3 minute read
Grandfathering policy, class size focus of final school boundary study meeting in Sycamore
from DC_Midweek_020823
by Shaw Media
By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com
SYCAMORE – Sycamore School District
427 Superintendent Steve Wilder spoke to parents of North Elementary students Monday, Jan. 30, about a school boundary study that could lead to some students attending different schools in the fall.
The meeting at North Elementary was the last in a series of public meetings about the district’s five elementary schools, all of which would be impacted one way or another by a recommendation to adjust school boundaries Wilder said he plans on giving to the board later this month.
The five meetings held in January were conducted to give Sycamore parents the ability to ask questions and voice reaction about the elementary school boundary plan. Beginning at North Grove Elementary, Wilder held separate meetings for full-time faculty and staff ahead of each school’s public meeting.
“A month ago, when I started at North
News Briefs
Dimensions Dance Academy to offer salsa dancing lessons Feb. 11
DeKALB – Dimensions Dance Academy will host a Salsa Dancing Night class from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Dimension’s Ballroom, 134 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.
The fee for salsa night is $35 per duo. The lessons will be taught by Dimension’s dance instructor Becca Steger.
Dimension’s Dance Academy has partnered with El Jimador to offer a complimentary appetizer or dessert of their choice to Salsa Night participants. To make a res-
WHERE IT’S AT
Grove, I truly walked into that meeting not knowing what questions were going to be asked or what new information would come to light,” Wilder said.
Population growth on the Sycamore’s north side has outperformed the city’s other areas, leading to what district officials have described as uneven student populations among the district’s elementary schools.
Among the topics of concern from parents at the Jan. 30 meeting was class size.
Melissa Smith, mother of a fifth and third grader at North Elementary, said her youngest child has 24 students in his class.
“I am concerned that it’s going to end up being 29 students in his class, and that is a lot,” said Smith, a substitute teacher who sometimes works at North Elementary. “I think he has too many students in his class with 24.”
Smith said she doesn’t think North Elementary has the same room the newer North Grove Elementary does and worries about students being packed into class- ervation, call 815-217-0990.
For information or to buy tickets, visit dimensionsdanceacademy.com.
DeKalb Township offers new Senior Utility Assistance program
DeKALB – DeKalb Township will offer a new Senior Utility Assistance program to provide relief to area elderly residents having trouble paying their gas, electric, water or propane bills.
The program will provide various services to DeKalb Township residents ages 65 and older in response to rising utility costs,
PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzlesonpage13 rooms at the older facility.
“North is an old school, and North Grove has big, beautiful classrooms, and it’s different here,” Smith said. “I mean, we don’t have the same room space that they do over at North Grove. So to me I think it’s really unfair that you’re sending more kids here and we don’t have the same facility as a place like North Grove, and we already have large class sizes here. So, for you to send more people is unfair to us, is unfair to the kids, is unfair to the staff.” according to a news release.
Wilder said ballooning class sizes is “the last thing” he wants to do and noted the changes he plans on recommending were created on a basis that the average class size at each school would not become bigger than they are.
Now that all five elementary school public meetings have convened, Wilder said he will present his final recommendation to the district’s school board Feb. 14. The board will then have two weeks to mull over the recommendation before an expected vote Feb. 28.
Program aid is dependent on a household’s income levels. The program assistance includes information about energy-saving resources, help applying for LIHEAP and other state benefits, or financial assistance paid directly to the utility provider.
Applicants for the aid program must be DeKalb Township residents. All utility bills must be paid for in the name of the applicant or of another senior living in the household.
For information, call 815-758-8282.
–ShawLocalNewsNetwork
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On The Cover
A Mexico mural on the wall at Andale Taco Shop, on the corner of Locust and East State streets in Sycamore, is seen Friday, Feb. 3. The quick service restaurant has been open three months. Owner Oliver Michel said he took a risk by including a variety of Mexican dishes in Andale’s menu.
See story, page 6.
Photo by Camden Lazenby –clazenby@shawmedia.com
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