Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield Public Schools will move forward with developing plans to build a new elementary school on unused land at the University of Illinois Springfield.
This, after land that was inside the Ball Chatham School District was detached and moved to District 186, and after an agreement was reached with UIS.
“The reality…neither parcel (of land) is taxable. (Ball-Chatham doesn’t) receive tax money for that 29 acres because it’s on the UIS campus. The land we’re exchanging with them isn’t taxable because there’s a school on it. It was a win-win situation for both parties,” said Terrance Jordan, who took over as Superintendent July 1.
Jordan tells the WTAX Morning Newswatch three elementary schools with declining enrollment will be moved into the new school: Southern View, Laketown, and Hazel Dell.
“We did a study before we came to the realization that it would be best to consolidate those schools, and build a new school,” said Jordan. “The area was not equipped to handle a new school. Renovations would cost a substantial amount of money.”
Read the full article here.