School Demographics and New Schools

I came across a recent entry by Jim Dey on the News-Gazette weblog regarding demographic changes in Unit 4 schools. The article definitely casts doubt on assertions that new buildings are necessary to accomodate enrollment growth. It also highlights the fact that Champaign schools are now only 50% white, down from 64% in 1992-93, and that the percentage of students who live in poverty has increased from 25% of the student population in 1992-93 to 37.5% in 2004-05.

http://www.news-gazette.com/ngweblog/index.cfm?post=326&blog=7

I read the 2002 court opinion and Second Revised Consent Decree, authored by Hon. Joe Billy McDade (former Bradley University basketball star), and was surprised to find out that there really aren't enough seats to accomodate all of the students who live near schools north of University Avenue. (That opinion, BTW, is Johnson, et. al. v. Board of Education of Champaign Unit School District #4 (188 F.Supp.2d 944 (Dist. Ct., C.D. IL) (Jan. 29, 2002)).

As of the 2001-2002 school year, the north end schools had total capacity of 1,656 students, compared to total Kindergarten - Fifth grade population of 1,745 students. Given that some of the schools in that part of the City (e.g.. Dr. Howard) tend to be older, anyway, it really does look like new buildings are long overdue.

There is still the issue of existing overcapacity, however. Historically, north side schools have been under-selected by north side parents taking part in the 'controlled choice' (nice oxymoron there) program. In other words, even if you live within walking distance of shiny new Stratton, you might well opt to have your kids bussed to shiny new Barkstall, on the far south end of Champaign.

So, in the interest of racial balance, Unit 4 has to actively promote Stratton and other north side schools, to try to get more south side families to choose that school. The uncomfortable fact is that lots of black parents are willing to bus their kids south to go to school, but few white parents are willing to bus their kids north.

In the long, long run, here's hoping that Unit 4 has great schools in every corner of town, so that parents who don't want to bus, don't have to, and those that do, have lots of great choices.