The Danville District 118 School Board looked towards the future in a couple of different ways during their Wednesday evening (Oct 1st) meeting. A presentation was given on the district’s proposed participation in “Illinois Vision 2030,” a collaboration among education organizations across the state to create an advocacy framework for public education in Illinois.
Just two of the main points are goals to have more students exceeding state expectations on assessment tests, along with less students reaching levels of chronic absenteeism. Superintendent John Hart says that’s only the beginning of what the program hopes to accomplish, and he believes in it.
AUDIO: We have school districts across the state that are signing up. And then they’ll use it to lobby governments to continue to fund schools; to look at assessments. When you focus on things, things change. And we have a focus; English Language Arts, Math, Science, attendance; and we will see a change in this district.
Meanwhile, the 118 Board has approved that starting next month, District 118 will be paying $250,000 less per year for the rent it pays for its North Campus at 2300 North Vermilion, which is the old Carle building. Hart says the district plans to eventually take full ownership of this building, and then use it even more than it already is now for Early Childhood Education.
AUDIO: Well, the sooner the better. Because, you know, we do have some remodeling to do to really be able to open it. We have classrooms there now. We have three classrooms in our Birth to Three program. We foresee this being 15 to 20 classrooms when it’s completed. And, you know, looking at what else the space can be used for.
Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk addresses the Danville District 118 School Board.
Finally, Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk spoke to the board, asking for approval of a ten year, 75% tax abatement for future development that might be coming to the northwest corner of Bowman and West Newell. Cronk explained afterwards that although that corner is not actually in District 118, District 118 does touch part of the “overall enterprise zone” that that corner is part of; so the vote had to be taken by them, and numerous other entities.
AUDIO: It’s any taxing body that touches the entire enterprise zone. So all the way south into Tilton, as well. That’s how the Westville School District is involved in this voting process; is because the farthest southern portions of the enterprise zone, they are a taxing entity in the zone.
The 118 Board passed the abatement unanimously.
