A new voucher school will take up residence in the former Careers Industries building now that city alderpersons approved zoning changes for the location.
Three different zoning amendments were approved Tuesday with a vote of 13-1, according to a story in The Journal Times, and Hope Via will open at 3502 Douglas Ave. this fall.
Ald. Jeff Coe was the lone dissenting vote, and Dennis Wiser abstained.
Hope Via will be overseen by Hope Christian Schools and is listed on city documents as a public charter school. But, it will be a private, Christian school with a student body primarily using state-funded vouchers, the story continues.
Ciji Pittman, regional director of Racine for HOPE Christian Schools, confirmed for the newspaper that because the school will technically be a non-profit and not subject to property taxes, Hope will instead make annual payments of $12,000 to the city.
During a public hearing at the beginning of the meeting included comments from parties who support and oppose the new school, and in the end the measures passed.
The school will start accepting applications in February.
