NILES — What once was a library is now a school board meeting room. What once was a computer lab is now an administrative office. What once was Oak Manor Sixth Grade school is now a hub of Niles Community Schools.

Superintendent Dan Applegate and other NCS staff have been moving into the school off of Tyler Street for the past few weeks. By the end of next week, Applegate said all new residents of the former sixth grade school will be moved into what will be known as the Niles Administration and Education Center.

Those residents include administration, NCS’ homeschool program, a teacher training room, WAY classrooms, WAY offices and the ancillary departments, like special education staff and the district psychologist.

The move is meant to cut costs, but its impact goes further than money saved, Applegate said.

“I’m looking forward to interacting more with the kids here,” he said. “We’re also more centrally located, which is really nice if we need to respond or be available.”

That also makes programs formerly distanced in location, like Cedar Lane’s alternative education program, or distanced from daily public presence, like administration, more visible.

The move was largely funded by a 2015 school bond and a sinking fund designated for operations updates.

“The reason why we’re doing this is to conserve our resources,” Applegate said. “When we can combine the use of a building and basically eliminate another building altogether, you don’t have the facility upkeep. You don’t have the heating costs. We’re trying to downsize, or ‘right-size.’”

Aside from the administrative offices, few rooms were retrofitted, Applegate said.

Instead of tearing down walls, most rooms received new flooring and desks.

One classroom became what Applegate calls a “state-of-the-art” teacher training room, where teachers will use technology and interactive spacing to further their educational careers.

Despite room changes, Applegate said nothing has changed in NCS’ administrative functioning.

“People aren’t going to see too much of a difference in operating,” he said.

What has changed frequently is the Oak Manor building’s residents.

The building used to be a kindergarten through sixth grade school. When the district’s elementary programming went from K-6 to K-5, Oak Manor became a sixth grade school.

When the 2015 bond passed, sixth grade students were moved to Ring Lardner Middle School. Then, Eastside Connections students moved in while their N. 14th Street building went under construction.

Afterward, Eastside students moved back, and Cedar Lane’s alternative education students came in. Now, Cedar Lane will be joined by the Niles Administration and Education Center.

Despite the changes in composition, Applegate said the building itself has not changed much from how people picture it.

“A lot of people will remember it,” he said. “A lot of people went to school here.”

As the Niles Administration and Education Center starts to reside in Oak Manor, a few issues still need to be worked out, Applegate said.

First, adjustments need to be made to parking so it can accommodate staff, students and visitors. Its online address also needs to be fixed. Many devices using GPS send prospective visitors to a Tyler Street house rather than the school.

NCS also needs to close on its Westside School sale, for which it currently has one bidder. Like Cedar Lane staff, Westside staff moved to the former Oak Manor building, which should cut down costs, Applegate said.

The sale will be discussed at a July 8 school board meeting, which will be located at the administration education center.