Unit 5 would like to build a middle school in the southeast end of Bloomington.
But before that can happen, the city must approve two steps.

Tonight the Bloomington planning commission voted to recommend the city approves those steps.

Unit 5 would like to build a new middle school on these 40 acres that belong to the Shirk family. The Shirks are willing to swap this land where U–S 150 meets County Highway 30 for these 25 acres owned by Unit 5 at the corner of Ireland Grove and Hershey Roads.

But before the land swap can happen the city must approve two cases...first, rezone Unit 5's 25 acres to a neighborhood shopping and mixed resident district. And second, approve a pre–annexation agreement for the Shirk Land.

Dave Capodice, who owns land next door to the Shirks, doesn't like the idea. "I live in the country and all of the sudden, with a stroke of a pen you got the city next to you on one side."

Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Neihaus wishes it were that easy.
The city council must still approve the recommendations, and the referendum must pass on February fifth before the school district can go ahead with its plans.

Dr. Neihaus said, "We haven't gotten anything designed yet as far as the building is concerned. Site construction needs to be done, those are going to take a lot more work and a lot more effort and we're open to work with families in the neighborhood around to make sure that's taken care of."

The southeast Bloomington site is part of the 96–million–dollar school proposal going to the voters in February.

The City council will take up the issue on December 26th.
If approved by the council and then the voters in February, the site could be home to a new school by 2011.