Cost recommendations for four new or expanded/renovated elementary schools were presented to the U-46 School Board Monday, all of which keep within the $380 million parameter set for the district’s overall facilities improvement plan.
“We are now showing a total estimate (for middle and elementary school projects underway or under consideration) of $365 million,” Deputy Superintendent of Operations Ann Williams, said.
That said, Williams noted that the costs cited for the elementary school projects are preliminary and won’t be solidified until the bidding process takes place.
U-46 Chief of Staff Brian Lindholn outlined these plans as of now:
- A new school will be built on the former David C. Cook Publishing House property, 850 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin, to replace McKinley Elementary School at 258 Lovell St. at an estimated cost of $65 million. The district is in the due diligence phase of purchasing the site.
- Renovation work and an expansion added to Glenbrook Elementary in Streamwood will cost about $30 million. The same is expected to cost about $25 million for Century Oaks Elementary at 1235 Braeburn Drive on Elgin’s west side. Both schools date back to the 1970s and need updating. Construction will be done during summer 2025 and 2026 so the buildings can remain in use during the school year.
- Site work and an addition needed to convert Illinois Park Early Childhood Center, 1350 Wing St. on Elgin’s west side, into an elementary school is expected to cost about $10 million. Programs currently housed in the school will be moved into district elementary schools. Work on the 25-year-old building will not disrupt classes.
Architectural plans for the four buildings could be ready for presentation in September with board approval, Lindholm said.
The Unite U-46 facilities master plan was unveiled a few years ago, and voters signed off on an $179 million bond sale in April 2023 to partially fund new construction and improvements estimated to cost up to $380 million. The rest of the funding will come from district reserve money.
A timetable for when work on the four elementary schools will be begin and end is to be revealed at the School Board’s Sept. 23 meeting, where information on boundary changes also will be discussed, Williams said.
Staff plans to meet with parents and residents in late September about elementary school boundary changes, and subsequent meetings in the fall will outline plans for high school boundary changes.
“Our commitment is to bring boundary recommendations to the board in the early- to mid-apring of 2025 to provide well over a year’s notice to families,” Williams said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.