Nearly $19 million in state capital development money will help the Gillespie School District build an elementary school to replace one in neighboring Benld, Ill., that was closed last year after extensive damage from mine subsidence.
Classes have been held in modular classrooms since the school — the district's only elementary building — was closed. It was only seven years old. The School Board has decided to build an elementary school adjacent to the district's high school and middle school campus in Gillespie.
Gov. Pat Quinn said recently that Gillespie was among 18 districts statewide that would receive almost $270 million for school improvements from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program.
Local funding is expected to amount to $6.32 million. PepsiCo Inc. awarded the district's booster club $250,000 for the project earlier this year after it was the second-highest vote-getter in the company's online "National Refresh" contest.
