VIEW OUR CONSTRUCTION PHOTO GALLERY HERE
District 64's summer 2018 construction season is now past its midpoint, with projects on schedule to be completed for the return of students on Monday, August 20.
The District is investing more than $8.3 million this summer for Health Life Safety, critical infrastructure, and capital project improvements as part of a five-year plan to ensure all schools are “safe, warm, and dry” and able to support future ready learning. View the full list of 2018 projects on this webpage.
Activities are underway both indoors and on the exterior of schools across the District. Here is a short overview of the major projects now nearing completion:
- One of our three oldest buildings, Roosevelt School is undergoing extensive work indoors this year to ensure the school continues to offer students and staff a future ready learning and teaching environment. A new “primary wing” is being created by relocating three, first grade classrooms into the main hallway to be with the other first grade classrooms and the kindergarten rooms. Two new music classrooms also are being created near the school auditorium while remodeling the existing art room. Finally, the school Learning Resource Center is being renovated, with generous financial support from the Roosevelt PTO, into a flexible learning space to serve students at all grade levels for years to come. During this extensive renovation, additional layers of school security also are being added. The Roosevelt School office itself is being relocated to the Prospect Avenue side of the building, and the main school entrance will now lead directly into the school office via a secure vestibule. This ADA accessible entrance area is adjacent to the staff parking lot at the Albion Avenue end of the campus. Other work includes new water piping and hallway flooring.
- Updates to Learning Resource Centers at multiple schools are coming along on schedule. Upgrades that began in summer 2017 are being completed at Carpenter and Field schools, also with generous support from their school PTOs. The renovations will create more flexible spaces for students engaged in future-ready learning that incorporates collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. At Emerson Middle School, the LRC is being remodeled to accommodate an additional classroom space.
- Many classrooms at Carpenter School are being upgraded. The heating, cooling and ventilation systems are being replaced in a significant portion of the school. These classrooms and hallways also are receiving new flooring and energy efficient LED lighting.
- Exteriors are the focus at Franklin School and Emerson Middle School. Replacement of the roofs at both schools are well underway, and will stop leakage that disrupts learning while damaging the ceilings and walls. Tuckpointing of Franklin School also is being completed this summer.
- Emerson and Jefferson School parking areas and sidewalks are being replaced. The busy parking lots and entry/exit roads to these schools are being replaced along with sidewalks; drainage issues also are being corrected.
In a separate project, Washington School students will be delighted on their return to find a new playground to enjoy at recess this year! Work on the replacement project will get underway shortly, and is being funded primarily through the Washington PTO and other donors.