Publications & Sites 
Oak Brook subdivision gets go-ahead to present request for schools change
Updated: March 8, 2013 6:07AM
OAK BROOK — Residents of Midwest Chase, looking to become part of Butler Elementary District 53 and Hinsdale High School District 86, received some good news Jan. 28.
The Regional Board of School Trustees of DuPage County voted, 6-0, to accept the petition of Midwest Chase residents to present their case to leave Downers Grove Elementary District 58 and High School District 99 in Downers Grove and become part of districts 53 and 86.
Midwest Chase is a subdivision of 44 single-family homes located north of 35th Street and east of Meyers Road.
“I’m not really surprised by the Regional Board’s vote, but I am very pleased,” said Christopher Stull, an attorney representing Midwest Chase residents in their attempt to change school districts.
Jim Pehta, president of the Midwest Chase Homeowners Association called the unanimous decision by the Regional Board to accept the petition “an outstanding vote of support to move forward.”
Stull said the actual hearing in front of the Regional Board won’t take place until April or May, at the earliest.
“The only opposition to this are the administrators from District 58 and District 99,” Stull said. “There is no opposition from the residents of the school districts they want to become a part of.”
Stull speculated that with opposition to the move only from administrators in the two Downers Grove school districts, chances are good the Regional Board will approve the request from Midwest Chase residents.
“It doesn’t bode well for them,” Stull said, referring to districts 58 and 99.
Stull said he didn’t at this point know what the exact financial impact on the Downers Grove school districts would be if the 44 Midwest Chase homes left. A move to districts 53 and 86 would mean property taxes paid by homeowners in Midwest Chase no longer would go to the Downers Grove schools.
“We haven’t run the exact numbers, yet,” but it’s not really going to be a significant amount because it’s only 44 homes, and there is no commercial property involved,” Stull said.
