While warm weather usually marks construction season in Illinois, officials from numerous school districts in Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire say this summer is quieter than in years past when it comes to their own summertime projects.
Stevenson High School is spending its average amount on summer vacation projects — about $5.3 million total, said spokesman Jim Conrey. But construction crews are working to lay a new foundation and asphalt for Parking Lot B, which has been worn down over the years, he said.
“It’s basically being remade,” Conrey said.
Officials at Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary District 102, Lincolnshire-Prairie View Elementary District 103, Community Consolidated Elementary District 21 and Kildeer-Countryside Elementary District 96 agreed that this year is not a particularly busy summer — one that doesn’t involve the type of major renovation that will make students stop and take note when they return.
Buffalo Grove High School is the only school with no construction going on before the fall semester.
One project that District 96 kids and parents could notice later this year involves the former Willow Grove Kindergarten, which is changing its name to Willow Grove Early Learning Center and renovating existing classrooms to become a larger, full-time kindergarten program. Randy Warren, the district director of facilities and transportation, said the project includes work on the doors, frames, glass, painting and seal coating.
According to Warren, other projects at District 96 include:
* Kildeer Elementary receiving a new gym floor.
* Science room renovations to spruce up Woodlawn and Twin Groves middle schools.
Around Wheeling and the Cook County side of Buffalo Grove, District 21 has planned $2.4 million in summertime projects, including mechanical work for each of its buildings. Spokeswoman Kara Beach said. The district also will be doing tuck pointing at four schools and installing a new playground at Poe Elementary.
District 102 has a pair of projects, totaling about $700,000, spokeswoman Vickie Walter said. The work includes the final phase to replace the roof at Pritchett Elementary and the carpet in classrooms at Aptakisic Junior High.
According to District 103 facilities director Scott Gaunky, the Lincolnshire district has workers at all three of its buildings doing projects, including:
* Roof work at Daniel Wright Junior High and Half Day Elementary, which began June 21..
* Renovation work throughout entire bathrooms at Sprague Elementary, along with adding a concrete pad to the recycling dumpster.
But what might be the largest area project — at least in terms of visibility — is the digging up and laying down of the parking lot at Stevenson High School.
“Underneath the asphalt, there was some stuff that was structurally unsound,” Conrey said. “We always had holes and whatnot popping up.”
School officials also plan to move the buses farther back from the building, he said.
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The new parking lot will include a wider sidewalk, leading students from an entrance to the East Building. The change is meant to discourage students from cutting through the parking lot as vehicles exit, Conrey said.
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