COBDEN HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES FUNDING

COBDEN, Ill. -- Everything is on GO for the new Cobden High School.

Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan, who was in Southern Illinois last weekend, awarded the Cobden School Unit District 17 a $4.8 million "Illinois FIRST" school construction grant for the construction of a new high school.

Earlier this year, voters in the school district approved a $1.7 million bond issue for the local financing of the new school, with a 74 percent approval vote, 863 to 312.

School officials said Monday that new construction, at a total cost of about $6.5 million, will start in 2001, with completion in 2002.

Architects are working on plans now, with bids expected in February.

School officials said construction could get under way as soon as the 2000-2001 school term is over.

The old school building, which was constructed in 1923, will be demolished.

Classes for the 2001-2002 terms will be held in an old elementary school which was vacated when a new grade-school building was construction.

Classes will also be scheduled in a near high school gymnasium and some junior space, according to the superintendent's office.

The new school will house about 300 students in grades 9-12.

"We are easing the burden on local property taxpayers by using state funds to help create more modern school environments in which teachers can teach and children can learn," said Ryan.

Since its inception in 1997, the state school construction program has provided nearly $1.4 billion in state funds to assist 251 school districts.

Governor Ryan has also announced funding for Freeborn Community Consolidated District 70, Dangle Unit School District 66, Jonesboro Community Consolidated School District 43, and Sparta Community Unit School District 140.

Voters in Dongola Unit School District approved funds of $285,000 for classroom additions and improvements in March of this year, but turned down a bond issue for $850,000 to construct a school gymnasium. The school construction issue passed in Dongola District 66 by a 62 percent margin, 446 to 272. But voters nixed bonds for a new gymnasium in a close vote, 373 to 351, a margin of 51.5 to 48.5 percent.