As the dust settles
Classrooms always have that new-school smell at the start of fall session.
Chalkboards are pristine, floors are brilliantly shiny and rows of hallways await the arrival of new art.
None of that rare spotlessness happens by chance.
Maintenance and construction crews spend the three months kids are on vacation preparing schools for the following nine months. In some cases that might just involve a thorough cleaning.
In many instances, however, it means returning children see entirely new additions, remodeled rooms or playgrounds. Here's a sampling of significant school construction and repairs completed this summer.
Bensenville District 2
Through an $8.2 million expansion, Blackhawk Middle School gained 14 new classrooms to alleviate overcrowding for 880 students.
The renovations also included a 25,000-square-foot gymnasium plus new ceilings, HVAC system, hallway carpets and kitchen.
Outdoor circulation routes were upgraded for improved drop-off and pick up of students
Addison District 4
This year, several projects happened within the eight-school district. At Wesley Elementary School, workers completed tuck-pointing and caulking of the school's facade and repaired asphalt. Stone Elementary School got playground equipment and a new fence.
Workers sealed the asphalt at both Fullerton and Army Trail elementary schools, and installed two outdoor basketball stands at the latter. Other repairs included installing a new telephone system within the district, electrical work to accommodate technology upgrades and renovating a small office building at 121 E. Fullerton for future use.
Itasca District 10
Work crews replaced a few classroom doors at Benson Primary School, repaired the roof at Franzen Intermediate School and the district office, plus installed new cabinets at Peacock Middle School. They also replaced an air-handling unit at Peacock and upgraded some student bathrooms at both Franzen and Peacock.
Bloomingdale District 13
New windows and tile were installed at DuJardin School, while lockers were painted and new carpet was laid at Erickson School. Westfield Middle School got new exhaust fans in the old gymnasium and new video security cameras.
Marquardt District 15
A new air-conditioning unit was installed at G. Stanley Hall Elementary School, making it the final district building to get an upgraded HVAC system. In February, the district board approved a $640,000 contract for the work that should be complete when school starts.
Queen Bee District 16
Work included installation of new boilers at Glen Hill Primary School and more air-cooling equipment at Glen Hill and Americana Intermediate School.
Air-handling equipment was repaired or replaced at Glenside Middle School, Glen Hill, and Pheasant Ridge Primary School, and all three buildings had windows and doors replaced.
Both Glenside and Glen Hill received electrical and lighting upgrades, parking lot repairs and new floor tiling. The lower gymnasium and bleachers at Glenside were renovated.
Keeneyville District 20
The driveways at Greenbrook Elementary School were reconfigured and sound barriers were added to the gym at Waterbury Elementary School. Outdoor cameras were installed at all buildings.
Benjamin District 25
The two-school district spent more than $91,000 this summer on projects including new floor tiles at Benjamin Middle School and carpeting at Evergreen Elementary plus new chalkboards at both.
Doors were installed in the washrooms and nurse's office at Benjamin, sidewalks were repaired at both schools, stage curtains were replaced at Benjamin and old HVAC equipment in some classrooms was replaced with cabinets and shelves.
West Chicago District 33
After classes ended, workers started upgrading security systems for the district's main doors. The improvements won't be finished by the time school starts, but they should be completed by the end of September.
The project includes installing door buzzers, cameras, and intercom systems. Currently, main doors are locked and visitors must ring a doorbell before being admitted.
The district also put in an emergency phone notification system. It will be used to inform parents about snow days, power outages, or any other significant event.
Winfield District 34
The district's Parent Teacher Organization spent more than $28,000 for new bleachers in the Winfield Central School gym that should be installed in September.
Glen Ellyn District 41
New playground equipment and renovations were big items this summer at Forest Glen and Churchill Elementary schools.
Other work at Forest Glen included upgraded air system controls for the computer lab and library. At Churchill, a storage room next to the gym, a new gym floor and bleachers were added.
Lincoln Elementary School received an 800-square-foot addition for storage, a lift accessible to the disabled and replacement playground blacktop. New gym flooring also was on tap at Franklin Elementary, where improvements included a new gym entrance canopy, new toilets for the kindergarten rooms plus tuck-pointing and masonry repairs to the north facade. Administration building windows were replaced with more energy-efficient ones and the fire alarm system was replaced.
Hadley Junior High school got new lockers and replacement paneling in Gym A.
Lombard District 44
Nearly all district schools had seal-coating work done plus many underwent roof repairs. In the wake of computer equipment burglaries last year, the district also installed video-monitoring systems in multiple locations.
New playground mulch and cafeteria lights found a home at Pleasant Lane Elementary School while over at Park View Elementary School, the old wing got a new coat of paint while the gym got upgraded lighting. Improvements also were made to gym lighting at Manor Hill Elementary School. A work room was remodeled at Madison Elementary School.
Hammerschmidt Elementary School also received new playground mulch, improved cafeteria lighting and replacement ceilings in two foyers. Glenn Westlake Middle School had lockers repaired and repairs made to boilers, ductwork and the HVAC system.
Over at Butterfield Elementary School, crews replaced the boilers and tanks, made upgrades to prepare for full-day kindergarten, and put in new playground mulch. The administration center attached to Madison got upgrades to its air-conditioning systems and bathrooms.
Lombard District 45
Attention to school building entrances was a priority in the district, which spent an estimated $4 million in summer construction projects.
"Everybody has become security conscious in every school district," said district business manager Jay Tovian. "Our administration discussed the idea of changing entrances and the board concurred with that decision."
At Schafer School, along with replacing water pipes, the district put in a new entrance and renovated the main office so when visitors enter the school they have to walk directly in there. New entrances were also installed at Stevenson, Westmore Elementary and Jackson Middle School. New intercom systems were installed at Westmore and Jackson.
At Jackson, construction crews repaired the building's roof. At Ardmore School, students will return to a cooler climate thanks to a new air-conditioning system.
Butler District 53
More than $1 million in repairs and improvements were made at both Brook Forest and Butler Junior High schools this summer.
Summer projects at Brook Forest included replacing a roof membrane, installing HVAC rooftop units and controls, replacing outdated fire and security systems, as well as the aging PA and clock systems, and renovating washrooms near the school's front entrance. Butler also got both new HVAC controls and a new security system. Other upgrades included bleacher repairs, replacing a broken chiller and condensing unit, and installing new stage lighting in the school's multi-purpose room.
Glenbard School District 87
Roofs across the district got some needed repairs this summer, but crews also replaced some bleachers, put up new curtains and patched masonry.
The music room at Glenbard North High School got a new air-handling system, some structural steel was replaced on the school's roof, asphalt patching was done on the tennis courts, new auditorium and theater curtains were installed, and fencing was replaced from the field house to the baseball field.
Repairs were made to bleachers at Glenbard South High School, girls' lockers were replaced, patching was done on the tennis courts, and masonry repairs were made on overhead doors. Glenbard East High School got new carpet in the library and auditorium, had drainage along the sidewalk by the tennis courts repaired and Circle Drive was repaved.
The landing and parking area previously used to store dumpsters at Glenbard West High School was converted to accessible parking and a snow-melting system was installed. The visitor's bleachers at the school were either replaced or repaired, depending on need.
DuPage School District 88
The district usually completes summer maintenance projects, but this year held off to wrap the work into the $115 million renovation project approved by voters last spring. Upcoming projects will include: updating science labs; creating new team learning spaces; upgrading electrical and plumbing systems; upgrading air conditioning; and improvements to fix traffic flow.
Glen Ellyn District 89
To provide access for disabled students, the district installed an elevator at Glen Crest Middle School. The majority of the installation is complete, but there's a lengthy testing period. Once that's complete, officials hope the elevator is operational by December.
Carol Stream District 93
The district completed nearly $1.2 million worth of repairs over the summer, including electrical and roofing work at all eight schools. A wireless Internet system also was installed.
Floor tiles were replaced at Heritage Lakes Elementary School. The interior doors at Jay Stream Middle School and Carol Stream Elementary were replaced.
New sidewalks were installed at Western Trails Elementary and the parking lot at Elsie Johnson Elementary was replaced along with cabinets in all classrooms.
West Chicago District 94
Repairs and upgrades at West Chicago Community High School this summer center around one, long-awaited project. After years of service to award-winning runners, the school's track was resurfaced. The school board approved the $67,500 expense in July. Another facility upgrade won't come until fall, when the cooling tower will be rebuilt.
Fenton District 100
Air-handlers in the building were replaced and crews installed 16 extra security cameras around the school.
Lake Park District 108
A new voice mail system was installed across the district. The Lake Park West Campus got new tennis courts, a concession stand, scoreboards and football goal posts.
Wheaton Unit District 200
The most visible summer construction work in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 occurred at the high schools and Monroe Middle School.
Fans of Wheaton Park District football will enjoy the repaired and replaced rear parking lot and western driveway at Monroe.
Wheaton North High School received a new outdoor storage area, concession stand and bathrooms at the football field. It's aimed at improving pedestrian traffic flow during athletic events.
The district has also replaced all the seats in the auditorium at Wheaton North, painted it and installed new lighting.
Wheaton Warrenville South High School received a library renovation complete with new furniture and a new circulation desk to match the interior of the school. The tennis courts are also being moved from between the baseball fields and will be rebuilt along Wiesbrook Road. There will now be eight tennis courts to speed up tournament play.