The Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center board approved a resolution authorizing funding from a local bank to proceed with its renovations of the former Lawnview School.

The ESC approved the resolution for funding not to exceed $250,000 at its Monday board meeting. The resolution is a necessary step to fund the project, ESC Superintendent Dr. Dan Kaffenbarger said.

The ESC is renovating the former Lawnview School on South U.S. Route 68 to serve as offices for the agency and a location for its preschool. The ESC is leasing the building from the Champaign County Commission.

The estimated cost of the project is $374,000. Work that needs to be done includes renovating the inside of the building to house the preschool and transition classrooms and re-configuring office space for employees. In the future, the ESC would like to create a “conference center,” which would be a professional development training center, Kaffenbarger said preciously. That work has been delayed due to estimated costs being higher than bids received.

The goal is still to finish work by May 15.

The ESC preschool is currently located at the former Urbana Local Intermediate School. The preschool will likely move after the school year. The rest of the ESC offices are located in several spots in Urbana.