Dallas City weighs future of “castle” school buildingo Community ideas sought at special meeting Nov. 9

The Dallas City Elementary School district is holding a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, seeking input from the community on what can be done with the former high school building.

The building, known as the Great River Community Center in recent years, is in need of repairs, starting with the roof and two chimneys. The roof is leaking in spots. The chimneys have lost most of their mortar.

“You can look at the chimneys from the street and see light clear through them,” said Principal Gary Miller.

Each chimney is located near an entrance used by the after-school program and the Dallas City Boxing Club, posing a potential safety hazard.

The school board moved the after-school program to the elementrary school on Oct. 19, after receiving a report from a risk management consultant on the condition of all the district's facilities. The school district's risk management consultant inspected all the district's buildings on Oct. 5. The building represents a large liability risk due to its deterioration.

The board told the boxing club and a dance club they have until Dec. 1 to vacate the building on recommendation of the architect. The dance club uses a room off the former industrial arts area. The architect is looking at entrances to that area to see if they can stay past Dec. 1.

The rest of the industrial arts area now houses a school bus and a few tools.

“Most of the equipment went to Illini West,” said Miller.

The castle part of the school has been closed for several years.

The roof problems extend across the entire building. Heavy rains on Aug. 17 exposed new problems with leaks in the roof in several spots, including the stage area of the gym. Repairs to the gym, stage area, and concession/gym entrance area were estimated at $225,000. The repair of the entire roof was estimated at more than $1 million.

The district is in the first year of a new five-year 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant for the after-school program. The grant is for $124,000. Over the five years, the amount given to the school district decreases until it is about half the original amount in the fifth year.

“We can use money from it to repair the building, but it is nowhere near what we would need,” said Miller.

This is the district's second grant for the after-school program. They had also received a grant to establish a community center.

Miller said the school board wants to hear ideas and input on what the building could be used for, whether by the school district or by a private owner.

“No decisions have been made on the future of the buildings,” said Superintendent Jo Campbell. “We hope the Nov. 9 meeting provides us with more input from the community.”

Campbell has contacted two state agencies, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Landmarks Illinois, regarding the castle part of the building. He sent some basic information and photos of the castle to each group.

“Landmarks Illinois does provide some assistance with marketing of buildings,” said Campbell. “I now have some information on what kind of assistance they can provide the school district.”

The district is also weighing the possibility of receiving funding through the School Construction Grant Program. The program has not been funded since 2003. Dallas City filed an application for funding year 2005. If the program is funded in the future, Dallas City would have a grant index of 75 percent. The state would provide 75 percent of eligible new school construction costs, while Dallas City would provide the remaining 25 percent. This funding would allow the district to expand the elementary school and house all programs at one site.

Campbell put a document on the school's website, dcbulldogs.com, outlining the reasons for the Nov. 9 meeting. From the home page, click on “documents and forms,” then click on the “GRCC closing” link.