Dist. 118 work nearly complete

You have to give a little to get a little.

That's what the Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 board heard Thursday night about why some of the $62.5 million in district-wide upgrades haven't been finished.

"Our marching orders were, 'Get the building ready for Sept. 4'," Superintendent Dan Coles told the board at its monthly meeting. "The reality is, we directed our manpower elsewhere."

District schools opened for class on Sept. 4 after a summer of intensive construction that included additions and upgrades to Wauconda High School.

Brian Driscoll of Gilbane Building Company estimated new band and choir locker rooms would open by Oct. 15; the new gym would be turned over Nov. 15; and the new high school auditorium would open sometime in January.

Board members questioned why certain items were unfinished.

"Everything looks so nice and in the front there's still dirt," board member Carey McHugh said.

Driscoll said the dirt would be removed from the high school on Monday.

Coles also explained that some items had to be put aside to ensure the academic portion of the high school opened on time.

"The manpower only went so far," Coles said. "That was a conscious decision."

Board member Tom Weber said he hoped to see outside finishing touches completed, if only for aesthetic purposes.

"It'll be nice to see something that looks finished," he said.

Coles said that although work remains, the people who spend time in the high school every day appear to be understanding.

"The staff and the students are great, they're looking past those things," Coles said. "Everybody's had a really positive attitude about it."