District 220 parceling out the future

With an eye toward the future, the Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board acquired more than 15 acres Tuesday.

Board members unanimously approved the spending of about $3 million to purchase 10 acres next to Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus in Barrington and 5.5 acres next to North Barrington Elementary School.

Being able to get additional space next to their current schools was one of the reasons the district went after the properties.

"It is not very often significant (amounts of) property adjacent to our facilities becomes available," said board President Brian Battle.

What the district will do with the land is still to be determined, Superintendent Tom Leonard said.

"Both of these parcels of property give us options and it is always good to have options," Leonard said.

While the district has been searching for a new home for its early childhood program Battle said these parcels won't necessarily be used for that.

"The board would like to caution against any such speculation," Battle said. "The District 220 board and administration will continue to explore all options (for early childhood) identified to date."

With current traffic and congestion problems at North Barrington School, Battle said the additional land there could be used to ease those issues.

"It could allow us to create a solution to a safety concern," Battle said.

The district, Battle said, will work with North Barrington and area residents when developing any such plans.

"We want to be good neighbors," Battle said.

Battle stressed, however, that no plans for the land have been set in stone.

"District 220 does not have any immediate plans for these parcels," Battle said.

Board members said they felt the purchase provided long-term benefits to the district.

"I think all the board members thought this was a real good opportunity," said board member Tim Hull.

The money to buy the land came from the district's site and construction fund.