparing my parents for this and I have been preparing the students for this. We are ready.

"We know this is the what we at Central School can do to help this district recover."