Cary District 26 delays vote on Maplewood School sale

The Cary Elementary District 26 school board wants more information before it decides whether to sell Maplewood School.

Officials closed the school, the oldest and smallest in the district, at the end of the 2009-2010 school year because of declining enrollment and budget worries.

The board was set to vote Monday on a consultant's recommendation to sell Maplewood and continue leasing Oak Knoll School to Trinity Oaks Christian Academy.

But board members asked the administration to first prepare 10-year student enrollment projections, as well as a comparison of the cost of bringing Maplewood up to current building standards versus the expense of adding onto a newer building.

"We really wanted to make sure the decision regarding Maplewood was put in the broader context of what we're doing long term," board President Chris Spoerl said Tuesday.

Board members are concerned about giving up a building without knowing whether they will need more classrooms in a few years. District officials project enrollment will drop by more than 300 students over the next four years, but the district has not had a demographics expert study future enrollment since 2005.

District 26's budget crisis also is a factor. Officials estimate they would have to cut another $4 million in spending even if a proposed tax increase passes. The sale of the Maplewood property could net $2.4 million, the district estimated last year.

A sale would require the district to relocate the bus garage currently located on the Maplewood site. And Cary Youth Baseball, which uses the fields behind Maplewood, probably would have to find a new place to play ball.

Board members say the issues need to be resolved before they can vote on selling Maplewood.

"I agree with the recommendation," board member Chris Jenner said. "But I also agree with the consensus that we need to do a little bit more analysis."

District administration is scheduled to report back to the board at the Aug. 9 meeting of its finance committee. At that same meeting, an official with the Illinois State Board of Education will update board members on the possibility of the state taking over district because of its financial difficulties.

The full board could vote on the Maplewood sale in late August.