District 58 Approves $2.3M Lester School Addition

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Downers Grove District 58 officials unanimously approved a plan Monday to build an addition onto Lester School. The project, which is estimated to cost $2.24 million, would include ADA-compliant bathrooms and additional classrooms to help the school deal with an increase in students and a need to better serve students with special needs.

The school has struggled to accommodate a growing student population in recent years and that trend was expected to continue. After intensive research, District 58 officials presented a number of proposals to the board, including the Lester School addition. The board ultimately recommended the proposed addition.

The project will be funded by a $2.8 million bond sale, the interest and principal on which will be paid by an annual tax levy, according to the district.

District 58 is set to receive the funds from the bond sale, according to Tammie Beckwith Schallmo of PMA Securities, the district's financial advisor. The proceeds will also fund asphalt playground curbing at Lester School, a fire alarm update at Kingsley School, and electrical work at Fairmount School.

In a news release, District 58 Board Member John Miller said, "This project has been a long time coming."

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