Should District 303 repurpose Haines building?
St. Charles Unit District 303 officials have begun contemplating what to do with the Haines Middle School building after students walk the halls for the last time.
Closing Haines at the end of this academic year is part of a nearly $50 million plan to update the district's middle school facilities. Improvements to Wredling were completed last year, and a renovation and expansion project at Thompson is expected to wrap up next summer - just in time to absorb additional students for the 2019-20 school year.
District officials now are faced with determining the fate of what will soon be an empty Haines building, parts of which are 60 years old.
Administrators told the school board's business services committee last week they could sell or lease the property, demolish the facility, or repurpose portions or all of the building for District 303 use. Board members agreed to keep all options on the table, but asked staff members to create a list of priorities for how the district could use the space.
"Before we work too hard to save a building, let's find out if there's a reason to save it," school board President Kathy Hewell said.
The Haines building originally was constructed in 1958, with various wings added over the next 15 years, architect Mark Hayes said. The existing main office and an orchestra room were built in 2003.
A majority of the building does not have air conditioning or sprinkler systems, Hayes said, and some sections are in need of mechanical upgrades or window and wall replacements. Based on those conditions, he offered recommendations for which wings would be the most feasible to repurpose if the board so chooses.
At the top of the list is the main office, followed by larger, more flexible spaces such as the gym, cafeteria and band and orchestra rooms. The building's two-story addition and sixth-grade wing were listed as the lowest-value spaces.
"It's pretty clear that there are certain areas that are likely not going to be salvaged," said Seth Chapman, assistant superintendent for business services. "That's what we wanted the board to see: If they do want to continue to use (the building), which areas would make sense."
Superintendent Jason Pearson said the next step is to evaluate the district's needs and determine if they would fit into the Haines building. Possible uses could include district offices or special education programming.
"There's a possibility to do a lot of things with that space ... that would be beneficial to the district," he said.
The St. Charles Park District also has expressed interest in using the gym for its community activities, Pearson said, noting he'll explore that partnership further.
Board members are expected to weigh those uses, along with the costs associated with renovating the space or changing the occupancy, during a business services committee meeting in December. Administrators also will provide preliminary information on the potential sale, lease or demolition of the property, Chapman said.
"We'll have ideas and options for them," he said. "All those things discussed are still on the table."