Consolidation is a go as Southern View Elementary joins Hazel Dell, Laketown as one school
Springfield School District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill admitted she expressed concern the first time it was mentioned to her about the possibility of folding Southern View Elementary into a consolidation plan that already included Hazel Dell and Laketown schools.
The more apparent it became that all three schools would have to undergo hefty renovations, the more appealing the consolidation became, she said.
"We were looking at the construction challenges we had, and the opportunities we had to bring a new school to life," Gill said.
On Monday the board approved 6-1 a resolution that paved the way for the three-school consolidation, believed to be a first for the district.
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It also calls for the construction of a school on a new site, the first for the city's south side of town since the mid-1960s.
The most touted site is a parcel owned by some members of the Smith family, who were part of H.D. Smith, a privately-held pharmaceutical wholesaler.
An eight-page guideline released by District 186 identifies it as having "the highest potential for a new school facility."
Gill said once the district identified a property and purchased it, it would be a 12- to 18-month process "so we might be looking at 2024 for actual start of school."
By combining the schools, the district will eliminate nine mobile units that have been operating for about 25 years, she said.
All three schools have seen declining enrollments, Gill added.
"As a board, we have to look at this as fiscally responsible," said vice president Mike Zimmers, who represents Subdistrict 4, before the vote. "We cannot continue to run schools with fewer than 200 kids. It just makes no sense financially."
Buffy Lael-Wolf of Subdistrict 5 said staff efficiencies stood out, while also noting the downturn in enrollment.
Lael-Wolf said the responses she received were split evenly for and against including Southern View in the consolidation. Larger class sizes were a concern, Lael-Wolf said of the feedback, while some parents just wanted to be able to walk their kids to school.
Hazel Dell and Laketown were already part of a consolidation stemming from a 2017 facilities master plan, Our Schools Our Future.
In the public comment section, Shawn Wilkinson suggested that the school boundaries be re-drawn to allow children on the northwestern edge of the current Laketown district to attend Southern View. That would allow, he said, the district to build a new school on the Laketown site and renovate the Southern View site.
It keeps schools in the neighborhoods and "a vital part of these communities at minimal additional cost to the district," Wilkinson added.
Micah Miller of Subdistrict 2, the most vocal board member about rebuilding on the Laketown site, cast Monday's only "no" vote.
Miller said the consolidation of three schools on the south end of town was too much.
"Based on the feedback from our (public) community engagement sessions, it seemed clear to me the community, the teachers and parents also agree," Miller added.
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Gill said while she looked forward to being part of the design process of the new school, "we're going to involve the community, involve the families, involve the students in that process."
But she also acknowledged that consolidation can hit a nerve.
"I know there will be some mourning and some loss but the idea of having 18 or more months available is welcoming so we do it the right way," she said.
Scheels letter of intent
The board will consider signing a letter of intent offered by the developers of the Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe.
Legacy Pointe Development Company managing partner Stephen Luker, who made a presentation to the board, said he expected ground to be broken for the multiuse sports facility on Springfield's south side sometime later this summer.
Under the letter of intent, District 186 athletic teams annually would get 2,000 hours of use of the complex's facilities, which will include synthetic turf multi-purpose fields and a 160,000-square-foot indoor dome housing basketball and volleyball courts and one of the multi-purpose turf fields.
The developers are looking for a "use privilege agreement" of an annual amount plus abatement of the tax on the property on which the sports complex is going to be located, or 70 acres on the 276 acres.
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Luker said he is hoping it turns into "a win-win situation for everybody involved," with the increase of development and increase of sales tax and property taxes.
Gill said local baseball and softball facilities get a lot of rainouts so "(the letter of intent is) something enticing."
Taylor, Filter remembered
The board remembered Amy Taylor, a longtime Iles School music/technology teacher who died Saturday.
Taylor retired from District 186 last year. Her husband is Mike Taylor, an astronomy and physical science instructor at Springfield High School and a former SHS head football coach from 2006 to 2011.
"I know the Iles staff is mourning the loss and the Springfield High family is as well," Gill said. "It was hard to hear that news this weekend. She was a vital member of our staff and obviously just retired but was still in the hearts and minds of District 186 family."
The board also honored longtime Lutheran High School and Sangamon Learning Academy teacher and coach Mike Filter who died in Springfield Thursday.
Filter had brain cancer but had recently been involved in an automobile accident in Effingham County.
Teacher Appreciation Week
This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week and while Horace Mann and the district will again forego its luncheon, it will continue to recognize top educators, administrators and new teachers.
Educator of the Year finalists are Jill Borah, Grant Middle School; David Curry, Butler Elementary; Abbey Dirksen, Southeast High School; Kari Lutchka, Jane Addams Elementary and Missy Netznik, Wilcox Elementary.
Administrator of the Year finalists are Karon Durrett, Springfield Public Schools, Student Support Services; Ken Gilmore, Ridgely Elementary and Cody Trigg, Southeast High School.
Rising Star recipients are Lindsey Dunbar, Iles School; Marcy Hale, Lee School and Dalton McGhiey, Lanphier High School.
The Rising Star award is given to teachers who are showing great promise and have four years or less experience in the classroom.
New officers
Anthony Mares was unanimously reelected as the board's president.
Miller was voted in as vice president.
The other officer positions go to District 186 employees: Julie Hammers as secretary; Nikki Irlam as assistant secretary and Tom Osborne as treasurer.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield School District 186 board approves consolidation plan
