Great spot for Elgin charter school

Great spot for Elgin charter school

I support the use of the beautiful former Fox River Grove Country Day School property for the proposed Elgin Math and Science Charter School and Elgin Academy for international student housing.

This property is a stunning asset given to the city of Elgin by the Kane County Forest Preserve and the Tollway Authority as part of their I-90 widening project. The land, which has been vacant since the Fox River Country Day School went bankrupt in 2011, and has had no viable investors, is sitting idle. It has the potential to be a premier public educational, recreational and cultural campus in the area.

In particular, the proposed Math and Science Charter School will be a true win-win for all Elgin's residents who will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the site as well as U-46 families who will have one more option for their elementary schoolchildren.

Furthermore, families without school-aged children will benefit, as such increased educational opportunities have been shown to raise the value of homes and neighborhoods.

The property includes one of the last oak savannas and forested fens of its kind in the entire Midwest, along with impressive buildings that are architectural assets in their own right. That the forest preserve district intends to preserve most of the property and keep it open to the public only adds to the value of the campus. The income the city of Elgin will receive in the lease agreement from the charter school and future educational and cultural institutions is real income that the city can use to fund our budget.

Elgin's future prosperity relies on our ability to seize opportunities that preserve our natural environment, access to high quality education and economic vitality. This project includes all three.

Anna Moeller

Elgin City Council