Work to ready schools in Community Consolidated Elementary District 181 for full-day kindergarten next school year is continuing on schedule and on budget.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Mike Duggan, facilities director, told board members that construction projects at the six elementary schools began after classes let out May 31.
At Oak School, remodeling of the main office, related services office and two classrooms was completed in time for the beginning of school. Crews will continue building a four-room addition, which should be done in early February.
At Madison School, a three-story, two-classroom addition and new staircase is now under a roof, and additional work will continue on nonattendance days with a projected completion day of July 25.
The two classrooms being added at The Lane should be done by the end of June. At Monroe School, Duggan said a later than expected relocation of power service by ComEd to accommodate construction pushed back the schedule.
“We need to play catch-up there,” he said, noting the target completion is Aug. 1.
Mindy Bradford, assistant superintendent of business and operations, said expenses are on par with the expected $19.2 million outlay.
“Overall we’re very happy with the progress that we’ve made,” she said. “We’ve been managing the budgets very aggressively.”
Superintendent Hector Garcia echoed her remarks.
“We’re really excited about these projects being both on track in terms of the budget as well as the time,” he said. “We want to make sure that we’re ready to go for welcoming students next year in the fall.”
New admin center
Duggan also gave an update on development of the new $3.4 million administrative center at 133 Ogden Ave. in Hinsdale
“The plans were drawn up and distributed to prospective bidders last Friday. The bid opening is going to be Oct. 3,” he said. “(We’ll) start construction as soon as we can thereafter, with a substantial completion date of the beginning of May.”
He said expects to receive favorable bids.
“I think we will because this is a good time of year to go out to bid,” he said. “We’re way ahead of the summer projects bidding, so I think we will get a lot of interest.”
