A long-awaited building addition and other renovation work recently got underway at John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park.
“We’ve discussed improving our schools for many years, and we’re now able to bring that to reality,” Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 Superintendent of Schools Leah Gauthier said at the May 17 groundbreaking ceremony. “Our hope and our journey is to create the best learning environment possible for our current and future Elmwood Park students.”
The $29.9 million project includes a 7,720-square-foot building addition and extensive infrastructure upgrades to every area of the school. Funding for renovations at John Mills, as well as for similar upgrades at Elmwood Elementary School, is coming from a $55 million bond referendum that voters approved in March 2020.
The two-story building addition planned for John Mills will add two new kindergarten classrooms on the first floor.
“On the second floor, there will be a new media center,” said Jim Jennings, assistant superintendent of finance and operations. “Renovations inside the current building include restrooms being installed in all kindergarten rooms.”
Jennings said the second floor will also include a “maker space” which, like the media center, may be used for a classroom when needed. The floor will also feature one small “breakout room” for individual or small group instruction.
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– Original Credit: Elmwood Park CUSD41
The project also includes complete replacement of all windows, doors, boilers, water heaters, lighting and security cameras throughout the school, according to information about the project on the district website. Air conditioning, plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, circuit breakers and panels will also be upgraded or replaced as necessary.
“Teaching and learning are greatly affected by the physical surroundings,” John Mills Principal Frank Kuzniewski said. “The renovations and additions will allow more opportunities for students to receive the attention and services they need to create a brighter future. The teams who have collaborated on this project understood there are both aesthetic and functional needs that had to be addressed and I am confident they met this expectation.”
All asbestos will be removed from the school as part of the renovation, including abatement of material from an exterior building soffit that began two months ago. That work is being done by TRC Environmental, an asbestos abatement contractor licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, according to project plans.
“TRC has managed the district’s past abatement projects and have always provided quality work,” Jennings said. “They follow all state and county guidelines and thoroughly test the air to keep students, staff and their own workers safe. As an extra level of protection, the abatement of the ceiling tiles in the gym at John Mills is occurring over the summer, when students and staff are no longer in the building.”
John Mills Elementary School currently enrolls 676 students in grades pre-K to 5th and employs 56 teachers. The referendum on the 2020 election ballot included $25,077,700 for similar renovations at Elmwood Elementary School.
“The Board of Education was careful not to sell more bonds than what was needed for the project,” Gauthier said. “The architects worked closely with our construction management company to thoroughly review the plans and do an accurate cost analysis. We used the same two firms for our high school and middle school building additions and both projects came in within budget.”
Officials said all work at both John Mills and Elmwood schools will be completed by August 2024.
Gary Gibula is a freelancer.