District 300 charter school opens tutoring center

Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove opened a new tutoring center earlier this week as work continues on two other buildings on campus.

The tutoring center has one full-sized classroom, which will house 30 kindergarten through eighth-grade students enrolled full-time in the blended e-learning Cambridge Lakes Academy program, and another half classroom for students who need individualized attention during or after school.

"We are currently waiting for the final occupancy permit from the regional office of education," Cambridge Lakes CEO Sylvia Polletta said. "We will use it this summer for tutoring and group sessions."

Roughly 37 high school students from within Community Unit District 300 also were part of the blended e-learning program for the school year that just ended.

"We have a group of freshman, sophomore, juniors and seniors who chose our alternative learning model rather than going to the district high schools," Polletta said.

Though part of Algonquin-based District 300 and funded primarily through taxes, Cambridge Lakes Charter School is run by an independent board. Last September, the District 300 school board renewed the school's charter through August 2020.

Cambridge Lakes is marking its 10th year and serves 816 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Its 15-acre campus at 900 Wester Boulevard includes four schools - Yellow School, housing preschool and kindergarten; Red School, housing first and second grade; Purple School for third and fourth grade; and Green School for fifth through eighth grade.

Construction on the first phase of a gathering hall, which will serve as an auditorium/gymnasium, and an Orange School to house 280 fifth- and sixth-graders is expected to be completed in August 2018.

"That finishes our design of a building for every two grade levels," Polletta said.

Officials are seeking to increase enrollment to help pay for the construction costs and will open up the campus for families to tour through the summer.

Pingree Grove Village President Steve Wiedmeyer said he is proud of the charter school's accomplishments in the past 10 years. He was awarded the Royal Order of the Coyote Monday by the Northern Kane Educational Corp. board - which runs the school - for his leadership and guidance on the construction projects.

"To have such a great, committed, hardworking group of people ... I mean, my gosh, it's wonderful for Pingree Grove," Wiedmeyer said.

Jon Ciero also was presented a Royal Order of the Coyote award for helping design and plan furnishings for the gathering hall and the Orange School.