[May 20, 2015]      

Northwest Elementary School in Lincoln has started a major expansion and remodeling project. According to Principal Chris Allen, the project will have two phases. The first phase is going to include building a new school library, two classrooms, a computer lab, and new office space. There are also plans in this phase to install new lockers for every first through fifth grade student.

When phase one is completed, the project will move right into phase two which will include some interior remodeling and re-designation of current space. Phase two will create a new cafeteria and kitchen for the school. The current library that will be replaced in phase one will be remodeled into two classrooms.

Mr. Allen said that the entire project should be completed within 18 months, and that phase one has a completion date of January 2016.

Remodeling and new construction that has gone on at several Logan County Schools is being made possible by the one-percent sales tax Logan County residents approved in 2011. The State of Illinois distributes the tax to the Regional Office of Education. That office in turn distributes the funds to individual schools based on school population.

The State has mandated that dollars received must be used for school facility expenditures, and cannot be used for the daily management of the school, staff, or curriculum.

Pictures by Karen Hargis