New Plans For Jones Prep Makeover Due in Fall

It’s back to the drawing board for Jones College Prep’s new facility.  The plans unveiled earlier this year are being revised because the proposed building lacked efficiency, sustainability and cost too much, said Penelope Varnava, managing architect for Chicago Public Schools.

The project’s estimated cost is $130 million; CPS will provide $40 million while the other $90 million will come from tax increment financing (TIFs). Varnava said the project will be scaled back without loosing the needed amenities.

“Since this is a 24-hour neighborhood, we want the building to capitalize on the urban grid,” she said.

A green roof  made of environmentally-friendly building materials will be added to the plans to increase efficiency and sustainability.

The new building will also increase the school’s enrollment to 1,200 students.  Since the new facility will be paid partly with taxpayer financing, a neighborhood component will be introduced at the South Loop high school.

Jones College Prep is a selective enrollment school where prospective students have to pass an entrance exam to meet the school’s academic criteria.

Three hundred students would be drawn from the neighborhood.  The district boundaries would be redrawn to accommodate this enrollment addition.

Jones’s local school council passed a resolution on June 8 in support of the school’s acclaimed academic program,  and a cap of 300 for the plan’s neighborhood component.

“If we have to include a neighborhood component, we don’t want to lose the distinctive, rigorous academic program we have,” said local school council member Tom Kubiak.

Jones’s principal, Dr. Joseph Powers, remains hopeful about the proposed neighborhood component.

“We may need to broaden [the curriculum] somewhat, but I don’t see any drastic changes,” Powers said.

Some community members worry that the introduction of a neighborhood element would hurt Jones’ current high-standing and affect its selective enrollment policies.

One community member proposed at the local school council meeting in June that  Jones keep its existing building and utilize both the old and new facilities.

“We can accommodate more students and go beyond a 1,200 capacity,” said Enrique Perez.

Perez’s is concerned the 300 neighborhood cap will not meet then future needs of the South Loop’s high school age population.

The campus is increasing student enrollment – next year’s projection is 825, Powers said.  The current campus can hold between  700 and 850 students.

After finishing his first year as principal, Powers reflected on what he saw as the school’s greatest needs.  He put a library and a gym at the top of that list.  In addition, Powers would like to see a pool, auditorium, two music classrooms, and science labs.  All are part of the plans for the new facility, Varnava said.

CPS planning and development teams will have a presentation ready by September, she said.

If everything goes as planned, Jones’ incoming freshman could see a new building by their senior year in the fall of 2012.

The new building will be constructed on vacant lots behind the school’s current location at 606 S. State St. and expand southward along South State to East Polk Steet  The existing building which is appraised at $20 million will be sold.