NSSD112 Approves Summer Security Spending

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — North Shore School District 112 approved nearly $11 million in new capital construction to take place this summer at a board meeting Tuesday.

The board approved Gilbane Building Company's recommendation for work at Braeside, Red Oak, Sherwood, Green Bay, Wayne Thomas, Oak Terrace, Indian Trail, Edgewood and Northwood schools—all schools that were never set to close under the scrapped BDR3 plan—while no new investment has been approved for Ravinia, Lincoln and Elm Place schools.

Much of the spending will go to installing security vestibules for visitor screening. Their absence currently presents "an immediate hazard to the safety of students" and state code requires it be fixed within a year, Pioneer Press reported.

Facilities Director John Fuhrer said the security booths will cost about $7 million, with the rest to be spent on other mechanical, electrical, roofing and plumbing work.

The issue of security vestibules had been flagged as "an urgent priority" in the districts most recent safety survey, according to Pioneer Press.

Fuhrer said planning for the new construction had included an expectation some schools would be closing, and changing the nature of the project late last year might have detracted from the quality of the work.

Board President Samantha Stolberg said she heard concerns from community members that the summer construction plan is a "passive path to BDR3," but she assured the public that Elm Place, Ravinia and Lincoln will get improvement work if the Reconfiguration 2.0 committee decides to keep them open, Pioneer Press reported.

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