When we last looked at the Champaign Unit 4 high school referendum, we were astonished by how close the vote as a first-time measure on the ballot. We were hopeful that somehow our community would pull together to find a solution to providing our kids with the new high school they need — the high school that will propel ALL students to a productive future.
A whole lot has happened since.
To summarize:
- The Unit 4 school board voted to put the referendum on the April ballot, with several tweaks including money for the renovation of Dr. Howard Elementary School.
- A grassroots community group called “Keep Central Central” came forward with the objective to defeat the referendum because of its objection to the Interstate Drive site.
- School board members have been working behind the scenes and in plain sight on building a case for another site – with Dodds Park as the focus.
- An editorial in Sunday’s News-Gazette pushed forward the idea of Dodds Park as a viable location.
- There’s a petition circulating which asks the Park District Board to offer 37 acres of Dodds Park (although there’s no name attached to it.).
- On Tuesday, Superintendent Judy Wiegand submitted a second formal letter (see PDF: J. DeLuce 2.10.15) to Champaign Park District executive director Joe DeLuce requesting 40 acres of Dodds Park for the new high school.
- On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Champaign Park District Board of Commissioners will discuss the possibility of holding a future public forum regarding the location of the new Central High School during its regular meeting.
Let’s look at the facts (bear with me here as they are a little choppy) presented with just a touch of editorialization.
HISTORY
– The Champaign Park District and Champaign Unit 4 Schools have a long history of productive, successful partnership that has benefited the community. The two share facilities routinely.
– Dodds Park belongs to the taxpayers. It was purchased from the Seeber family in 1969 using grant funds, and has 110 acres in total.
– Dodds Park is named in honor of D.C. “Pick” Dodds, the first president of the city’s park district. The Dodds family’s passion for and commitment to the Champaign Park District — and other civic causes — is unimpeachable. Members of the Dodds family served as Park District commissioners for the better part of an 80-year span, until very recently.
TRANSPORTATION
– Parkland College is already on the CUMTD bus route; parking is ample.
– There is significant student population within walking distance; Dr. Wiegand cites Garden Hills, located across the street from Dodds Park, as the school district’s most densely populated neighborhood. There are 1828 students currently enrolled district-wide within 1.5 miles of Dodds Park; compare that to 411 within the same area to Interstate Drive, and 1441 to the current Central High School.
FACILITY
– Dodds Park has a football field on the grounds as well as other athletic facilities that could be used by the new high school, reducing the acreage needed.
– Building at Dodds Park would be similar in cost structure to building on “greenfield” (undeveloped) property.
COMPENSATION
– Acquisition of Park District land by another governmental entity would trigger a compensation plan, most often in the form of the land swap. The district has offered some of the Interstate Drive land and other land it owns near Barkstall Elementary in southwest Champaign, but a plan hasn’t been formalized.
– There is precedent for land swaps between the school district and the Park District, although on a smaller scale. The Park District added five acres to Morrissey Park in South Champaign’s Devonshire neighborhood in a land swap for property in Centennial Park; Hazel Park (corner of Bradley and Neil) was also acquired by the Park District in a land swap.
The PARKLAND FACTOR
– Parkland Community College and Champaign Unit 4 Schools are partnering to serve students with the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment program, which provides credit toward both the high school diploma and
a college degree at the same time. Unit 4 enrollment in Dual Credit increased 93% over the period between fall 2009 and fall 2013.
– Parkland offers a wide opportunity of resources that would be impractical to duplicate, most notably its Applied Technology Center where students have opportunities to experience automotive, welding, electronic systems education, construction trades and more. Career and Technical Education is lacking in Champaign Unit 4 Schools overall.
– The “Early College and Career Academy” (ECCA) at Parkland College starts in the Fall of 2015. It will offer college career and technical education dual credit courses aligned with Illinois State Board of Education approved high school courses to high school students on the campus of Parkland College.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Why is Dodds Park so attractive as a location for the new Champaign high school? Having access to Parkland College — a willing partner — and its depth of resources is a game changer for secondary education in our community. The partnership would cater to a variety of student needs — those at risk of dropping out, or those who are academically gifted; those who decide to pursue vocational/trades programs or those focused on a path to a four-year college degree. It’s simply mind-boggling.
Even in a digital world, proximity still matters. Whether students can walk to school or have access to unique educational resources (that taxpayers are already supporting) at Parkland, proximity is important.
Early college high schools are a bold approach to an old problem: creating a job-ready workforce and raising graduation rates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been pouring millions of dollars into early college high schools on the coasts with the goal to “strengthen America’s high schools and ultimately raise high school graduation rates, particularly among African-American and Hispanic students.” And it has worked: 92 percent of early college students graduate high school versus the national rate of 69 percent.
Why can’t we have the same thing in flyover country?
There are legitimate objections; no plan is perfect. No one wants to see park acreage taken off the map, but other land would come into play (yes, at expense to build and maintain those parks). Some object to having high school students co-mingling with college students.
Here’s just one opinion, but the Dodds Park solution adds up. Consider this statement made by Dr. Wiegand in her letter to Mr. DeLuce.
“I believe this is our opportunity as community leaders to come together to build a better Champaign for generations to come.”
What do you think? Voice your opinion in the comments below.
Laura Weisskopf Bleill is mom-in-chief of chambanamoms.com and is a Champaign resident. She’s shocked you read this far.