Dist. 211 continues makeover

With construction already under way at four schools in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, officials have now given the go-ahead for work to start at the administration center.

On Thursday, school board members approved a bid of about $2.7 million to Mount Prospect-based AJ Maggio Co., the lowest bidder, to complete the work.

The project includes the creation of a ground-level entry, the addition of conference rooms and the relocation of a conference room, and two offices to allow for a larger boardroom.

In order to make the building, located on Roselle Road in Palatine, handicapped-accessible, an elevator is also being added.

School board member Lynn Davis said she was pleased to see the interest in the project. Seven companies bid on the job.

"I am glad to see we got so many bids returned," Davis said. "It made for a competitive process."

Officials said AJ Maggio Co. has extensive experience working in the district.

They previously completed the courtyard addition at Fremd High School in 2000 and did the first phase of the current construction projects at Fremd, Conant and Schaumburg high schools. They also are working on the second phase of the addition at Schaumburg High School.

Overall, work is being done at all schools in the district except Palatine High School.

The construction is part of a project that will not only add classroom space throughout the district but make it more handicapped-accessible through the addition of elevators.

Steve East, the district's director of purchasing and facilities, said good weather this fall has kept the work on schedule.

"We are doing great," East said.

Specifically, Conant will see the addition of 15 classrooms, four science labs and two elevators.

Work at Hoffman Estates consists of adding 17 classrooms, four science labs and one elevator.

At Schaumburg, a total of 13 classrooms, two science labs and one elevator are being added.

The only work done at Fremd involves an addition being built for the school's music program.

The entire project is being paid for with $53 million in working cash bonds.

By the start of school next year, East said all of the new additions will be completed and open, which will allow for work to start on the inside of the schools.