Kaneland schools expect to open on time

Kaneland school officials see no reason why the new Kaneland Harter Middle School and the enlarged Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary School should not open on time Aug. 26.

District officials say rumors about delays aren't true.

The 10,000-square-foot Blackberry Creek addition "is almost done today," district business superintendent Julie-Ann Fuchs said Thursday. The Kane County Regional Office of Education should inspect it for an occupancy permit next week, she said.

The Kane County Health Department was at Harter Middle School Thursday inspecting the kitchen. Fuchs hopes the regional office will come out to inspect the whole building the week of Aug. 17.

An occupancy permit is needed before students can be in the building. In the meantime, furniture, computers, fitness equipment and furnishings are being moved in, Fuchs said.

"We knew it was going to be close," she said.

She doesn't know why people thought there was a problem; the best guess she has is that when construction workers' parking moved to the back of Harter, maybe people thought they weren't working any more.

Geneva Unit District 304 is also due to open a new school Aug. 26 - Fabyan Elementary at Fabyan Parkway and Grengs Lane. And Harrison Street Elementary School students will return, after a one-year absence, to a remodeled building on the east side. They spent the last year in the former Coultrap Elementary near Geneva High School. Fabyan has its occupancy permit, and Harrison will be inspected Aug. 11.