An evening of meeting, greeting and touring the now established Morton Education and Administration Center on Fourth Street in Morton brought a sense of satisfaction among various District 709 employees.
The district headquarters, which was occupied early 2008, is now complete, and the district celebrated the completion of the renovations by holding an open house Thursday evening.
What was apparent was an overwhelming appreciation among district employees to be in a spacey and structured environment.
The District 709 headquarters were once located within Morton Junior High School. School board meetings were held in the office of the superintendent — a room half the size of an actual classroom. The crammed atmosphere, school board members agreed, made for an uncomfortable place to meet.
During business hours, the former district offices were packed, offering minimal space for visitors and employees to move about.
The need for a new facility in which District 709 could operate was certainly substantial. But, the benefits of moving into a new location would not be realized until district officials could find a place.
The district found a deal in the former Grace Church. And, while some of the district’s renovations might have been considered controversial to former church members, district officials have proven that the changes were not meant to eliminate the history of the building but to improve the efficiency of the district’s operations.
School board meetings now take place in a spacious room where business can be conducted in a less tense atmosphere. The basement, where carpeting was recently installed, offers additional room for meetings and activities for teachers and visiting classes.
Even more impressive, the former Grace Church congregation room offers more seating than the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center, allowing class activities, such as Christmas programs and plays, another venue to perform.
Perhaps Dana Ashby, director of special education for District 709, was the most satisfied. Ashby said the new headquarters for special education have had a major impact on how she interacts with students and parents. Ashby now has more space and rooms to discuss a student’s needs with parents in a private setting.
The money spent moving into and upgrading the former Grace Church to serve as a headquarters for District 709 was well worth the investment. And, as District 709 looks toward a major school facility improvement plan, it is one less item that needs to be considered.
Morton, Ill. —
