UPDATED: Construction on the new Quest Charter Academy has NOT begun

Photos taken today, back/front Loucks on left, back/front Columbia on right.

School starts back at Quest Charter Academy in just a little over a month and it looks like construction is finally underway they are doing some work on the roof.

Quest is slated to make improvements on a portion of Loucks and the old Columbia School this summer. The work was reportedly scheduled to begin after the school year ended in June and is scheduled to be completed by August 16, 2012, in time for school's first high school class.

For the 2012-2013 school year 5th – 6th grade students at Quest will move to the Columbia School building at 2612 N. Bootz Ave; while the 7th - 9th graders will attend school in the Loucks building.

The plan is to demolish about 25,000 square feet, leaving about 55,000 square feet for school use. The part  of Loucks scheduled for demolition is in the oldest section of the building (shown in the photo above), which was built in 1914. (click images to enlarge)

District 150 sold the two buildings to Peoria County for $300,000. The County sold the buildings to Quest. The County also extended a $500,000 line of credit to the Quest board to make repairs on the building. Quest's board members were reportedly scheduled to vote on issuing bids for demolition and improvements immediately after receiving the funds. A quick review of the website for the Quest Board did not clearly indicate what date that meeting would be held.

click image to enlarge

Working on the future: Quest Charter Academy

This past Tuesday night, Quest Charter Academy's Board was asking the tough questions about financial decisions and the future of the school. Apparently, when some board members questioned what happens with a loan from Board President Glen Barton, if District 150 doesn't renew Quest's five-year contract (which expires in 2015), the discussion generally skipped over some member's questions.

From October 23, 2011, pjstar.com

Quest Charter Academy Board President lends charter school $300,000

Glen Barton, who is President of the Quest Charter 
Academy Board, is a retired Chairman and CEO, 
Caterpillar Inc. and a Commissioner on the Illinois State 
Charter School Commission. (Term: 2011-2014),
is speaking to students at the first 
Quest Charter Academy Promotion ceremony.

Tuesday night, Quest Charter Academy's board of education approved a $300,000 loan from board President Glen Barton, along with a new $3.6 million budget with enough cuts to cover $200,000 in unexpected losses in general state aid. 

The loan from Barton comes in addition to a $500,000 line of credit from Peoria County. Both loans will be used for renovations on the former Loucks and Columbia School buildings. A second mortgage on the two buildings will serve as collateral for Barton's loan.

Quest board members recently purchased the two buildings for $300,000 in a complicated three-party arrangement between the board, Peoria School District 150 and Peoria County. Quest will repay the district for the buildings with money from a private donor who established a long-term annual gift to the school, which is privately managed with public funds.

Quest's first freshman class, will grow from 75 to 90 students. Board members voted to increase the class size to offset attrition that occurs in student numbers. District 150 agreed to the increase in the freshman class size. However, the District will not give Quest additional money. The 15 additional freshman students will be selected from Quest's waiting lists.

District 150 passes its per-pupil funding in general state aid to the charter school. However, when numbers drop below 75 students in a grade level, the district decreases the revenue source. The general state aid Quest will receive through District 150 will decrease by $500 a student, or $200,000 total, next year. Source

Some issues from the February 14, 2011 BOE meeting that you all may want to discuss...

Glen Oak, Irving and Columbia schools will be restructured.
RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD APPROVAL OF RISING STAR RESTRUCTURING PLANS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the restructuring plans for Glen Oak, Irving and Columbia schools. These three schools are new to restructuring and require board approval to proceed to submit their plans to the Illinois State Board of Education. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Emtronics has been complaining about treatment of the cafeteria managers and the fact that they have not had a cost of living increase in several years. I guess a 1.1% increase is better than nothing?
COST OF LIVING INCREASE – HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA MANAGERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education authorize a 1.1% cost of living increase for the high school cafeteria managers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Time is of the essence in the assignment of Administrators – curious as to what Mrs. Costic needed clarification on?
RESOLUTION TO ASSIGN ADMINISTRATORS TO TEACHING POSITIONS - Moved by Butler, seconded by Crawford that the board of Education adopt the resolution to reassign administrators to teaching positions. Mrs. Costic asked for this resolution to be tabled for further clarification. Dr. Lathan explained that she needs to move forward to realign the district. Delays in this action will have a domino affect in regards to future planning.

Mrs. Ross replied by saying that she would like to wait for the facility study before moving forward with this action. Mrs. Wolfmeyer would like to give Dr. Lathan the flexibility she needs to move forward – closing schools, programs, etc. She also stated that not all of the employees listed on this resolution will be reassigned back in the classroom.

Mrs. Butler spoke out saying that she supports Dr. Lathan and she is doing what she was brought here to do. “Right sizing” this district is a difficult task.

Mr. Stowell supports moving forward – he does not feel we need to continue supporting past practices.

Mrs. Costic replied by saying she understands what everyone is saying. On roll call, 5 ayes – Butler, Costic, Crawford, Stowell, Wolfmeyer. 1 nay – Ross. Motion carried.

So, the District is NOT going to reemploy Administrators who are probationary teachers?
RESOLUTION TO NON-REEMPLOY ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE PROBATIONARY TEACHERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Stowell that the Board of Education adopt the resolution to non-reemploy administrators who are probationary teachers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Stowell mentioned several staff members attending the No Child Left Behind Conference in Chicago. I'm curious...how many staff members and at what cost?
TRAVEL REQUESTS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the travel requests as presented by the administration. (Copy is on file in the Board Secretary’s office.)

Mr. Stowell commented on the number of staff members attending the No Child Left Behind conference in Chicago. He would like to see some pushback from the community to state and federal government officials as this is a non-funded program. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.