Elgin Academy, which opened in Chicago’s northwest suburbs in 1836, is being sold to a new group that plans to turn it into an Islamic K-12 school called Burhan Academy, The Chicago Tribune reports.
Burhan Academy’s leaders want to build on the tradition of Islamic education and are excited about the new school. More than 200 families attended a July open house.
The change is expected to be complete by the end of August, provided Burhan Academy can raise more than $3.5 million in time. The new school would continue the tradition of using the campus as a school in the community.
“I think the opportunity to have a school that is an Islamic school is really great for this area,” the paper quoted Paul Druzinsky, Elgin Academy’s interim head of school, as saying. “What they are hoping to do, which I applaud, is to establish a wonderful academic institution under the umbrella of their faith,” not unlike Catholic or Christian schools, he said.
Elgin Academy had to close because it struggled with money and had only 180 students left. The school’s final graduation was held yesterday. Its 18-acre campus has sports fields and eight buildings, allowing for the possibility of dedicating separate buildings for an elementary, middle, and high school.
According to the video, furniture and fixtures now in the school will remain in place, along with buses that can be used for student transportation. The buildings also house a fully equipped kitchen, cafeteria, gymnasium, computer lab, and library.
