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District 200 summer construction on schedule
This summer’s Woodstock School District 200 construction projects focus on two school libraries.
Life-safety improvements are underway at Dean Street Elementary School and Northwood Middle School.
Dean’s second floor library is being enclosed with floor-to-ceiling firewalls that replace the temporary bookcase walls that previously defined the space. The enclosed library will be air-conditioned and have skylights to let in natural light. The new space also will have new bookcases, new counters and a reading nook. To save money, the existing light fixtures and carpet will be reinstalled.
D-200 director of buildings and grounds Ken Roiland said the improvements would improve comfort, safety and the learning environment. “By enclosing it with firewalls, the kids won’t hear noise from the hallway,” he said.
At Northwood, crews have replaced leaking windows near the media center’s ceiling.
Both projects were funded with approximately $400,000, remaining from a 2010 life-safety bond issue, which funded improvements at Olson, Clay, Mary Endres and other buildings.
The budget for the Dean Street project was $350,000, but D-200 chief financial officer Risa Hanson said the final cost would be closer to $300,000. For the Northwood windows, $30,000 was budgeted, and Hanson said the project was projected to come in at or under budget.
Because both projects address building safety issues, they qualified for funding. “The money can only be spent on state approved life-safety work,” said Hanson.
The remaining life-safety money will be set aside for future life-safety work, yet to be identified.
The Northwood project was completed the week of July 9, Roiland said. Work at Dean is expected to be finished by Aug. 1.
