The Lake Forest District 115 Board of Education recently approved paying for construction drawings as part of an effort to improve security at Lake Forest High School.
The board voted unanimously to pay the architecture firm Perkins and Will $69,000 to create construction drawings to reconfigure an entrance at the high school. The reconfiguration would include moving the security office from the basement to the south side of the entrance where the principal’s office is currently located.
“Our key safety guys are in the basement,” said John Powers, a board member.
It would also move the Spirit Store from the basement to the north side of the entrance where a conference room is currently located.
“People could visit the store but not have access to the building,” said Allen Albus, deputy superintendent of finance and operations.
The project could also include renovating and reconfiguring an office suite and a second conference room nearby.
Last summer, the district formed a six-person committee to improve security, according to a memo from Superintendent Michael Simeck to Albus that was supplied by Albus. The committee is also reviewing technology, personnel and procedures related to security, Albus said.
Construction drawings would be due by March 2, according to the memo. Bid requests are scheduled to go out in March and would be considered for approval by the board of education in early April according to the memo. If approved, construction is tentatively scheduled from June 6 to Aug. 5.
The project could cost anywhere from $312,866 to $1,183,786, depending on the scope of the work approved, according to estimates in the memo. The money would come from district operating funds and would not involve selling bonds, Albus said after the meeting.
“It will draw down the fund balance a bit,” said Albus, adding that it wouldn’t drop the district’s reserves below its 10 percent minimum.
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