During this month of Thanksgiving, the Central Community Unit School District 301 board said it is grateful that the $22 million referendum question for the proposed Phase Two project to improve and expand Burlington Central High School was approved with 58 percent of the vote.
“This is an exciting time,” said Superintendent Todd Stirn.
He extended thanks to the referendum committee, community members, the 301 Central Education Foundation, district students, teachers and administrators.
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Improvements to the high school will be made in two phases.
Phase One, which has already started, will add a physical education office, lobby area and six new classrooms featuring a music classroom, computer-aided design classroom, computer lab, health classroom, and a dance/multi-purpose room on the upper level. There will be a weight room, fitness center, training room and Rocket Alumni Hall added to the lower level.
District officials said that Phase One will be paid for with district funds and will not impact property taxes. Phase One is expected to be completed by the summer 2017.
Phase Two will add a field house with a 200-meter track, 12 additional classrooms, a wrestling room, commons area, air conditioning throughout the facility and improvements to the cafeteria.
At the time when plans for Phase One were being drawn up, it was uncertain if voters would approve the referendum question for Phase Two.
“We are now going back to the drawing board because Phase Two is definite,” said Dan Polowy, district director of facility operations. “We are hoping to go out for Phase Two bids in January.”
Phase Two is anticipated to be completed by August 2018.
Stirn said that the district population of 4,033 students is continuing to grow.
“We have 19 more students since the last board meeting on October 17,” Stirn said.
There have been eight additional students at Howard B. Thomas Grade School in Burlington, six additional students at Prairie View Grade School in Elgin, two additional students at Prairie Knolls Middle School in Elgin, and three additional students at Burlington Central High School.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.