The Community Unit 2 School District will put off a little longer its decision about moving from three K-8 elementary buildings to attendance centers.

During a meeting of the enrollment committee Tuesday evening, Superintendent Dan Joyce said the school board's decision likely will in April, rather than February as anticipated. More time is needed, he said, to gather more information about the state's budget and whether education funding will be slashed in the face of the state's growing deficit.

The board began exploring a switch to attendance centers to balance class sizes, reducing large classes at Serena and Sheridan and bolstering small classes at Harding. But as the issue was discussed, the board also began to weigh the financial impact since state funding may be cut.

Joyce said the district will be financially solvent this year and next, but beyond that will be in dire straits if the state does not offer adequate funding.

The three options before the committee are to leave three K-8 buildings the same, move to two K-5 buildings and one middle school, or house K-2 at Sheridan, grades 3-5 at Harding and a junior high at Serena.

Joyce said so far the committee, which has met four times, has not reached a consensus.

"I don't know that the committee can come up with one recommendation," he said. "All committee members will have their point of view represented to the board of education."

Joyce has not reached a decision as to what he will recommend to the board.

"I see so much that is positive with what we have now," he said. "I see so much that is positive with attendance centers ... I really go back and forth with where we should go."

Only one parent attended Tuesday's meeting, and she has previously questioned the need for attendance centers and the logistics of how it will work. Other parents at these meetings also have expressed opposition to attendance centers. Joyce said that attitude is fairly consistent among parents of elementary school students, who want to keep what is in place. However, due to economic factors, the board also must consider all constituents of the district and how much it will cost to leave things as-is.

The committee will meet again in January to draft a document for the school board outlining all positions represented by committee members. Joyce also anticipated the board calling a special meeting with the community to discuss the committee recommendations and allow the public to weigh in.