Naperville Central work on track but science labs may not open on time

Construction officials say work at Naperville Central High School and the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center is progressing smoothly and both facilities should be ready for the Aug. 25 opening of classes.

The high school's eight science labs, a major component of the $87.7 million renovation, however, may be unavailable to students for the first several weeks of class, officials told Naperville Unit District 203's facilities committee on Thursday.

Tim Bickert, senior project manager with IHC Construction Companies, said cabinets are being installed in the third-story labs but the manufacturer has yet to deliver resin countertops. The first half of the order is not expected until Aug. 13 and the second half until Aug. 20.

Each lab counter takes about four hours to construct. The casework is installed first, then the tops, which come in one piece, are cut and installed. Plumbers then connect each counter to the already "roughed-in" plumbing. So the entire process could take as long as four weeks or longer with work only able to be done after school.

"The manufacturer has been flooded with orders and has just become swamped," Bickert said.

That answer was not acceptable to the district officials at the table.

"It's nice they can't get me a top. I just don't see how that's my problem," school board member Terry Fielden said. "Let's cut bait. Unless there's a reason why I shouldn't have my science labs open on the first day of school, I want to hear that reason. Otherwise I expect (the manufacturer) to pick up the (cost) for that plumber to work overtime to get those rooms unlocked on time."

Aside from the science labs, Bieckert assured officials everything else will be complete on time.

"I think we saw a real buy-in by the contractors and guys on the site. They knew we were under the gun and they worked like crazy to get us caught up to schedule," Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said. "We've got a hard stop here and 3,000 kids and 400 employees who need to get here. So we appreciate their efforts."

Mitrovich also confirmed Thursday that the district's construction attorney has brought in a specialist to review all overtime claims to ensure the district pays "only for those things that are truly beyond the scope of the originally planned work."

The project at Central, 440 W. Aurora Ave., includes a three-story addition that will house all major subject areas. The 3,000-student school also will get infrastructure upgrades, a new learning resource center, new athletic and music space, improved traffic flow and synthetic turn on its football field.

The entire project is scheduled to wrap up by December 2011.