CCSD21 outlines scope of spring, summer work

As Community Consolidated School District 21 prepares to close for its winter break, officials within the district are already looking to the future for what projects slated for completion during the spring and summer of 2025.

The district recently opened a bid to renovate the Gill Administration Center, converting the space into a dedicated storage facility to better support the operational needs of the schools. This project is slated to begin during the spring, according to Micheal DeBartolo, assistant superintendent of finance and operations/CSBO.

“This conversion will optimize the use of existing space, providing a centralized location for storing essential supplies, equipment, and archived materials,” DeBartolo added. “By consolidating storage, District 21 will enhance efficiency, improve inventory management, and free up valuable space within individual school buildings.”

While summer will see the lion’s share of projects across the district, it will not be as comprehensive as the summer of 2024, which prompted a later start date.

Anticipated projects include:

• New flooring at Field, Holmes, Frost and Whitman
• New flooring for the north gymnasium at Cooper, east gymnasium at Holmes and small gymnasium at London
• Updated flooring for the teacher’s lounges at all schools except Hawthorne
• Replacing toilets at Field, Poe, Twain and Whitman
• Installing new HVAC remote terminal units for Cooper, Holmes and London’s gymnasiums, as well as 17 unit vents at Twain
• New boilers for Field, Hawthorne, London, Poe and Tarkington
• New playgrounds for Tarkington, Twain and Whitman
• Installing turf fields at Twain and Whitman
• Creating a bus turnaround at Whitman
• Possible locker replacements

“This series of projects is aimed at enhancing our learning environments, improving safety measures, and ensuring our facilities meet the needs of our students, staff, and community,” DeBartolo added. “These upgrades reflect our commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience in safe, modern, and welcoming spaces. We appreciate the ongoing support of our community as we continue to invest in the future of our schools.”