Metea Valley construction is on schedule

The Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board approved about $2.46 million in contracts for furniture, fixtures and equipment for Metea Valley High School Monday.

The purchase was just a portion of the furnishings the district will need for the new school, but was done through a consortium that allows it to get a discount of more than 50 percent, according to Deputy Superintendent Kathy Birkett.

"We are getting the ... best deal on that because of our volume," she said.

Despite recent snowfall, construction on the school along Eola Road in Aurora continues to move forward.

Project manager Todd DePaul said the crew had always planned to work through the winter and has enclosed their scaffolding with plastic and brought heaters to the site.

"The important thing is we are on schedule and work is progressing," he said.

The district, which includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, plans to open the school in August for freshmen and sophomores.

Crews will start installing drywall this week and are wrapping up the installation of precast concrete for the pool area, according to DePaul.

Much of the core of the building is also under a roof now and has either permanent or temporary windows so workers are able to start putting in duct work, mechanical systems and piping. Concrete slabs are being poured, catwalks are being installed in the auditorium and exterior walls are going up around the physical education locker area as well.

Principal Jim Schmid recently announced the hiring of nearly 90 staff members for Metea, most of whom are from within the district. The new staff is scheduled to meet Friday, Jan. 16.

In March, students will start choosing the courses they will take in the fall.