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Westmore teacher urges board to pause plan that would remove small gym
Summary
A Westmore physical education teacher asked the Northbrook SD 28 board to pause a construction plan that would convert the school’s small gym into one classroom, saying the change would permanently remove valuable flexible space and would not meet projected enrollment needs tied to nearby developments.
Rachel Slesinger, a physical education teacher at Westmore Elementary, urged the Northbrook SD 28 Board of Education on March 10 to pause or reconsider plans that would convert the school’s small gym into a single classroom.
“Eliminating the small gym just to create one additional classroom from what we currently have does not address our long larger need,” Slesinger said. She told the board the gym provides flexibility for programming and daily activity that a converted room or using the cafetorium cannot fully replace.
Slesinger said enrollment is expected to rise with nearby developments such as the Springs at Lake Cook Commons, and she urged the district to develop a long‑term plan that preserves movement space while meeting classroom and restroom needs. She told the board the small gym’s loss would be permanent and asked that the district consider additions rather than subtraction.
Superintendent Dr. Pearson presented the construction update that followed public comment, noting Metobrook gym work is near completion and that Westmore and Greenbryer projects were going out to bid. Dr. Pearson described the Westmore design as including a cafetorium and a connection into the current building; she said staff who raised capacity questions would be meeting with district leaders next week.
On the Westmore timeline, Dr. Pearson said the bidding process opens the week of the meeting, with bids due April 16 and contract recommendations planned for the April board meeting. She also said the district believes it has enough capacity among elementary and junior high schools to handle current students and projected growth tied to the Deerfield apartments but acknowledged uncertainty about the larger North Brook Court development, which is in a holding pattern.
The board did not take an immediate vote tied to Slesinger’s request during the public comment period. Next procedural steps described at the meeting include upcoming staff meetings about Westmore capacity and the board’s review of bid recommendations at its April meeting.
