Pingree Grove charter school hosts fundraiser for school bus

Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove will host a fundraiser dubbed "Busapalooza" Friday to help pay for a new school bus after vandals torched the school's only bus over the summer.

On the evening of July 30, vandals spray-painted graffiti and set fire to the bus parked behind the school's administrative offices in a construction trailer off Wester Boulevard. The fire destroyed the bus, but no one was harmed, officials said.

The vandals have not been caught, but the investigation is ongoing, said Bethany Nelson, the charter school's community relations and events director.

"That was our only bus," Nelson said. "It was very unexpected and detrimental to our students. We are a charter school so we don't have a busing program."

The seven-year-old school lost its only transport for its roughly 900 students who attend gym class and extracurricular activities at nearby Cambridge Lakes Community Center.

Cambridge Lakes Charter School is affiliated with Hampshire-based Community Unit District 300. Its students participate in District 300 sporting events.

The school was forced to purchase a new bus last week.

"This unfortunate expense was not written into this year's budget and insurance covered very little toward the purchase," Nelson said.

The fundraiser is open to the public and will run from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the school, 900 Wester Blvd. The goal is to raise $5,000. It will include a raffle drawing, live music, face painting, henna tattoos, and various vendors. There will be special appearances by Jake Goebbert of the San Diego Padres, and mascots from the Chicago Bears, Kane County Cougars and Chuck E. Cheese.

"We're doing a double elimination bags tournament as well, and a raffle of different items that have been donated to us," Nelson said.

Students will be selling soda, water, popcorn and candy to help support their events. Hacienda De Los Perez restaurant in Gilberts also will be selling food at the event and donating some of the profits from sales.

"We're trying to put a positive light on a negative situation," Nelson said of the fundraiser. "It wasn't just to replace something that's been taken from us ... but also to kind of smooth things over in the community."

For information, call (847) 464-0377 or email BethanyNelson@NorthernKaneEducationalCorp.com.