Danville District 118 has made some student location adjustments for the start of this new school year. Over the summer, some glass, window, and door repair work at Kenneth D. Bailey Academy was delayed first by a brief strike, and then by a shortage of building materials. As Director of Buildings and Grounds Skip Truex explained prior to Wednesday (Aug 14th) evenings District 118 Board meeting, the Kenneth D Bailey middle and high school age students have indeed been moved to the Carle building at 2300 North Vermilion, which is now leased by the school district.
Truex says District 118 had planned to move some pre-kindergarten classes from Southwest Elementary to the Carle Building at the start of the school year, but that is on hold for now. He says perhaps by fall break in October, they will go back to the original plan for this school year.
AUDIO: The strike set us back, and materials set us back; a combination of both. So, we had to pivot, and basically make a decision on where to be able to have school for the students. We’re anticipating; our goal is to have everybody moved by fall break. We’re pushing very hard on that project.
Also planned to be moved to a separate part of the Carle building were the District 118 high school students in the Laura Lee Fellowship House program, previously on East Williams Street. They have made the move. The long term plan for the Carle Building is that it will house some alternative students, some pre-K classes, and a day care for district employees. Truex says the entire project should take about two years.
