Naperville Central still on track for Aug. 25 opening

Workers have been on site seven days a week to ensure Naperville Central High School opens as planned Aug. 25, Naperville Unit District 203 officials said Thursday.

Work came to a halt July 1 when the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and Laborers' District Council of Chicago and Vicinity went on strike and were at odds over pay and benefits with the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association and Excavators Inc.

A week after the strike began, the district reached a deal with the unions that exempts the Naperville Central renovation.

Work at the school resumed despite hundreds of other projects around the region remaining stalled.

Ralph Weaver, director of facilities and construction, told construction officials during a facilities subcommittee meeting Thursday to keep moving. "Let's see what can do about making up that time to get (the project) done," Weaver said. "Go ahead and throw manpower and time at it to make up that schedule."