Published: June 24, 2009 11:58 am      

Funkhouser school to be sold through sealed bids

With at least two entities expressing interest in purchasing Funkhouser school, it is likely the school will soon have a new owner.

Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Monday decided to place the former school up for sale, but the question remains as to who will get the building. The answer will be the high bidder in a sealed-bid sale.

Wilbert Schaefer assessed the property’s value at $74,000, which the board agreed will be the minimum bid. The price includes the 6,149-square-foot building and five acres.

Colby Higgs of the Effingham County Humane Society has attended the last two school board meetings to learn what the board intends to do with the building. He said the building would be the perfect location for an animal shelter.

“If we do get it, We could move in immediately and start fostering dogs and cats at that building, pending improvements. If we don’t get the bid, we are still in for this other building,” he said.

The Humane Society owns a lot at 307 Miracle Avenue where it intends to build a proposed 3,000-square-foot animal shelter once the needed $350,000 is raised.

The Humane Society currently houses around 30 cats at its facility at Effingham Village Square Mall but does not have room for dogs, which live in foster care with volunteers until a permanent home can be found.

Effingham County Board members also have discussed purchasing the building as a new home for the Effingham County Dive-Rescue Team, which has been looking for a new home ever since the Shumway Fire Protection District board gave the team notice to vacate space in the district’s fire station near Lake Sara.

Watson Township Supervisor Mark Percival told the Building and Grounds Committee in May the dive team could occupy 1,400 square feet at the Watson township maintenance building, but the move is only meant to be temporary.

Effingham County Board members inspected the Funkhouser school in May. Board Chairwoman Carolyn Willenburg said a possible purchase of the building is still in consideration.

“We’re not sure, not exactly as this time. We still have some other options. It might be a possibility down the road,” she said.

The Funkhouser building, which last housed the Treatment and Learning Center, closed this summer after Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education, which runs TLC, leased East Side Preschool to house the programs there during next school year.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.