Cambridge Lakes school should open as planned Sept. 6
Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove should open on time for this school year, officials said Wednesday.
Construction of a tutoring center undertaken within the school without proper permits and elimination of a fire exit caused concerns over whether it could result in classes not starting Sept. 6.
Cambridge Lakes operates within Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300's boundaries and is funded through the district's property taxes, but run by a separate, nonelected board and administration through the Northern Kane Educational Corp.
"They eliminated an exit egress that could jeopardize the opening of school per the (Kane County) Regional Office of Education," District 300 Superintendent Fred Heid told his school board Tuesday.
Jason Manning, counsel for NKEC, said the school's management is working with the regional office of education to address the fire exit issue.
"We need to make sure the ROE is comfortable from a building fire and safety perspective before we take any other steps," he said. "We don't foresee any problems with it opening on time."
Phil Morris, director of technology for the regional office of education, confirmed Wednesday officials do not expect a delay in the charter school opening.
"Cambridge Lakes is working to make the appropriate exit plan adjustments for review this week," he added.
Construction of the tutoring center has been ongoing since July, yet charter school officials did not obtain a building permit from the village of Pingree Grove before starting the project.
Once the regional office of education is satisfied the building is safe, the management must submit the necessary plans and paperwork to Pingree Grove for approval, Manning said.