Grayslake District 46 inches closer on air conditioning at two schools
Grayslake Elementary District 46 could decide soon whether to add central air conditioning to a pair of schools without it.
District 46 board members are expected to vote in coming weeks whether to spend about $53,400 for the design of proposed air conditioning projects at Meadowview and Woodview elementary schools in Grayslake. The board is expected to formally address the issue at a meeting Wednesday, Nov. 19, or next month.
Woodview and Meadowview serve students in kindergarten through fourth grade. District 46's five other buildings have air conditioning.
Chief School Business Official Chris Bobek recently said the roughly $53,400 for the air conditioning design was the latest estimate from the Fanning Howey architecture and engineering firm. He said a previous quote of about $77,000 inadvertently included a construction management fee.
Bobek said the plans are necessary before District 46 can seek bidders on the proposed air conditioning projects. If payment for the design work is approved at next week's meeting, he said, it likely would by completed by February.
Estimates have shown central air at Woodview and Meadowview could cost up to $1.6 million. Bobek said other capital improvement needs at District 46 schools include redoing four parking lots at a cost of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.
Lack of air conditioning became a particular concern in 2013, when temperatures were in the 90s early in the school year, leading officials to cancel classes for one day at Woodview and Meadowview and send students home early on three other days.
Board member Rob Roop noted there have been parental concerns about a lack of air conditioning at the two schools. Officials must prioritize those projects, he said.
"I would just like to ask the board and you (Bobek) and (Superintendent) Ellen (Correll) to just kind of rethink our priorities, because I've never heard of a school district shortening the school day or canceling school because of cracks or potholes in a parking lot," Roop said.
Board members last week approved a resolution committing $100,000 to the operations and maintenance fund for air conditioning installation at Meadowview and Woodland.