Harlem Consolidated School District 122 board votes to close two elementary schools for consolidation

The Harlem Consolidated School District #122 Board of Education voted 7-0 on Jan. 27 to close Maple Elementary School and Olson Park Elementary School as part of a district consolidation effort. The special meeting began at 5:00 p.m. in the Harlem Administration Center board room in Machesney Park.

Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarbrough presented the recommendation to close the two buildings to redistribute students more evenly across district facilities. Board member Diana Johnson moved to approve the closures; Mike Sterling seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board’s formal vote on the motion was recorded as 7 ayes, 0 nays.

The decision followed a public comment period in which several residents urged more community engagement and raised operational concerns. Don Campbell said the district faces about $3 million in debt and asked the board to work with residents on alternatives to closures and to improve public input. Caitlin MacRoy urged the board to consider a sister-school arrangement to preserve building resources and prioritize student needs. Jeremy Hissong raised a separate concern about a recent bus incident and said parents were not notified, warning that longer bus routes could leave younger children alone on buses.

During discussion, board member Rebecca Carlson asked why Maple had been selected rather than Windsor, citing proximity and traffic considerations. Dr. Yarbrough said the administration’s process aimed to disperse students across available facilities to balance enrollment. Diana Johnson clarified to the public that the matter before the board that evening was solely the closure of Maple and Olson Park.

Following the vote, board members stated their preferred consolidation options during discussion; the chair declared a consensus for Option One, described in the meeting as a Neighborhood Schools configuration. The board then voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss employment of personnel under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1); the board recessed at 5:20 p.m., entered closed session at 5:24 p.m., and returned to open session at 5:55 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

The board did not present a detailed implementation timeline or specific student reassignment maps during the open meeting. The superintendent’s explanation of site selection and the public comments on debt and transportation were the principal substantive items in the record. Next procedural steps and any timelines for reassigning students, transferring resources, or staffing changes were not specified in the meeting minutes.