Homer schools looking at more renovation work

HOMER GLEN -- As construction continues on a new elementary school on Cedar Road, Homer School District already is considering its next construction project.

The school board heard a presentation last week from architectural firm Healy, Bender & Associates Inc. of Naperville.

Schilling School is a 71,000-square-foot building with portions constructed in 1957 through 1973, Superintendent J. Michel Morrow said.

The district is considering a 37,000-square-foot addition to the east of the school, said Jacob Been, senior associate with Healy Bender.

The addition would include 16 classrooms, Been said.

Approximately 24,000 square feet on the south end of the school would be demolished, Morrow said. Part of the area to be demolished was constructed in 1957, he said.

That part of the school has smaller classrooms, narrow halls and there is asbestos as well, said John Lavelle, assistant superintendent for business.

Estimated cost for the first phase of the project, which would include construction of the addition and demolition of the south end, would be about $10.2 million, Been said.

A second phase would include mechanical, electrical and plumbing work to the existing building, in addition to interior finishes, he said.

Estimated cost of the second phase would be about $5.5 million "in today's dollars," Been said.

The board approved Healy Bender & Associates doing schematic and design work for the project with the stipulation that the firm not begin work until Lavelle is able to determine if the project is financially feasible.

Lavelle said he expects to be able to determine the economic feasibility of the project within the next couple of weeks, which will entail looking into the upcoming tax levy numbers, among other things, he said.

"I want to take a close look at it," he said.

The addition would have an estimated completion date of August 2011, Been said.