U-46 to spend nearly $15 million on 2018 building projects
Elgin Area School District U-46 officials expect to spend roughly $14.7 million on capital projects in 2018, including renovation of the welding lab at Elgin High School and building a new stadium at Bartlett High School.
The largest expense is $5 million for upgrading the district's food service facility at 1150 Bowes Road in Elgin. The building will be operational by summer, officials said.
A majority of 2018 capital projects is being funded through what is leftover from $40 million in loans taken out in 2015 to fund much-needed maintenance work.
"The list is still a little bit fluid. It's still subject to change depending on resources at this point," said Jeff King, deputy superintendent of operations. "There is no paving being done next summer. We just don't have the resources to do it."
Some parking lots that need to be paved will be patched up in the interim, until the district can find the means to fund them, King added.
The school board earlier this week awarded the welding lab renovation bid to Happ Builders Inc. of Waukegan for $643,700.
Officials said the renovations are required to align the newly approved welding curriculum with industry standards. It will help students learn industry skills leading to American Welding Society certification.
U-46 is in the process of instituting a comprehensive college and career pathways model, building on a network of career and technical education (CTE) programs within six schools.
Welding is the top industry in the region, according to a report issued by the Kane County Department of Employment and Education.
"In order to meet the diverse welding hiring needs, the implementation of a career pathway with a focus on core welding understanding and an opportunity for electives of interest is essential," officials said in a memo.
Students will be trained using state-of-the-art equipment that meets the demands of local employers, improving their chances of finding jobs in the manufacturing field.
Work on the project is expected to begin next month with completion by mid-April.
Construction on a roughly $1.75 million project involving the first phase of the Bartlett High School Activities Complex also is expected to start soon and be completed by August. It includes installing bleachers seating 1,500 people, a press box and stadium lighting.
That project largely is funded through $925,000 in donations from the Bartlett High School Booster Club. The district will cover remaining costs through more than $700,000 in tax revenues and by borrowing about $466,000 to be repaid by booster club, officials said.