District 300 proposes boundary shift from Hampshire to Jacobs; parents urge grandfathering

District 300 staff on Tuesday presented a proposed boundary change that would move some students from Hampshire High School to Jacobs High School to relieve projected capacity shortfalls.

The proposal, delivered by Chief Technology Officer John Hummel, cites rapid housing development in the western portion of the district and demographer projections of roughly 4,166 new students districtwide over the next 10 years, with about 2,500 of those expected on the west side. Hummel said the plan is intended to "maximize building capacity, transportation efficiencies and programmatic efficiencies" and to address the projection that Hampshire High School will run out of space within four years. He told the board the proposal would be brought to a vote at the Oct. 28 board meeting and that staff would contact potentially affected families in the meantime.

Public comment concentrated on keeping cohorts…