The Skokie Village Board recently signed off on Skokie/Morton Grove School District 69’s plans to build a new $45 million school on the site of Lincoln Junior High School.
The board voted unanimously Jan. 20 to grant site plan approval for construction of a new junior high school at 7839 Lincoln Ave., where the existing Lincoln Junior High School now sits. School administrators say the new building will feature flexible learning space designed for today’s education needs.
More Top Picks Best Weber Gas Grills
The move comes after a group of residents formed Save Lincoln Junior High in an effort to protect the building from the wrecking ball.
District 69 Superintendent Margaret Clauson said the district has been open and transparent about its plans to start demolition of the old school and to build a new school in its place.
“I think there’s a lot of community support,” she said. “Our parents, our staff, have been very supportive.”
Nathaniel Lawrence, who formed the Save Lincoln Junior High group months ago, said the building erected in 1929 adds character to the neighborhood. While the school is not protected by a landmark designation, Lawrence said it is a sentimental landmark and he has collected about 550 signatures on a petition from residents who oppose demolishing the school.
“Most people never even knew that Lincoln Junior High School was in peril of being knocked down,” Lawrence said. “Now they’re trying to shove it down people’s throats.”
Clauson said the project has been years in the making and the district’s plans for the site have long been known.
“We’ve been consistently having open dialogue and conversation with our residents and our District 69 taxpayers and the community and our families. I think people are really excited about it,” she said.
In January 2019, the District 69 school board recommended a complete demolition of the old school and construction of a new school. The new Lincoln Junior High School is being designed “with safety and security at the forefront,” according to the district.
Plans include a three-story building designed to meet the needs of early adolescent students.
Larger classrooms will be clustered to support the interdisciplinary team structure and each pair of classrooms share a student break-out space that support small group work. Students’ academic classes are grouped in the same area “to foster peer relationships, team identity, and connection to teachers.”
Classrooms can spill out into the shared living room spaces designated for each interdisciplinary team. Each interdisciplinary grouping includes a fully outfitted science lab. Student support services are embedded throughout the building to provide easy access for students and staff, according to district plans.
The building will also include specialized spaces to support fine arts, physical education, STEM and art programs.
Incorporated into the center of the building will be a learning stair that includes collaboration landings, which promote both academic and social engagement, according to the plans. Other specialized spaces will be gyms, a drama room and performance space, and a cafeteria with direct outdoor access.
Much of the space is designed to support multiple uses, according to plans.
“We know that Lincoln is a lovely building,” Clauson said. “It has some lovely architectural features to it. But it’s served this community for a really long time.”
She added that the district believes the structure has outlived its useable life.
“There a grieving process to that piece as we prepare to ground break and celebrate this new building,” she said.
For his part, Lawrence said he he will continue to push for the protection of the original building and advocate for ways to make the best use of the current structure.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter.