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District 34 considers closing portable classrooms
Updated: April 8, 2013 6:14AM
GLENVIEW — Changing enrollments in Glenview’s School District 34 could result in closing portable classrooms at Henking and Westbrook schools in Glenview.
Currently, Henking has one mobile unit while Westbrook maintains two.
The schools have two mobile units with two classrooms each and were purchased and installed with plumbing and electricity for $534,600 in 2008.
In a Monday report to school trustees, Henking’s enrollment decreased slightly from 2008-13; however projections showed “a fairly significant drop” from 533 students this year to 473 in 2017-18.”
At Westbrook, enrollment increased from 511 students in 2008-09 to 526 this year, but the need for additional classrooms did not increase because enrollment has basically remained even while class sizes have gone up.
Robert Strande, interim director of facilities for District 34, presented the report and posed how the buildings could be used, including selling them.
“Don’t expect much in return. Resale is very limited,” he said, adding no renovations were needed for the Henking unit, which are first- and second-grader classrooms.
“There is a high probability that during that time (2012-18) two or all four classrooms could be brought back into the main building,” stated the report.
Several classes are scheduled at the Westbrook unit, such as reading, blended early childhood for pre-kindergarteners and life/drama skills, as well as teacher offices.
For 2013-14, enrollment projections at Westbrook showed 497 students, gradually declining to 476 in 2017-18 and holding steady at 477 to 2022-23.
Strande said one Westbrook unit could be closed and sealed, during which district administrators could evaluate usage.
He also said one portable structure could become departmental or central administrative offices, a technology center, thus relieving a crowded situation in the current Administrative Building at 1401 Greenwood Road, Glenview.
