Dist. 88 construction to start in June

Just after the class of 2008 tosses off their graduation caps, construction crews will toss on their hard hats and begin work at both Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools in Addison and Villa Park.

This week, officials from DuPage High School District 88 revealed construction plans for $115.3 million in improvements slated to begin in June and end in fall 2010.

Voters approved the projects last April.

The first students to feel the effects will be those enrolled in summer school. Both high schools will be closed while workers start building an addition to the southeast end of Addison Trail and start interior building renovations at Willowbrook.

For the next three years, District 88 students will attend summer classes at schools owned by three feeder districts and at DeVry University in Addison while construction is under way.

As a result of this summer's work, students returning to classes next fall will have wireless capabilities on their school computers. And means laptops can be carried from classroom to classroom.

Principals from both Addison Trail and Willowbrook said students told them the technology is crucial, since they want to learn lessons in real time instead of waiting to access a computer lab.

"We thought we were cutting edge, and we were surprised that (students) were leaving our site for better access," Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause said.

Other changes in the improvement plan include:

• Creating new and enhanced science labs.

• Adding air conditioning to classrooms.

• Expanding music and art facilities.

• Upgrading electrical and plumbing.

• Improving handicapped accessibility.

• Increasing parking and improving traffic flow around both schools, which will begin next year.

• Expanding physical education and athletic fields.

Officials say that while students will move to adjusted classroom spaces throughout the three-year plan, noise won't be a distraction during school hours. Addison Trail Principal Scott Helton said crews occasionally will cease work during important test days.

To learn more about the construction plans at Addison Trail and Willowbrook, visit District 88's Web site at www.dupage88.net.