Will County Board Members Support Lincoln-Way North Study

FRANKFORT, IL — Two Will County board members from Frankfort have issued a joint statement in support of Summit Hill School District 161 moving forward in a feasibility study for a possible expansion. The study will explore the possibility of the district becoming a unit K-12 district and acquiring Lincoln-Way North.

"Lincoln Way North High School, though shuttered, remains an important asset to our community," the statement from Amanda Koch and Jim Moustis reads. "As Will County Board Members representing the district where the high school is located, we urge everyone to act cautiously. We support the decision of Summit Hill School District 161 to move forward with a feasibility study to help determine the best path forward. School District 161 has historically been the exclusive feeder for the Lincoln Way North High School and we expect that it will be needed again in the near future."

The Summit Hill board of education approved a contract with District Leadership Solutions, LLC, to perform the Unit District Feasibility study at its June 12 meeting. The contract will cost $35,000, and will include a student enrollment study, a study on the impact of taxes in District 161 and District 210, and a study of the impact on District 161 taxes with the purchase of Lincoln-Way North, according to board documents.

At the Lincoln-Way District 210 board of education meeting on June 20, superintendent Dr. R. Scott Tingley commented on the situation after a member of the public addressed the board.
Tingley said both districts would have to pass a referendum if District 161 chooses to move forward after the study. The district has agreed to provide information to the consultant for the study.

Tingley said there have been several entities that have expressed interest in Lincoln-Way North over the past 16 months, but there have not been any options presented to the district for consideration.