I am surprised to read that the Morton School Board and Superintendent Roger Kilpatrick approved a plan to update Morton grade schools that includes the eventual closing of Jefferson School. The results of the recent survey conducted by the village as part of their long-term planning clearly indicates residents of Morton do not support a plan that includes closing Jefferson School. The decision to close Jefferson School is wrong and will still be wrong six years from now.
A January 2010 report by the National Trust for Historic Preservation underscores the value of a community-centered school, such as Jefferson. The authors of the report state that “a community-centered school helps anchor the surrounding neighborhood, is centrally-located to a majority of students and uses existing infrastructure whenever possible.” Jefferson School is an anchor for the Village of Morton.
Has the school board considered factors such as the existence of safe routes to school, being able to walk to school, use of existing infrastructure and the property values of the homes of those families served by Jefferson School? I have not heard a clear explanation supporting Jefferson’s closure that includes consideration of the factors and their associated costs. Focusing on the easily quantifiable maintenance and improvement costs tells only a portion of an important story whose ending has significant impact on the voters in the Village of Morton and their children.
My mother attended Jefferson School, I went there and my children are students there today. We agree with the majority of Mortonites who believe that the plan to close Jefferson School is wrong. The school board needs to account for this in developing their long-term plans.
Matt Nance
Morton
