Construction projects have started at six elementary schools to enable Community Consolidated School District 181 to offer full-day kindergarten beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
“We are making great progress so far in the short amount of time that we’ve been working,” Mike Duggan, facilities director, reported at Monday’s school board meeting.
At Oak School, demolition is taking place in the area of the school being remodeled, according to Duggan’s memo to board members. The office and classroom being renovated must be ready before school begins in August. ComEd is expected to relocate electric service at Oak on June 27, Duggan said. After Safety Village ends this week, construction of the four new classrooms will begin.
Boring for the relocated electric service is complete at Monroe School, where a one-story kindergarten classroom is being added adjacent to an existing kindergarten room.
Excavation and underground plumbing work has begun for the foundation for the three-story, two classroom addition at Madison School. The foundation should be poured by July 1.
Duggan said soil tests have been good at all sites, including Madison.
“There is a history of bad soil there,” he said.
Excavation began at The Lane School June 7, and the foundation is scheduled to be poured by July 1. Two classrooms are being added at the school.
Crews also have started excavation work at Elm School. Underground plumbing, footings and the foundation for the one-classroom addition are scheduled to be completed by the end of this week.
At Walker School, the remodeling and extension of two classrooms on the first floor must be completed before the start of school in August. Three classrooms also are being added on the second floor.
No work is necessary at Prospect School to accommodate full-day kindergarten.
Duggan said district officials have been working to let residents know about the projects.
“All school properties have yard signs with QR codes that link people to our website for more information,” he said.
Information on all the projects and construction timelines are available by clicking on “Full-day kindergarten” link under “District news” on the district’s website, http://www.d181.org.
Fliers also have been included with principals’ newsletters and posted at libraries, village halls and police stations in the district.
“We’ve only received one phone call to date,” Duggan said. “They just wanted to know what was going on.”
Construction at all schools is estimated to cost $15.5 million, with another $5.7 million in expenses projected for furniture, fixtures, equipment, fees and contingencies. The district is borrowing the money to fund construction and will repay it from the district’s operating funds.
