Novak Academy Finds New Location at Parkland College for 2023-2024 School Year
(April 27, 2023)—Parkland College and Champaign Unit 4 Schools have partnered to provide temporary learning space for Novak Academy—the district’s alternative high school—in the upcoming school year. This week, Parkland’s Board of Trustees and Unit 4’s Board of Education approved a lease agreement between the organizations to move Novak Academy to Parkland’s campus starting in June.
The Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education approved the use of (ARP) American Recovery Plan funds to complete renovations at the Columbia Center, the current home of Novak Academy. Due to the renovations, several programs–including Novak–will need to relocate until the project is completed.
“We chose Parkland for many positive reasons,” said Unit 4 Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer. “This temporary move will allow our students to participate in dual credit courses, provide them with exposure to several options for post-secondary success and support the goals of Unit 4’s Strategic Plan to ensure that our students are college and career ready.”
“We are pleased to welcome the Novak Academy students and teachers to our campus for the upcoming year,” said Parkland College President Dr. Pamela Lau. “When educational partners work together, it makes for a brighter future for the broader community. Our hope is to unlock opportunities for future careers as the Novak students plan for life after graduation.”
Novak Academy will be located on the third floor of the college’s X Wing. The academy will occupy 8,677 square feet in the top floor of the college center, with an annual rental rate of $13 per square foot, with a total rental fee of $131,601.12. The lease is set to begin in June 2023. The college will relocate classes typically scheduled on the third floor of the X Wing for the duration of the lease, which ends July 31, 2024.
About Champaign Unit 4 School District
Champaign Unit 4 School District is a large unit school district serving more than 10,000 students in grades pre-K through 12 in Champaign, Savoy, and Bondville, Illinois. Our 19 campuses employ more than 1,900 teachers, administrators, and support personnel, including some of the brightest educators in the region. Our District represents the diversity of our world, fosters positive learning environments to prepare students for college and careers, and our schools empower students to succeed on any path they choose.
About Parkland College
Parkland College, located in Champaign, Illinois, is a public community college serving the needs of District 505, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Offering 130+ degree and certificate options for career placement or academic transfer, Parkland has provided technical skills training and traditional academic instruction to more than 350,000 students since 1967. For more information, visit www.parkland.edu or follow the college on Instagram at @parkland_college and Twitter at @parklandcollege.