Channahon mulls cost of closing school building
By Jeanne Millsap For The Herald-News August 30, 2012 2:22PM
Updated: October 7, 2012 6:16AM
CHANNAHON — Administrators presented results to the Channahon School Board of an architect’s analysis of potential costs of closing down one school.
With the district’s continuing declining student enrollment, the board is debating whether temporarily closing Pioneer Path School until enrollment picks back up would make financial sense.
If students at Pioneer Path were transferred to N.B. Galloway or Three Rivers schools, work would have to be done on the buildings first for the additional enrollment.
Adding a gymnasium to Galloway would most likely be necessary, said Superintendent Karin Evans, and that cost is estimated to be around $1.9 million, including expenses for engineering and architectural fees and to convert the school’s septic system to city sewer.
Cost to renovate Three Rivers’ former industrial arts rooms to two classrooms would be close to $400,000.
Administrators are leaning toward keeping district offices in Pioneer Path, even if students were shifted to other schools, and the potential utility cost savings there would be approximately 25 percent to 30 percent of current utility consumption.
Enrollment this year decreased by 85 from last year.
The district’s budget was also approved by the board in August, with revenues expected of $19.6 million and expenditures of $16.9 million.
Expenses are increasing this year in the operations and maintenance budget, in debt service, and in transportation, and are decreasing in the education fund and IMRF/Social Security.
Revenues to the education fund this year are expected to increase substantially over last year, with a difference of $778,838.
