GENOA – After negotiations for Camelot Education to relocate its therapeutic day school in DeKalb to the former Chesebro Elementary School stalled, school district officials were notified that the at-risk education program would be moving to Genoa-Kingston.
Brad Shortridge, Genoa-Kingston School District 424 assistant superintendent, said the board approved a five-year lease agreement Tuesday that would allow Camelot to operate in the former Davenport Elementary School building, which was closed because of declining enrollment.
“They were excited that our building was almost perfectly in line with their needs,” Shortridge said. “It already has sprinklers, is [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant and it’s ready to go.”
Shortridge added there would be approximately 100 students and 100 staff operating out of the building, which is anticipated to open by the start of the fall semester.
DeKalb School District 428 Superintendent Jamie Craven said discussions will continue to determine the best possible future for the Chesebro building, which has been used for storage since 2011.
“It’s disappointing for us, especially when we have a building that is not being used on a daily basis and buildings age quicker when no one is in them,” Craven said.
Camelot Education reached out to District 428 officials at the beginning of the school year about leasing the Chesebro building since its current lease on its facility on Oak Street would expire in 2018.
District 428 considered a 10-year lease agreement with Camelot for the Chesebro building that would see the Austin-based educator perform a number of renovations including handicap accessibility, new flooring, lighting, walls and paint, heating, venting and air-conditioning and electrical work, extending the parking lot and restriping, a playground and landscaping.
Factoring in the utilities savings and the cost to renovate an alternative space, Tammy Carson, director of facility operations at District 428, had estimated that the net revenue from the lease would exceed $2 million over the 10-year agreement.
According to Camelot’s website, therapeutic day school programs provide individualized attention and a curriculum that is based on each student’s cognitive ability, learning style and interest.