Dist. 25 debuts $18 million renovations at Ivy Hill, Olive schools

After a year of construction, hundreds of students are ready to start the year in larger, renovated schools in Arlington Heights.

Expansions at Olive-Mary Stitt and Ivy Hill elementary schools cost $18 million and added about 19,000 square feet to each school as Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 continues to accommodate growing enrollment.

"We know there was dust, we know there was noise and there were not as many places to play, but we appreciate everyone's patience and hard work so we could get this done," said Superintendent Lori Bein at a ribbon-cutting event at Ivy Hill Friday afternoon.

Ivy Hill - a kindergarten through fifth-grade school on the north side of town - added a two-story wing with 10 classrooms, all of which will be used when school starts on Monday. Five classrooms were added to Olive. Both schools also doubled the size of their gymnasiums, from 3,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet, rebuilt their playgrounds and enlarged their cafeterias, which are also used for all-school programs and before- and after-school care.

Olive-Mary Stitt's ribbon-cutting event was on Thursday.

Other smaller changes - hand-washing stations in the cafeterias to protect students with allergies, expanding the bus lane at Ivy Hill so buses don't have to idle on neighborhood streets - will also make big differences, officials said.

Classroom doors now can lock from the inside without a key, an important safety feature in case of an intruder or other emergency.

"All year there's been this anticipation building, and we are just so excited to see students and families come in," said Olive Principal Becky Fitzpatrick.

Both schools stayed open during construction, although a lot of the major work took place this summer.

"It was really something," said Tracey Grimm, a fourth-grade teacher at Olive. "It was a work in progress, and you could see it all fall into place."

On Friday, teachers were all moved into their classrooms and ready for students to start on Monday. The expansions blend in with the existing buildings.

"It's new, but it still feels like Ivy," said Colleen Swanson, a first-grade teacher.

District 25 is discussing two more construction projects this fall - expansions to Thomas Middle School and Windsor Elementary - and a $35 million bond sale to pay for the work, as well as life-safety upgrades to its other schools.

Windsor already has two temporary mobile classrooms to alleviate crowding.

Arlington Heights Village Manager Randy Recklaus said the increased enrollment in Arlington Heights schools is a reflection on the village's strong education system, library, park district and other amenities.

Building permits in the village are up 12 percent from where they were a year ago, he added.

"To have both projects happening at the same time, finishing on time, and each one be individualized for their community - it's a beautiful thing to see," Bein said. "I hope when you walk in you can feel how proud we are to open these schools to our kids and give them the spaces they deserve."