Naperville North to get safer, more modern entrance
A glass facade will give the front of Naperville North High School a more modern look while security enhancements will make the entrance safer for students and staff, Naperville Unit District 203 officials say.
The school board on Monday approved a $1.5 million contract with LJ Morse Construction of Aurora to build the new entrance at the north end of the school at 899 Mill St.
The entry will be reconfigured to include an outer vestibule and an inner vestibule with kiosks for security and attendance personnel. Spokeswoman Michelle Fregoso said the change means students or parents can stop by the attendance office, while visitors must stop at the security desk to have their identification scanned before entering.
"We're keeping this in line with the rest of our schools," Fregoso said. "You don't just walk into the school. You walk into the vestibule and the secured area."
The improvements also will boost energy efficiency and provide a new space to highlight student work. The glass front will allow natural light into the second-floor hallway and the roof will provide cover for students waiting for rides.
The project follows at least four years of work the district has done to enhance safety at school entrances.
Improved entrances already are in place at Scott, Highlands, Maplebrook and Steeple Run elementaries and Madison Junior High. In buildings with the two-door entrances, visitors push a button to come in the first door, hand their ID to a staff member, then get a visitor's sticker if they're cleared to enter the second door and the rest of the space.
The Naperville North project will cost more than the district anticipated because the school needs a fire-rated exterior wall, an extra set of fire doors and a wheelchair-accessible ramp. The new front windows also were pricier than expected.
But Superintendent Dan Bridges said there is still room in the budget to complete the work.
School board members voted unanimously to approve the plan, with the exception of board President Terry Fielden, who abstained because he works for a school construction company.