Construction at all five CCSD 89 schools scheduled to begin May 31

Construction projects at all five Community Consolidated School District 89 buildings are scheduled to begin on the same day school will end for students: Friday, May 31.

Access to some buildings will be limited throughout the summer of 2024. You can see a list of scheduled and completed construction here: www.ccsd89.org/24construction

Limited accessibility at some schools

Throughout the summer, the interior of Briar Glen Elementary will be inaccessible as crews complete major work on heating, air conditioning, lighting, windows, doors, and ceilings throughout the school. It is critical that Briar Glen students clean out their lockers, check the lost-and-found, and bring home medication at the end of the school year. Families will not be able to retrieve items during the summer.

The cafeteria at Glen Crest will undergo major construction throughout the summer to expand the cooking area. Other parts of the building will be open for summer athletic camps.

Parking will likely be affected at all five schools over the summer. The parking lots at Arbor View and Glen Crest are scheduled to be replaced while the Park View and Westfield parking lots will be resealed and striped. Construction equipment will be parked in the Briar Glen parking lot for most of the summer.

Families are encouraged to stay off of the school’s playground equipment when construction crews are actively working at the school. (At the end of the summer, crews may also be at the buildings on weekends.)

Anyone who needs to call a staff member during the summer will still be able to use the numbers listed in the online staff directory.

Summer school, camps

Summer school will take place June 10 through June 28 at Park View Elementary School. Prior to June 10, the district will communicate plans for how and where students will enter for summer school classes.

Anyone who needs to register for school or make preschool payments in the summer can go to the district office.

The first day of the 2024-25 school year for students will be Wednesday, August 21. Staff will return on Monday, August 19.

About the work

The construction projects were approved when more than 71 percent of voters supported a bond referendum in June 2022. The bonds allowed the district to complete essential health, safety, and accessibility projects at all five CCSD 89 schools while lowering residents’ tax rate. This work will ensure students can continue to go to school in a safe, accessible, temperature-controlled environment that allows them to focus on their learning.

Due to increasing construction costs, some projects have been removed from the bond referendum funds, including: renovating the elementary school kitchens as well as replacing the Park View and Briar Glen parking lots. The CCSD 89 Board of Education has agreed to increase the money designated for the district’s operations and maintenance fund to address some of these projects in future years.  

Many of the systems that will be, or have been, replaced were coaxed well beyond their expected lifespan, thanks to the work of the CCSD 89 buildings and grounds team. The district will maintain this high level of attention to detail with the new systems so they also last as long as possible.

The district will continue to update the community on the progress of these projects.

Posted: March 18, 2024