Revamped Round Lake High about ready to debut
Round Lake High School's expansion and renovation is within budget and will be ready to debut in six days for the 2016-17 academic season, officials said.
Constance Collins, superintendent of Round Lake Area Unit District 116, walked through the redone high school with other administrators and came away impressed Monday.
"Boy, does it look great," Collins said during a District 116 school board finance committee session a few hours after her high school visit. "It is wonderful just to see where we were and where we are right now. Things are moving right along."
Bill Johnston, Round Lake Area Unit District 116's assistant superintendent of business and operations, said the estimated $29 million expansion and renovation remains on time and within budget. Round Lake High and other District 116 students start classes Monday, Aug. 22.
Round Lake High was built for 1,370 students, but it housed about 2,100 in 2015-16. Officials said the expansion will bring the capacity to 2,288 students.
IHC Construction Companies of Elgin has led the project, which will include 24 classrooms, a courtyard and four science, technology, engineering and mathematics laboratories.
One of the architectural features is a skylight in the main corridor of the new science building. Spectrum blocks within the corridor walls will show rainbows of natural light as part of a learning experience for pupils.
Speaking to the District 116 finance committee by telephone, IHC senior project manager Diane Papenhause said only minor work, such as some window installation and a section of flooring, needs to be completed this week.
"Congratulations on the beautiful school that you guys built," Papenhause told the District 116 officials. "It is amazing. I think everybody's going to love it."
In November 2014, voters approved a plan for District 116 to borrow $29 million for the high school work. The 2015-16 academic year began a week early to provide more time for the construction that's wrapping up.
District 116 board President Kevin Daniels encouraged the community to visit the high school for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29. He said taxpayers will be pleased to see how their money was spent.
"It really is a great source of pride for all of us," Daniels said.