Marklund expanding its school in Bloomingdale
Marklund took the next step toward expanding its Day School in Bloomingdale by breaking ground on a $4.2 million addition that focuses on students diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
The future facility - dubbed the Ann Haskins Center - will allow Marklund to partner with Wheaton College to serve up to 35 more students with autism from Cook, Kane, DuPage and Lake counties.
"We've been at this for two years from the inception of this whole idea," Gilbert Fonger, president and CEO of Marklund, said before the groundbreaking ceremony at Marklund's campus at 164 S. Prairie Ave. "So it's kind of a dream come true to finally get to this point."
Construction of nearly the two-story, 12,000-square-foot addition is expected to begin next month and be completed by fall 2015.
Marklund, a nonprofit organization that aids people with severe and profound disabilities, has long operated a children's home and the day school at its Bloomingdale campus. In 2010, it started a Life Skills program to give students with autism an opportunity to participate in functional activities within a highly structured environment.
Students, ages 3 to 22, are enrolled into the Life Skills program by their school districts, which pay their tuition and provide transportation to and from the campus. The students are taught a modified curriculum that's adapted to their abilities.
"So many schools get kids from a district and keep them," Fonger said. "We really want to work with the districts on the specific issues the children have so we can get them back to the districts."
Seven students currently are enrolled in Marklund's program. Marklund officials have long wanted to grow the program to take in additional students from more districts.
"One out of 88 boys is diagnosed along the autism spectrum today, so it's a gigantic issue that school districts are having," Fonger said. "We're here to be a partner with those school districts to help them with those children that have very specific issues that we can address."
But the money Marklund needed for an expansion wasn't available until it received a $3.5 million donation from the Ann Haskins Foundation. Wheaton College got a similar gift from the foundation to train teachers in special education.
Once complete, the facility will have seven classrooms, therapy rooms, offices, a large multipurpose room and a mock apartment. There also will be observation areas that parents and educators can use to view what's happening in each classroom.
Wheaton College is planning to send student volunteers who will get practical training by assisting teachers at the center.
"We've put the best thinking into the construction of this building," Fonger said. "Then Wheaton College is going to work with our teachers to bring the best thinking and how to utilize that facility to benefit those children. So we think it's a great partnership."
Marklund had to overcome some adversity in its effort to get the project approved by the village.
In granting Marklund's request, Bloomingdale trustees rejected a recommendation by the village's plan commission. Neighbors also opposed the expansion arguing that it would create a safety risk by increasing traffic.
During Tuesday's ceremony, Bloomingdale Village President Franco Coladipietro credited Trustee Michael Hovde's efforts in getting the project to this point.
To address issues raised by neighbors and plan commissioners, the village board put several conditions on Marklund, including capping the number of new students at 35. Buses and vehicles serving Marklund also won't be able to park or idle on South Prairie.
"I firmly believe that communities are better communities when we work together, and we work to help each other," Coladipietro said. "I think that's what we're doing here today. We're working together and we're working to make Bloomingdale a better place to live."