City of Yorkville, school district in talks to relocate city preschool to YHS Academy

The potential new home for the Yorkville Parks and Recreation’s preschool is now known: Yorkville School District 115.

Yorkville School Superintendent Tim Shimp announced the district was in talks with the City of Yorkville to relocate the preschool to the Yorkville High School Academy. A previous plan to relocate the preschool to the Yorkville Public Library was rejected by library trustees in May, and city officials have hinted at potential new locations in the time since.

“We’re excited to partner with the city and really build that program,” Shimp said at a school board meeting Monday night, July 19. “We are looking at options that would compliment our high school program.”

The Parks & Rec department currently offers two preschool programs, one for three-year-olds and another for four-year-olds. The monthly program fee is $175 for residents and $195 for nonresidents.

Though talks are still in very early stages, Mayor John Purcell called the possibility of relocating the preschool to the school district facility “fantastic.”

“The school district educates kids and we got a great preschool program,” Purcell said. “I think it could be a real good partnership.”

Purcell has previously said he wants the city to sell the current Parks and Recreation building on 201 Hydraulic Street in the city’s downtown to free up space for downtown development.

School Board President Dr. Lynn Burks called the district’s current early childhood programs “fragmented” Monday night.

“If we could take control of that and take a holistic approach and get learners engaged earlier, the long term success of that - that’s exciting,” Burks said.