Kewanee, IL: Autism school for 40 students planned
- The end of childhood
- Jan 25
- 2 min read
Jan 20, 2025, Kewanee (IL) Voice: Sold: New school planned for former American Legion building
T. Greg Wertheim envisions the former American Legion property in Kewanee as the home of one of the finest facilities in Illinois for youths with autism and other cognitive difficulties.
Wertheim is the executive director of the Henry-Stark Counties Special Education District, which is purchasing the Legion building on Railroad Avenue for $300,000.
Currently, Henry-Stark has no facilities for students with autism.
“We can do this,” Wertheim said. “We just don’t have the facility to do it.”
Students in Henry and Stark counties who need these services have to be bused to Peoria or the Quad Cities.
If all goes according to plan, they’ll be able to go to the facility in Kewanee by the fall of 2026. . . .
Architects are already at work designing the remodeling of the building. The special ed district will also work with the Autism Society and other organizations on the design, Wertheim said.
“We want it to be one of the nicest facilities in the state of Illinois,” he said.
Wertheim said the facility will be able to accommodate up to 40 students, although he expects there will be about 25 going there when it opens.
There will be 30 staff members at the facility, which means the special ed district will be hiring teachers and other staff members.
In addition to the indoor facilities, an outdoor playground is planned, he said.
The facility will accept students from the eight school districts that are part of the Henry-Stark district, and Wertheim said other nearby districts will also be able to send students here by paying tuition for them.
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