Elmwood Park Schools are embarking on major projects to upgrade mechanical, plumbing and electrical needs at two school buildings after residents in Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 approved a bond referendum two years ago.
With work starting soon at John Mills Elementary School, groundbreaking for the Elmwood Elementary School construction was held last week.
“This is to update our facilities and ready them for learning in the 21st Century,” District 401 Superintendent of Schools Leah Gauthier said. “For example, some of the classrooms have just one or two electricity outlets on the walls for the entire room; there will now be an elevator to the second floor and wider, handicapped-accessible doorways. The community has been wanting all of those things and we’re bringing them to fruition with the passage of the referendum.”
In March 2020, 61.89% of voters approved a $55 million school referendum measure. Of that, just over $25 million will pay for the Elmwood Elementary School project.
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New courtyard, classrooms
A large, stand-alone boiler room in the center of the rectangular school building will be removed to make room for a new outdoor courtyard.
“There will be two new classrooms and a hallway built beneath the second floor overhang, which will enclose the new courtyard,” Elmwood Elementary Principal Matthew Lerner said. “When we put forward the referendum, we were looking 20 years ahead to what our students will need to be ready for college and a career. I’m excited for the opportunities they’re going to have.”
A new boiler room addition will be built at the northeast corner of the school, new water heaters and LED lighting will be installed and there will be upgraded or replaced air conditioning, plumbing and electrical wiring throughout the building.
In addition, windows, doors, security cameras, alarms and the public address system all will be replaced.
“This school was founded in 1914,” Head Custodian Bob Giles said. “I came on as head custodian in 2004 and I can tell you we really need these upgrades –for the kids.”
Elmwood Elementary currently has 530 students enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade.
Syreeta Vurnett is an Elmwood Park resident whose daughter, Hannah, attends 1st grade.
“I love this school,” Vurnett said. “The teachers do an awesome job with the children and so does the principal. I’m glad that they’re doing what they need to do to make it better for all the children.”
“I’m pretty pleased with how the project looks,” said Jose Velasquez, a parent of three District 401 students. “The improvements at the high school and middle school also look good.”
Hired for the recent projects at all four Elmwood Park schools are DLA Architects of Itasca and International Contractors, Inc., of Elmhurst.
‘A tough renovation to do’
Terry Fielden is the Vice President and Director of K-12 for International Contractors.
“The elementary school is a very old building and it’s a very tough renovation to do,” Fielden said. “The building has multiple elevation changes and we’re going to be removing and re-pouring the entire first floor concrete slab. It’s going to be the most challenging project of my career, but we’ll meet the timeline for completion.”
Concrete foundations for some areas already were poured two months ago. According to the school district website, all work at both Elmwood Elementary and John Mills Elementary schools will be completed by August 2024.
A significant feature being designed into the renovation is the addition of multiple breakout rooms.
“It’s a smaller room for five to seven kids who might be working on a project, an advanced math concept or English language instruction,” Gauthier said. “The breakout room is where they’d meet with the teacher or the aide. Right now they’re doing that in the hallway or at the library because we don’t have the space.”
Elmwood Park Village Trustee Jonathan Zivojnovic was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday.
“Growing up in a house right across the street from this school, seeing what it was and watching what it’s going to be is a transformation that’s truly remarkable,” Zivojnovic said.
“This is a big step for us,” District 401 School Board President Frank Parisi said. “One of the building blocks of having a great village is our great school district, and this is really fantastic.”
