Yorkville marks opening of last school from '06

YORKVILLE -- The Yorkville school community on Wednesday dedicated the last of six schools that were built or renovated through the 2006 referendum approved by voters.

Autumn Creek Elementary School opened this fall, joining five other buildings that have opened in recent years, including Bristol Bay Elementary School, Yorkville Grade School and Circle Center Grade School, the new Yorkville Middle School and the Yorkville Freshman Academy.

An open house was held Wednesday evening at Autumn Creek, near Kennedy Road and Route 47.

Autumn Creek is an early-childhood through sixth-grade school. The $10.7 million building includes about 70 staff and 400 students.

The school was built with funds from a $56 million building referendum approved by Yorkville voters in March 2006.

Looking back, School Superintendent Thomas Engler said the district was just one step ahead of the curve when it built, reconfigured and renovated the schools.

During Yorkville's major growth spurts, the district had been adding about 400 to 500 students a year, Engler said.

"Really, the referendums were staged and planned at good times, but we always seemed like we were filling up as soon as they were built," Engler said.

The economic recession has stalled the population boom that had hit the Yorkville area.

Yorkville High School is averaging about 400 students per grade level. According to Engler, the threshold for more building space is hit when a student population hits 450 pupils per grade level.

For now, Engler said, "This is the first time since 2001 when we have some classroom space available."