A company that specializes in private alternative schools was the party interested in leasing space through a local developer at the former Churchill Junior High School.
Rob Benedict tells WGIL that The Menta Group, based in North Aurora and with nearly 30 alternative school locations across Illinois, Arizona and Texas, wanted to lease a 10,000 square foot portion of the former school at 905 Maple Ave.
Benedict said The Menta Group would have partnered with District 205, and anticipated a move-in date of Jan. 1. He added The Menta Group would have eventually leased up to 40,000 square feet at Churchill.
Extreme Car Wash Holdings, LLC — owned by Benedict — had submitted a bid of $100,000 to purchase a portion of Churchill, however the offer was contingent on the City Council expediting the process and approving his bid at Monday’s Council meeting.
The City Council discussed the issue, but there was no mention of suspending the rules and taking action Monday. Benedict said the expedited approval was needed because The Menta Group needed to know they could be in the building by Jan. 1.
District 205 Superintendent of Schools John Asplund said the district has been in discussions with The Menta Group about locating in Galesburg.
“We have been in discussions with them for the past several months in an attempt to find a location for them to add a school here in Galesburg,” Ashland said.
“We currently transport some students to alternative schools in the Quad Cities and Peoria, and we would greatly prefer to keep those students in town, which will allow those students to either completely eliminate the need for transportation to school, or at least greatly diminish their ride time on a bus on a daily basis.”
Benedict said he has notified The Menta Group of his unsuccessful attempt to purchase Churchill from the city. He did not rule out trying to find The Menta Group another location in Galesburg.
The Menta Group, with more than 40 years of experience in special education, has 26 locations in Illinois — the nearest one Fresh Start Academy in Havana.
According to its website, the organization firmly adheres to its policy to never give up on a child and that no student will be rejected, suspended, or expelled. Menta partners with neighboring schools to provide options that allow schools an alternative to suspension.
The former Churchill school building, owned by the city, is approximately 90,000 square feet and the total land is approximately 14 acres. Alderman have expressed their desire to preserve the green space, and Benedict was only bidding on the portion of the property located south of the existing east-west drive including the school building and all green spaces east, west and south of the building.
Churchill was once approved as the location for a community center by the previously-seated City Council, however aldermen approved an ordinance on June 5 directing staff to sell the former Churchill school.
