Elk Grove Township District 59 approves $4.6 million in school remodeling

Elk Grove Township District 59 has approved nearly $4.6 million in remodeling and renovation projects at three schools.

The school board unanimously approved the contracts Tuesday for projects at Devonshire Elementary School and Friendship and Holmes junior high schools.

The district awarded about $3.2 million in contracts for work at Devonshire Elementary School, 1401 S. Pennsylvania Ave., in Des Plaines.

Construction workers will move the main office from the middle of the building to the front entrance to improve security and create more office space. The school's main office is the smallest of the District 59 buildings, officials said.

The current office space will be renovated to create larger classroom spaces. The project will add about 3,000 square feet to the building.

Additionally, the work will include new air conditioning and heating units and new flooring and glazing.

Work will begin at the end of the school year and is scheduled to be complete before the next school year.

The $705,000 project at Friendship Junior High, 550 Elizabeth Lane in Des Plaines, is intended decrease distractions for students.

Classrooms in the school require students to pass through one to gain access to another. Construction will add hallways to create individual classroom entrances and rebuild walls to improve sound insulation.

Work is scheduled to be substantially completed by the next school year.

At Holmes Junior High, 1900 Lonnquist Blvd., Mount Prospect, the district will pay Countryside-based Johnson Floor Co. about $631,000 to replace the floors.