Part of plans to combine Laketown and Hazel Dell elementary schools. Two elementary schools in Springfield are to be replaced by a new school, according to plans obtained by
Illinois Times. The new school would mean the shuttering of Hazel Dell and Laketown K-5 schools. Hazel Dell, at 850 W. Lake Shore Dr., was built in 1948, according to the October 2020 document. Laketown, at 1825 Lee St., was built in 1957. Both have about 165 students. The new building would be able to serve 500 students, according to the plans. Hazel Dell and Laketown are slated to be demolished. Certain jobs, such as principal, will no longer need to be duplicated. Things like that will be reduced, said Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Gill. She said she does not anticipate a reduction in the number of teachers.