$1.3 million Hough Elementary renovation underway
Work began Tuesday on the $1.3 million renovation of Hough Elementary School in Barrington, and already much of the building's interior is nearly unrecognizable.
Throughout the 51-year-old building, ceilings and floors have been ripped out and hammer-wielding construction workers have knocked down several cinder block walls.
"The first couple swings are fun," project engineer John Zurek said while watching a worker attack a wall in what used to be the main office. "But after you've done it all day it gets pretty tiring."
This summer might get pretty tiring for the Pepper Construction workers tasked with completing the project before students are scheduled to come back for the first day of school Aug. 22. If everything goes according to plan, students will return to a safer and more accessible school.
The building, at 310 S. Hough St., is the only District 220 school where the main office was not adjacent to the building's front entrance. That arrangement is seen as less secure because school staff cannot as easily see who is coming in and out of the building.
The renovation will change that, as well as add new windows at the front of the building, giving staff a better view.
Workers also will install a second staff restroom and add wheelchair accessible features.
It is a tall order, but project superintendent Kevin Lally is confident his team can get it done.
While most of the work won't be visible to passers-by, Lally said in the next two weeks workers will set up scaffolding near the front entrance so they can begin adding the new windows.
"It would be quicker than two weeks if I had it my way," Lally said.
Principal Jim Aalfs said he has been impressed by the workers' speed in the first three days.
"This has changed even in the last hour since I've been away, actually," Aalfs said as work progressed near his old office.
He said teachers came in over Memorial Day weekend to prepare their classrooms for the summer.
"Our teachers are so dedicated that usually they're here all summer," Aalfs said. "This is definitely different."
Already there has been a surprise during the project. Aalfs said a time capsule from 1987 was discovered behind the capstone near the building's front entrance. It contained a copy of the '87 yearbook and a VHS tape of a musical performance by students.
Aalfs said the capsule will be returned, along with items from 2016, around the time the next school year starts.