SUGAR GROVE – Kaneland will spend about $1 million in capital improvement projects in summer 2020 with the majority of the work being done at the high school in Maple Park.
“The board’s direction was to plan for $1 million and we got as close as we could anticipate,” said Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs, associate superintendent for Kaneland Community Unit School District No. 302. “Something may come in lower or higher based on bids so it’s always an approximate amount.”
The long-range capital improvement plan includes more than 150 projects. The district will attempt to tick 13 items off the list, including the completion of a master plan facility study for about $70,000.
“It’s a good thing to get these projects done,” Fuchs said. “But please know there are a lot of other projects that need to be done, but we have to get started somewhere.”
The board directed administration to proceed with the identified projects, which have an estimated cost of $1,002,000.
Three of the improvements at the high school involve doors, including replacing four doors (Nos. 11, 12 and 13 as well as the bus garage office) and converting the door at the Student Services office (C109) into handicap accessible. Plans also call for updating three science classrooms by adding hoods, additional storage and seating to the lab, repairing and updating the greenhouse roof vents and replacing the univents.
The univents are 35 years old and will cost about $400,000 to be repaired. The work in the lab area, which will add seating for up to 28 students, is estimated at $300,000.
The final plans at the high school for next summer include patching, sealcoating and striping of the parking lot, including the bus, south and west lots, and replacing the sidewalk on the visitors side of the stadium.
The plan does not include any work at Harter Middle School in Sugar Grove, even though the school is in need of a $20,000 band room. The school looks in line for the band room, but not until 2021 at the earliest. Fuchs said money also needs to be allocated to the required life safety projects in 2021.
Each of the four elementary schools will have work done at them. Patching, sealcoating and striping of the parking lot will be done at McDole in Montgomery and Blackberry Creek in Elburn. Blackberry Creek will receive wide stalls in its south parking lot to improve parking availability.
Door No. 6 will be repaired at John Shields in Sugar Grove.
A portion of the front sidewalk will be replaced at John Stewart in Elburn.
“The old plan and not having done anything with it is another reason not to postpone things that people say are high priorities now,” Fuchs said. “Because it is just a plan. It’s acceptance, and you know, our ability, and anything can happen financially. We can have an economic downturn that could affect it. Although it will guide some decision-making, I don’t think it’s wise to wait on anything that someone thinks is important.”
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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