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Superintendent's Report
The comprehensive school modernization program includes the following key components. The first and second work areas focus on critical Health/Safety/Security issues, as well as Selected Infrastructure Upgrades. All students and teachers will benefit from the following improvements:
- Address vehicular and pedestrian circulation on site to improve safety.
- Upgrade security at main entrances and offices for school occupant safety.
- Renovate restrooms to improve sanitary conditions and streamline maintenance.
- Upgrade the school infrastructure including mechanical systems, electrical distribution, and fire alarm/fire sprinkler systems to:
a. improve energy efficiency,
b. reduce long-term operating costs, and
c. enhance the quality of the learning environment.
- Upgrade technology infrastructure and classroom capabilities to support 21st century learning practices and desired curriculum enhancements.
- Modernize all learning spaces with new flooring, ceilings, lighting, casework and whiteboards.
- Reorganize grade-level locations and support functions within each school to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of educational programs.
The third work area addresses more significant building improvements aimed at supporting Curriculum Modernization Improvements. The following specific improvements planned for individual schools include:
1. Construction of a new, centralized Early Learning Center (ELC) at Forest Elementary School to consolidate the District’s programs and services for 3-5 year-old students prior to entering Kindergarten – and to improve the District’s efficiency and effectiveness in providing these programs to students.
2. Following completion of the new ELC, consolidate the SPARK program offices and services in the new ELC; recapture and re-align the existing space at Terrace Elementary School to support District-wide professional development activities.
3. Following completion of the new ELC, recapture vacated instructional space at each elementary school to create a new Technology Integrated Learning Environment (T.I.L.E.) that will provide a dynamic, technology-rich learning hub serving students and the larger community with a focus on collaboration, project-based learning, and program flexibility.
4. Expand food service components at Algonquin and Chippewa Middle Schools to increase/enhance District-wide food preparation and distribution capabilities – and to more comfortably accommodate each middle school’s student population within three lunch servings.
5. Provide flexible, large-group learning spaces for flexible, break-out activities and after-hour student and community programs at Algonquin and Chippewa Middle Schools.
6. Address safety and inadequate space concerns at Orchard Place Elementary School through a carefully phased addition and renovation program that replaces the oldest portion of the school, improves accessibility and safety impacted by the multiple floor levels that students and staff currently need to navigate, and provide spaces that are more closely aligned with the District’s program offerings and standards.
7. Construct a separate, dedicated cafeteria/common space at North Elementary School, at the second floor level above the existing gymnasium, to provide a dedicated gymnasium space and to ease over-crowding conditions during mid-day activities and times of inclement weather.
Project Phases
The Three-Phase school modernization program has been carefully crafted to commence construction activities in the spring of 2010 and to complete all work by the fall of 2012. Key considerations that provided guidelines in the development of the phased implementation strategy include:
1. Take advantage of the favorable bidding climate by commencing/accelerating design work and construction planning activities.
2. Maximize the available funds and minimize the impact of potential cost escalation by shortening the overall length of the building program.
3. Minimize each student’s experience of construction activities by completing work at the middle schools first, then commencing work at the elementary schools.
4. Provide flexibility in renovations at Iroquois Community School.
5. Evenly distribute the construction projects throughout the District so a greater cross section of the District’s student/community population can experience and benefit from the improvements as soon as possible.
The Implementation Plan is as follows:
Phase 1 Projects (construction activities: spring 2010 - summer 2011)
- Algonquin Middle School
- Chippewa Middle School
- Cumberland Elementary School (summer 2010 only)
- Forest Elementary School / New Early Learning Center
- Iroquois Community School (site improvements)
Additional activities in Phase 1 shall include early site research and planning to address stormwater/flooding issues at North Elementary School
Phase 2 Projects (construction activities: spring 2011 - summer 2012)
- North Elementary School
- Orchard Place Elementary School
- South Elementary School (summer 2011 only)
Phase 3 Projects (construction activities: spring 2011 - summer 2012)
- Central Elementary School
- Iroquois Community School (building improvements)
- Plainfield Elementary School
- Terrace Elementary School
- Leon Smaage Administration Center
- District Maintenance Building
Dr. Jane Westerhold
Superintendent of Schools
Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62
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