Some interest shown in DLR property
Mt. Morris Times / ShawLocal.com • Friday, Jul 22, 2022
MT. MORRIS BEAT
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By EARLEEN HINTON
ehinton@shawmedia.com There has been some interest in the former David L. Rahn Junior High School following the Oregon School Board’s decision last month to seek bids to sell the building and its surrounding property. “Two different gentlemen did a walkthrough of the building and another has asked for a packet,” Oregon Superintendent Tom Mahoney told board members Monday night. “We know for sure we’ve had at least three with some interest in the building.” Mahoney said representatives who are considering starting a college in the area also had expressed an interest in the building. “They are going to do a walk-through in August,” Mahoney said. School officials unanimously voted in June to start the 60-day process to seek bids to sell the building after the Mt. Morris Village Board rejected ownership of the 1952 school building which was the Mt. Morris High School. The school became the junior high when the two districts joined in the early 1990s. A notice of sale has to be published for three weeks before the bid opening. “If no bids are received then we can hire a real estate broker or demolish it,” Mahoney said in June. Mt. Morris Village Trustees recommended in June that the school board reconsider pursuing any disposition of the building for a period of two to three years. On Feb. 22, school board members voted 4-2 to close DLR at the end of the 2021-22
school year, despite pleas from Mt. Morris officials and residents to keep the school open. Seventh grade and eighth grade students will attend Oregon High School, which is located five miles to the east in Oregon, beginning this fall. DLR was the last remaining school in Mt. Morris. The Mt. Morris School District merged with the Oregon School District because of financial reasons. Mahoney first proposed closing DLR in May 2021, citing decreasing enrollment throughout the district and increasing maintenance costs at DLR as reasons to do so. “We continue to believe this decision is wrong, shortsighted and not in the best interest of students, staff and district families,” Labash said in a written statement two weeks ago. “Immediate disposition of the building through sale, transfer or demolition will eliminate a critical safety net, should serious issues arise as a result of this decision.” An advisory committee, formed before the school board’s final vote, argued that information they had disputed Mahoney’s assessment of the building’s physical condition and also argued that the school district did not need to close the school because of financial reasons. A walk-through of the building was offered to the public July 3. On Monday, Bruce Obendorf, a former school board member and Mt. Morris resident, thanked the board for opening the school to the public for the walk-through. “Thank you for giving Mt. Morris High School alumni the opportunity to see the
building,” he said. “It meant something for them to walk into that gym again and remember. I thank you for allowing people to do that.” As part of the bid process, bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope titled “Bid for School District Real Estate” with the name, address and telephone number of the bidder displayed on the outside of the bid. Bids are due on Aug. 9, at 3 p.m., at the District Administrative Office, 206 S. 10th Street, Oregon, IL 61061. Bids will be opened and read aloud on Aug. 9, at 3 p.m., at the District Administrative Office. The award of the bid, if at all, shall be by the Board of Education on Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m., or such later date as the board may determine. The property is available through auction by a sealed bid with no minimum sale price. “The closure of the David L. Rahn Junior High School building was a hard decision to make, but we know it’s right for our students, our taxpayers, and our OCUSD220 community,” Mahoney said in a news release. “It has opened the doors to new opportunities for junior high students this upcoming fall, such as the option to take Spanish and Ag as well as offering additional computer science and social studies courses. We are also thrilled to announce that FFA will now be available to our junior high students.” The repurposing of the David. L. Rahn Junior High School property can provide growth opportunities for the village of Mt. Morris through investment in new business, the release said.
BRIEF
MT. MORRIS LIBRARY Summer Reading Program “Reading Beyond the Beaten Path” reading logs need to be completed by Saturday, July 23, to qualify for the party and awesome prizes! If you have reached your goal be sure to stop by the library for an invitation to the celebration and to get your goody bag! Kable Concert Band Join us on Wednesday, July 27, for the weekly Kable Concert at the Bandshell. Mt. Morris Library will be making rootbeer floats for the event. Floats will be provided by donation. Stop by for some great treats and awesome music! Storytime-Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m. Summer has just flown by! We will have a craft kit to help build your own kite using sand and a story time to celebrate! Don’t miss the take-n-make kite craft and a breezy story time on Wednesday. Page Position Available We’re hiring. Page position available starting in August. This part-time job is open to high school students who are available to work Saturdays and evenings. Duties include helping at the circulation
desk, shelving books, interacting with the public, working with the children’s programmer, and other duties as assigned. Applications may be picked up at the library; there is no online application available. Lego Club Our next Lego night on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 6 – 6:45 p.m. Bring a friend and build some fun with Lego bricks! All Children and parents are invited. Children under 8 need to bring a parent with them. Adult Book Club The July book is The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. Everyone is welcome to join this book club group! Copies of the book are available at the library. This group will meet in-person at the library on Monday, July 25 at 3:30 p.m. Curbside Service is available! We want to remind everyone that you still have the option of having your materials delivered to your vehicle. If you have holds waiting for you, call us to tell us you are on your way, and we will bring them out to your vehicle when you arrive. Call us if you need more information.
Freshman Athlete/New Athlete Orientation Night
Oregon High School will hold its mandatory Freshman Athlete/New Athlete Orientation event on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. in the OHS gym. This event is mandatory for all incoming freshmen and new/transfer students to Oregon High School who are planning on participating in athletics during their high school career. A parent/guardian must also attend the orientation event. Students will not be able to participate in games or contests until this requirement is met. For families who are out of town on Aug. 4, the event will be repeated at the regular school orientation event on Thursday evening, Aug. 11, at 7:45 p.m. in the gym.
