Local: Two school option very much on the table
I came away from tonight’s District 150 School Board meeting feeling better about the possibility that they will eventually decide to built two new schools to replace the three Woodruff High School feeder schools they plan to close.
The board meet as a committee of the whole today, a less former event that an official meeting, which allowed stuff to discuss school business with and get input from the board, without any official action being taken. During this meeting, treasurer Guy Cahill suggested the development of “matrix” to measure the criteria by which various proposed sites for a single school would be evaluated. Cahill wanted the board to essentially plot out a formula by which the decision would supposedly be based.
None of the board members wanted to commit until Brad McMillan, who moderated the recent forums on the siting process, finished his report. He’s not expected to be done until Nov. 9, after the next school board meeting scheduled for Nov. 5.
But board member Debbie Wolfmeyer wants the board to take a second look at funding.
“One school is off the table for me,” she said. “I don’t see how we can put three schools in one [new] school.”
If the district goes with two new schools, one would presumably be built in the North Valley area and serve families who children attend Kingman and Irving schools. The other would be built in the East Bluff, presumably at the current Glen Oak School site (expanding to the south, east or north). Another option would be to build one new school in the East Bluff and then expand onto an existing school building in the North Valley.
Peoria City Council Member Bob Manning has told the board the city has about $344,000 available to construct a “park like setting,” which could be used to pay for as least some of the green space the school board wants to exist around any new school it builds.
Board member Mary Spangler wanted to be sure that the city’s definition of “park like” coincides with the district’s: “Street lights with hanging baskets or soccer fields?” Board member Jim Stowell said Manning indicated that the city is talking about playgrounds.
Board member Martha Ross asked if the city is would extend this money for use in other parts of the city, Stowell said that since Manning was the council member requesting the money applied toward a new school, it is probably on the understanding it would be used in his 3rd District.
Another $100,000 might be available for renovations on the Wisconsin Avenue business corridor.
More later.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
[...] unpopular position. I left a school board committee meeting feeling good about the prospects for change in the district’s position. Ironically, even as the district makes room for public input in the Woodruff school siting [...]
[...] Jellick is reporting that the city is still willing to spend $500,000 to help them build a new school in the East Bluff to help replace Glen Oak School. First, [...]