Alcuin Montessori School, which holds the title of being the second Montessori school to open in the nation, is growing and could soon have a new facility in the 6900 block of Roosevelt Road.
The school was founded by six Oak Park families in 1961 with one classroom of 24 students at the old Lowell School at the corner of Lake and Forest; it has grown over the decades to include classes for 140 students’ preschool through 8th grade and 30 employees.
Currently housed at two locations – First United Methodist Church, 324 N. Oak Park Ave., and Gale House, 124 N. Kenilworth Ave. – Alcuin is growing and administrators are hoping to expand its middle school program and establish an infant and toddler program for newborns through 30 months of age.
Gina Gleason, Alcuin executive director, said the proposed 14,000-square-foot facility on Roosevelt Road will facilitate the new infant and toddler program with the goal of providing continuity for Alcuin students who now must wait until preschool to enroll.
Gleason, who has been at the school for eight years, said Alcuin administrators have been searching for a location since she’s been in the position.Â
“We’ve always been looking for a permanent home,” she said, noting that Alcuin has moved around to various spaces in Oak Park and River Forest since its inception.
The proposed facility would be built along three lots between 6936 and 6950 W. Roosevelt Rd.Â
At full capacity, the facility would have 44 infants and toddlers and 30 middle school students, according to the proposal submitted to the Oak Park Zoning Board of Appeals.
School administrators must take their plan to the zoning board because it must receive a special-use permit for the project.Â
Gleason said school administrators chose the Roosevelt Road location in part because of the large space and because they wanted to remain in Oak Park.
She said the location gives the school the ability to attract students from a wide range of communities, including Forest Park, Berwyn and others areas south of Oak Park.
It also gives the school the flexibility to build a space that fits its needs, rather than redesigning an existing building “or trying to fit our vision into another space,” she said.
The property is currently owned by Nbore Investments and Community Bank Oak Park River Forest according to Alcuin’s application for the special-use permit.
The proposal will be presented to the zoning board in August, but it could not immediately be determined what date the board will meet.
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com