Galesburg District 205 families will see two changes take effect next fall if the board approves a pair of agenda items Monday night — a later start time for Lombard Middle School and elementary boundary adjustments that will move 43 students to different schools.
The Galesburg District 205 Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9.
Lombard start times
The board will consider moving Lombard Middle School’s start time back 25 minutes, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Dismissal would shift from 2:15 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Superintendent John Asplund told WGIL the district evaluated two proposals for later start times. The 25-minute shift was the middle option — and the one administration is recommending.
“That was the one that didn’t add extra cost, and we could still safely say that we have enough drivers to do that one,” Asplund said.
The more aggressive option — a 45-minute shift to an 8:15 a.m. start — would have required five additional buses for afternoon K-4 routes at an additional annual cost of $346,521. District officials also noted that driver shortages made that option impractical to staff.
Under the recommended proposal, Lombard and Galesburg Junior High would each have their own dedicated bus routes. GHS bell times would remain unchanged at 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
Elementary boundary changes
The board will also consider adjusting attendance boundaries for three elementary schools, with 43 students assigned to different buildings beginning next fall.
The primary change moves a neighborhood in the Home Boulevard area — 34 students — from Steele Elementary to Silas Willard. A separate adjustment moves nine students near St. Patrick’s Church on the south side from Silas Willard to King Elementary, for a total of 43 students affected by the boundary changes.
Asplund said Steele’s enrollment has grown roughly 30% over the past three years and is nearing a point of overcrowding.
“It’s gotten to the point where you could almost say it’s overcrowded,” Asplund told WGIL. “It’s not, but it’s getting to that point.”
The nine students near St. Patrick’s Church currently cross a railroad crossing on their way to school, which Asplund said causes frequent late arrivals. Moving them to King eliminates that crossing from their route.
“They go to King, they’ll avoid that, so they will be late less,” Asplund said.
District officials say the boundary changes do not require any new teaching positions. One additional section of fourth grade will be added at King Elementary and one section of first grade at Silas Willard, both of which can be absorbed within existing staffing processes.
The board will also consider Monday a separate $276,474 contract for new video boards and scoreboards at Van Dyke Field and John Thiel Gym. Full details and renderings here.
The Galesburg District 205 Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Monday. Click here for the full agenda packet.
