$5M expansion coming to Rantoul elementary school
RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — Teachers and students in Rantoul are rejoicing — and not because summer is almost here. They’re excited for a $5 million project that will expand not only Pleasant Acres Elementary School, but also their pre-K programs.
The Rantoul School District is using bonds and a 1% sales tax from the county. Administrators said this will help bring growth to the childhood programs and students.
Promise Healthcare to open its Rantoul School Health Center
A 12,000-square-foot addition will transform Pleasant Acres Elementary. Rantoul’s Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Frerichs said the project will ease a major issue they’ve been seeing.
“We have a lot of students, a lot of children who are not able to attend a preschool program because there just aren’t any programs available,” Frerichs said.
The Rantoul School District was identified as an early childhood desert in the state because of that.
“It’s not going to solve the problem, but it will definitely help,” Frerichs said. “We are designing the building in such a way that it can be expanded in the future. So, if funding allows it in the future, we will be able to expand relatively easily off the same building.”
Danville Schools to establish onsite laundry facility for families in need
The project will build two more early childhood classrooms. There are already six of them. Frerichs said this will allow up to 80 more pre-K students to learn.
“The state has talked about actually making three and four-year-old education, just like K through 12, and making it required,” she said. “So, this kind of puts us in a position that if things change with the direction that the state’s going, if they do go in that direction, we’ll be better positioned.”
Kerry Hanson is a kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Acres. She said this expansion will help the school serve its children in the best ways possible.
“We’ve been waiting for this for so long and we are so excited to have it. It is such a great way to expand our early childhood program — and now it’s going to be at PA again.”
They’ll begin breaking ground on the project this July. Officials are hopeful to get pre-K students in the classrooms after Christmas.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
