Buying the properties will cost the district more than $400,000.  The moves comes after the district closed Woodruff High school in 2010 and moved most of the student population to Peoria High. The school board approved buying a parcel on North North Street from the Peoria Islamic Center.  District Treasurer Dave Kinney says the land means needed room for Peoria High School as it adds new science and gym space:

  

“Our first intention is to move our ROTC program there,” Kinney says.

 

“It’ll actually be better for them, they’ll have more room than what they have had in the past and certainly more room than what they were going to get this coming year.  We also know that we can move some non-student type offices over there to give us a little more room again at Peoria High.”

 

The district is also buying four parcels from St. Paul's Church near the school.  Kinney says those properties could be used for temporary construction storage, and athletic space in the long term.  The Board also approved paying assistant principals and deans based on performance evaluations instead of being tied into the teachers union pay schedule.