The Doings Oak Brook

Oak Brook homeowners fight to get into districts 53, 86

 

BY STEVE SCHERING Contributor April 24, 2012 5:18PM

Updated: June 25, 2012 1:15AM

Residents of the Timber Trails/Merry Lane subdivision in Oak Brook have filed an appeal against a DuPage County judge’s ruling as they continue seeking to join Oak Brook’s school districts.

DuPage County Judge Bonnie Wheaton ruled earlier this month against the residents’ petition to join Butler District 53 and Hinsdale High School District 86. Students living in Timber Trails/Merry Lane currently attend Salt Creek 48 and DuPage High School District 88 schools.

“For us, it’s extremely disappointing,” said Committee of Ten member and Timber Trails resident Ann Scott. “The ruling was shocking for us.”

The Committee of Ten, which represents Timber Trails/Merry Lane residents, began collecting signatures in 2010 to extend districts 53 and 86’s boundaries to include nearly 200 Oak Brook homes.

In June, after an eight-day hearing, the DuPage County Regional Board of School Trustees sided with the petitioners, while districts 48 and 88 challenged the decision in court.

“We were very pleased with (Judge Wheaton’s ruling),” said Salt Creek 48 Superintendent John Correll. “We feel her judgement is correct.

“We were very disappointed by the original opinion from the Regional School Board of Trustees. We felt that was incorrect and felt the judge’s ruling was clearly supported by the facts of the case. We felt pretty gratified by it.”

The Committee of Ten filed an appeal against Wheaton’s ruling earlier this week.

“We do not believe the ruling of the Regional Board should be disturbed,” Scott said. “We believe (the Regional Board’s) decision was correct and legitimate.

“It’s best our children attend school in their local community.”

Scott believes Wheaton never had the opportunity to hear the testimony and witnesses from the Regional School Board’s eight-day hearing.

Correll would not comment on the appeal, but said he was not surprised it had been filed.

“I know they feel strongly about their position, as do we,” Correll said.




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