New Field Elementary 'Going Really Well': District

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst school officials aim to replace Field Elementary School ahead of schedule because of lessons learned from a previous project.

The goal is for Field to open in time for the next school year.

At a meeting Wednesday, Todd Schmidt, facilities director for Elmhurst School District 205, said he wants to get the Field project done earlier than Lincoln Elementary.

Lincoln, which the district also replaced, opened in time for school in August. It took a year to demolish the old school and build a new one.

"We didn't move the furniture in until July," Schmidt told the school board's finance committee.

He said the district was targeting the furniture move-in for early summer at Field.

"Field is going really well," Schmidt said.

Already, the contractor has finished the roof and skylight for Field, Schmidt said. Temporary heat is being brought in.

Committee member Rob Martinelli praised the work of Elmhurst-based International Contractors Inc., the district's construction manager. He said the company was keeping the project site well-maintained.

"As a competitor, I was hoping it would turn into a crap shoot," joked Martinelli, an executive at another big construction company.