Turns out there’s still a lot of need for old school buildings.
Since USD 257 moved out of three older elementary schools, two agencies have asked to use the buildings.
On Monday, the ANW Special Education Cooperative asked to use the former Lincoln Elementary School for its day school program.
The request is kind of an emergency, ANW director Korenne Wolken told the school board. The fire marshal declared a facility used for the program in Chanute had too many safety hazards and could not be used.
That sent ANW leaders scrambling for options just a couple of weeks before the start of the school year, and it made sense to use one of the former schools in Iola.
The day school program is one of the most restrictive environments offered through ANW, and provides services to students who have serious behavioral issues that prohibit them from successful interaction with their peers.
“We try not to use that unless absolutely necessary,” Wolken said.
This year, she expects 17 students will need the service. Some students may need a classroom to themselves, so it’s important to find a building that offers appropriate space.
ANW would take care of utilities and routine maintenance, but Wolken said the fire marshal has not yet approved their request. That’s because of a technical issue she hopes will be resolved quickly; in a worst case scenario, it could take 30 days to fix the problem and ANW would delay or modify services to those students.
The district plans to sell the former school buildings to BNIM, a development group that wants to convert them into apartments. But that deal is contingent on BNIM securing historical tax credits, and that process could take a couple of years. The district agreed to maintain the buildings in the meantime. Having a tenant willing to take on utilities and maintenance could be beneficial, board members have said.
In May, the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center asked to use McKinley for its Southeast Kansas Achievers (SEKA) program. It’s similar to the ANW day school, and offers after-school and all-day summer programs to help youth develop social and behavioral skills.
The board approved using McKinley for the program over the summer and the coming school year.
WOLKEN said the day school previously was located at Iola.
She’s not sure what might happen with the program after this year. Perhaps ANW will renovate the Chanute facility and the day school will return there.
But she also would like to find ways to expand special education programs at Iola. The district’s commitment to career and technical education programs could benefit students with special needs, she said.
“Some of the opportunities students have here, they may not have in other places,” she said.
