Galesburg District 205 Approves Later Start Time for Lombard, Elementary Boundary Changes

School board votes on adjustments affecting 43 students and Lombard Middle School schedule.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Galesburg District 205 Board of Education voted on Monday to approve a 25-minute later start time for Lombard Middle School, as well as elementary boundary changes that will move 43 students to different schools starting in the 2026-27 school year.

Why it matters

The changes aim to address overcrowding at Steele Elementary and improve transportation issues for some students, while also providing Lombard Middle School students with more sleep time in the morning.

The details

The board approved moving Lombard Middle School's start time from 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m., with dismissal shifting from 2:15 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. This change did not require additional buses or costs. The board also approved elementary boundary adjustments, including moving 34 students from Steele Elementary to Silas Willard, and 9 students from Silas Willard to King Elementary. These changes aim to address overcrowding at Steele and eliminate a railroad crossing that caused frequent late arrivals for some students.

  • The changes will take effect in the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Galesburg District 205

The public school district serving the Galesburg, Illinois area.

John Asplund

Superintendent of Galesburg District 205.

Steele Elementary

An elementary school in the Galesburg District 205 system.

Silas Willard

An elementary school in the Galesburg District 205 system.

King Elementary

An elementary school in the Galesburg District 205 system.

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What they’re saying

“It's gotten to the point where you could almost say it's overcrowded. It's not, but it's getting to that point.”

— John Asplund, Superintendent (wgil.com)

“They go to King, they'll avoid that, so they will be late less.”

— John Asplund, Superintendent (wgil.com)

What’s next

The Galesburg District 205 Board of Education will monitor the impact of the changes on enrollment, transportation, and student attendance in the 2026-27 school year.

The takeaway

Galesburg District 205 is proactively addressing overcrowding and transportation issues at the elementary level, while also providing Lombard Middle School students with more time for sleep in the morning, demonstrating the district's commitment to supporting the needs of all its students.