Orland Elementary District 135 voted Monday to approve about $9.5 million of interior and exterior work at district schools.
The projects come after the Orland Park school district completed work last year on a large-scale, multimillion-dollar capital improvement program that saw additions at five schools.
Mechanical and interior renovations at several district schools are among the projects improved.
At Center School, 9407 W. 151st St., a bid approved for $2.4 million will bring a centralized heating, ventilation and air conditioning system along with new hallway floors. A second phase of work is planned for summer 2026.
Site renovations of $2 million were approved for High Point Elementary, 14825 West Ave., and Orland Junior High, 14855 West Ave., that include new front parking lots and parking lot lights along with sidewalks and outdoor classroom seating areas.
Also at High Point, a bid of about $267,000 was approved to replace exterior wall panels and aging signs.
Mechanical work costing $2 million was approved for Century Junior High, 10801 W. 159th St., Jerling Junior High, 8851 W. 151st St., and Meadow Ridge School, 10959 W. 159th St. Work will include adding air conditioning to gyms and locker rooms at Century and Jerling.
Interior renovations at Centennial School, 14101 Creek Crossing Drive, costing $1.1 million will include new lighting and ceilings in hallways and several classrooms will get new student storage cubbies.
Playground replacement work at Meadow Ridge and Park, 9960 W. 143rd St., will cost about $839,000, according to the bid approved. Plans included input from students at both schools who reviewed and voted on various proposals.
Locker room improvements at Century Junior High costing $740,000 were approved. Along with replacing lockers and adding electronic locks, bathrooms will be remodeled.
Flooring work costing about $189,000 was approved for Park and Liberty School, 8801 W. 151st St.
During the 2023-2024 school year, additions were made at schools that District 135 said will make the buildings more spatially flexible to support some of the immediate and long-term needs of the district.
The largest expansion was at High Point Elementary, where an addition of nearly 15,700 square feet added a gymnasium, three classrooms and two bathrooms on the east side of the existing 37,000-square-foot school.
At neighboring Orland Junior High, an addition of 2,200 square feet housed a fitness center.
At Centennial School, 14101 Creek Crossing Drive, an addition of 7,900 square feet included five classrooms.
An addition of 7,500 square feet at Prairie School, 14200 S. 82nd Ave., added five classrooms and three offices.
At Liberty School, an additional 5,500 square feet of space added three classrooms.
