District 34 Plans $8 Million In Critical Repairs In Summer 2019

GLENVIEW, IL — The Glenview School District 34 Board of Education Monday authorized the development of bids for critically summer construction projects after architects presented the school board with an updated proposal. The construction work is the first phase of what administrators project to be $82 million at the district's nine buildings over the next decade.

After an assessment of the capital needs of the district's facilities, the board was told at least $10 million in repairs and maintenance is needed starting in summer 2019. Over the long term, the district may go to voters to approve additional borrowing to cover the capital projects.

Director of Buildings and Grounds Steve Ruelli told the board last month the initial construction is all of a critical nature. Work is needed on mechanical systems that are failing, and roof work is proposed for areas that are actively leaking, according to the district. All but one of the district's school buildings are roughly 60 to 70 years old.

Representatives of FGM Architects, the firm retained by the district in January, told the board the cost estimates were based on square footage of the buildings rather than actual costs. Better projections would be available after design documents were completed, they said.

The updated proposed scope of work, according to district architects, would include from $7.75 million to $8 million in work in the 2019 budget and $2.6 to $2.7 million in the 2020 budget. Optional additions could add another $1 million.

• Attea: Mechanical units and generator to be replaced in 2019.
• Glen Grove: Partial roof replacement, plus replacement of electrical panels, mechanical units and light poles in 2019.
• Henking: Roof maintenance, replace mechanical units, part of the roof and electrical panels in 2019.
• Hoffman: No work in 2019, partial roof replacement in 2020.
• Lyon: Mechanical unit and electrical panel replacement in 2019, optional pa
• rtial roof replacement in 2020.
• Pleasant Ridge: Sidewalk replacement, partial roof replacement, roof maintenance, electrical panel and mechanical unit replacement in 2019.
• Springman: Replace and repair mechanical units, electrical panels and a partial roof replacement in 2019. Partial roof replacement at in 2020.
• Westbrook: Sidewalk replacement, roof maintenance, partial roof replacement and mechanical unit replacements in 2019.

Board members have not said if they will hold a referendum to ask voters to allow it to borrow more money. According to the Glenview Journal, the district can only afford to finance about $20 million in bonds over a 10-year payment plan. In an Oct. 15 discussion of the proposed 2018 property tax levy, one board member questioned whether if was wise to raise the maximum levy allowed under the law when the district is preparing to ask taxpayers for "a whole lot more," the Journal reported.

The district issued a request for qualifications from construction managers last month and received 11 proposals for upcoming work. A committee narrowed the responses to four finalists for interviews, and Nicholas & Associates was recommended for hiring, according to Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Eric Miller.

At the board's Nov. 12 meeting, members are scheduled to vote on the district's tentative property tax levy and schedule a public hearing for the intent to issue debt.

Read more:
Complete Facilities Assessment Presented to District 34 Board from FGM Architects »
Memo from Superintendent Dane Delli on 10-Year District Facility Assessment »