The Henry-Stark County Special Education District is preparing to open a transformative new facility designed to better serve some of its highest-need learners.
Executive Director Casey Miller recently shared with Geneseo’s Board of Education an overview of the Wings Academy, a public facility being developed in Kewanee that will be dedicated to serving students with unique and complex needs in a structured, therapeutic environment.
“Everything that we're doing to create this building, we want it to be the absolute best because these students deserve it,” said Miller. “A lot of them don't have the voice to be able to say that. We want to try to meet the needs of our students before parents even realize that they have them.”
The initiative represents a significant change in how local students with severe and profound disabilities — those whose needs exceed what can be provided within traditional school buildings — are supported. In addition to Geneseo, the Wings Academy will also serve the Annawan, Bradford, Cambridge, Galva, Kewanee, Stark County and Wethersfield school districts.
“We are beyond excited to expand the continuum of services for our students in a new state-of-the-art building,” said Dr. Monica Furlong, Special Education Coordinator for Henry-Stark and Geneseo CUSD 228. “Wings Academy will offer a wide variety of services, programming, and supports to meet the needs of each student.”
Miller describes the effort as a long-awaited vision and a necessary shift brought on by changes in state funding.
“We currently have about 23 students across the co-op who are outplaced,” he explained, noting that students are traveling daily to the High Road School of the Quad Cities in Moline, Menta Academy in Galesburg, and the Academy For Autism in Peoria. “Many of these students are nonverbal, non-ambulatory, or require medical and therapeutic support that traditional school buildings simply cannot provide.”
According to Miller, Henry-Stark currently spends $85,000 to $115,000 per student annually for transportation and tuition at those facilities. For years, those costs were offset in part by the state, which offered partial reimbursement once districts paid twice their per-capita cost. The turning point came with Senate Bill 3606, which expanded reimbursement to outplacement programs run by public school districts.
“That provided us with an opportunity to create our own program,” Miller said. “Instead of sending six-figure tuition checks to distant facilities, the cooperative can keep that money local while building something tailored for our highest-need learners.”
Around the same time the funding model changed, the American Legion Post 31 building in Kewanee went up for sale, a coincidence Miller called “perfect timing.”
The new Wings Academy, which Miller hopes will be open in time for the 2026-27 school year, will allow students to learn within the communities they live.
“If they take you out of the community, that’s not your community,” Miller explained. “You’re not seeing the people. You’re not seeing the places. By locating the program in Kewanee, students can practice daily living skills in settings they’ll use as adults — Walmart, McDonald’s, and other local businesses.”
A committee of about 15 educators and specialists led by Kim Johnson developed the concept and name. The Wings Academy’s bumblebee mascot symbolizes the program’s philosophy.
“Scientifically it makes no sense that a bumblebee can fly, based on the size of its wings and body,” Miller said. “With our students, though from the outside it may not seem like they can soar, indeed they can, and that’s the inspiration behind our programming.”
The program will not replace existing life-skills classrooms in district schools but will instead serve students with the most profound needs, including those with multiple impairments, severe autism, or significant medical challenges. The goal is a K–12 continuum focused on communication, self-care, daily living, pre-vocational training, and as much academic instruction as each student can meaningfully access.
The renovation of the former American Legion building is extensive, including a 1,200-square-foot front addition, an elevator, redesigned stairways, and completely updated plumbing and interior space. Miller acknowledged he was initially impatient, wondering why plans were taking so long — until he saw the stacks of blueprints and engineering documents.
“After seeing that, I understood,” he said. “This facility is going to be state-of-the-art.”
Renderings reveal a modern, welcoming school that is designed to reassure parents that their children will receive exceptional care. The academy will house eight classrooms, therapy spaces, and permanent offices for psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. It will open with roughly 32 students and be able to serve up to 40.
Tuition is projected to be between $60,000 to $65,000 per year — money that now stays within the cooperative and remains eligible for state reimbursement. Peoples National Bank of Kewanee financed the project through a line of credit, which will convert into a mortgage after construction.
More than a new building, Wings Academy reflects a commitment to serving students who often cannot advocate for themselves.
“Henry-Stark is opening a door and so many possibilities for our students who require an intensive and therapeutic environment to meet each student's needs,” said Furlong. “We can't wait to offer these services and supports starting in the fall of 2026.”
Learn more about the Wings Academy and see construction updates on Facebook.