An alternative school that would provide placement for Galesburg-area students with special behavioral and social needs is eyeing to locate in a vacant auto parts store.
Aurora-based OLL Education Services, which operates The Menta Education Group and runs 33 schools across Arizona, Illinois and Texas, has purchased the former NAPA Auto Parts store at 883 W. Dayton St.
According to property sales from the OLL Education Services purchased the 883 W. Dayton St. property from L & L Properties of Sterling LLC for $450,000.
John Asplund, District 205 superintendent of schools, tells WGIL, “We are hopeful they will be starting a school here by the beginning of next school year.
“Currently, we send some students to alternative placements in the Quad Cities and Peoria, and we would very much like to provide an alternate placement that is within the school district’s borders.”
District 205 currently transports 12 students out of district — eight to the Quad Cities, three to Peoria, and one to Germantown Hills.
Asplund said District 205 may not move every student who is currently enrolled in an alternative placement, but it would be its aim to prioritize a local school to reduce bus ride times for students and to make these schools more accessible to families.
The superintendent said the location is “ideal” for District 205, noting the ease of access by either a school bus for for families who are transporting students.
“There will need to be major to semi-major renovations made to the interior of the building, but I am sure that the owners are very much aware of that,” Asplund said. “Interior renovations can be done fairly quickly as long as no extra square footage is needed, and I don’t believe they need extra space, so there shouldn’t be much, if any, structural work being done, just interior changes.”
According to Galesburg developer Rob Benedict, The Menta Education Group last year showed interest in leasing a 10,000 square foot portion of the former Churchill School at 905 Maple Ave., but that deal fell through when Benedict could not acquire the property.
Representatives from The Menta Education Group have not responded to requests to comment on the potential move to Galesburg.
The Menta Education 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.
NAPA moved from the Dayton Street location to the former Dollar Tree store, 1430 N. Henderson St. in the summer of 2022.
